by Derrick |
Last Updated: June 11, 2021 Coyotes are a big problem in many areas, from the suburbs, the rural areas and even some cities!
The size of coyotes can vary, but they all have one thing in common: they can jump fences!
How High Can Coyotes Jump? Coyotes jump about four feet in the air. They can use their legs and scale a five to six foot fence with ease.
Can coyotes jump fences? Yes coyotes can jump fences, coyotes jump fences for numerous reasons, often to hunt small animals like cats and raccoons, to eat trash or even just to explore.
You might not think this is important to know, but it is something that you should consider when deciding how to protect your family and property.
Some people don’t realize that coyotes can climb fences as well as jump them, so keep reading to learn more about what you need to do.
Coyotes and Fences
We often put fences around our house to give us privacy, and in some cases to provide some level of safety as it helps deter people and animals from easily accessing our property.
If you live in an area where you frequently hear coyotes you may want to investigate the fence options that will be best to repel and/or deter coyotes.
Coyotes can be determined and crafty critters, so if you have pets having a secure yard is a must.
Coyotes can jump fences, but some coyote-proof fence styles are better than others.
How High Of A Fence Can Coyotes Jump?
Coyotes can jump a 5ft to 6 ft high fence with ease. This is without touching the fence in any way.
But coyotes can jump and climb a fence that is up to about 14 foot high, by jumping, grabbing onto the top of the fence with it’s front legs and coyotes then use their hind legs to help them scale fences.
This may lead you to ask how high should a fence be to keep coyotes out? At a minimum I would look into a 8ft fence with coyote protection items installed, but it really depends on the type of fence. A chain link fence coyotes can use the links to climb, where a smooth vinyl fence may be harder for coyotes to scale. Read on and we will talk about more details and really focus in on prevention measures you can take.
Different Fence Types – How They Impact Coyotes
In residential areas we have many different types of fences.
The different styles of fences will serve a purpose but also impact the coyotes, it is always a balance of functionality, looks and cost when it comes to fencing.
Some fence types will work better than others when it comes to keeping coyotes out.
No one-size fits all type of fencing will check all of the boxes, so it is important to determine if you want a fence that looks good and is cost effective for your situation.
Wood Fence – Will Wood Fencing Prevent Coyotes?
Wood fencing can sometimes be better than chain link fencing, not all the time but it can have an impact on keeping coyotes out.
Wood fencing can have points at the top which may deter coyotes from jumping the fence, it also is usually more of a solid surface when compared to chain link fencing. This will make it hard for a coyote to see through the fence and thus making it question if any threats exist on the other side. Therefore, it could potentially scare coyotes and deter them from wanting to jump the wood fence.
Chain Link Fencing – Can Coyotes Get Through a Chain Link Fence?
Chain link fencing is a popular fencing in residential neighborhoods and very common around a house’s backyard. It is a fairly cost effective option for fencing but generally it is only 4 or 5 ft tall and not effective at keeping coyotes out since it can be climbed easily and some larger coyotes can clear it without climbing.
In some cases you can get taller chain link fencing that is 6ft to 7ft in height. While these taller fences may help keep coyotes from purely leaping the fence they usually are still able to catch onto the top and use their hind legs to climb over the fence.
Chainlink fences are one of the least secure fences when trying to keep coyotes out of your yard and help protect your pets.
There have actually been some instances where coyotes can simply use the chain link fencing the a ladder and climb right over, pretty much making the fence useless.
With all of this said, if your primary concern is a fence to keep coyotes out I wouldn’t even consider a chainlink fence unless it is topped with points or have other protection methods like coyote rollers in place, otherwise it is likely this style of fence will not prevent coyote attacks.
Electric Fencing
The best option for security may be electric fencing. This type of fence is generally made up of a wire that carries an electrical current and has to have the electricity turned on in order to work. In some cases this can seem like an expensive solution but you will often find that these fences are effective at keeping coyotes and other predators away. These type of fences generally do not look the best, so it may not be something you want to use if you are in a residential area, but may work well if you are in a more rural area.
Vinyl Fencing
Vinyl fences are a good option for anyone looking to add protection without the expense of an electric fence.
These types of fences can be installed with little maintenance and they work by having spikes that coyotes cannot climb over or dig under. Vinyl fences do not need to be stained or painted, they can be somewhat pricey to initially install, especially with coyote protection upgrades like spikes but can be a good solution that balances looks, function and low maintenance.
Metal Fencing Options
There are a number of metal fencing options to help control coyotes and protect your family or domestic animals. The main benefits of metal fencing are that it is typically durable, easy to install and can be installed in just about any type of environment.
The benefits of using a metal fence to control coyotes are that metal fencing provides numerous options so you can control coyotes with it but it is also pleasing to look at and doesn’t detract from how your house looks.
Metal fences are also a great choice because they can come in smooth textures that are harder for coyotes to climb since they cannot get a grip on the fence surface and use that to propel them over the fence.
The final benefit of using metal fencing to control coyotes is how durable it really is because you don’t have to worry about painting or staining the fence since it will never rot, warp, peel or splinter.
So while the durability aspect doesn’t improve the resistance to coyotes it does make your life easier!
Specialty Coyote Fences
Specialty coyotes fencing options are harder to come by and not as easy to find installers. These are generally a little more costly than traditional fences, but are great choices for those individuals who live in high density coyote areas and want absolute protection for your pets.
Speciality coyote fences are typically made of metal and have a different design that is meant to keep coyotes from getting their paws or claws into areas that would facilitate climbing.
What Can You Use With Fences To Deter and/or Prevent Coyotes?
Coyote Rollers
Coyote rollers come in a number of shapes and sizes, as a general rule are one of the better ways to deter coyotes and other wildlife. These can be installed on the top of just about any fence. You can get ones that are fairly decorative or make homemade coyote rollers, but they generally all do the same job.
Coyote rollers work by spinning when a coyote tries to leap the fence and use its body to rest on the top of the fence and then it’s legs to provide momentum to propel it over the fence. The roller will spin and keep the coyote from getting a good foothold on the fence.
The main benefit of coyote rollers are that the rollers are one of the more humane ways of dealing with coyote problems. Where traps or poison can be a more extreme measure.
A secondary benefit of coyote rollers is if you have a dog that likes to jump the fence they also help keep the dogs within the fenced in area.
The main drawback of coyote rollers is that they can be fairly expensive if you have a rather large yard and it takes time to install them on top of the fence posts. If your budget is tight look for DIY options, I will post a few DIY style videos below for you to explore.
Electric Fences
Another option is electric fences, you can purchase electric fences that have the whole fence energized which can be good in rural areas but wouldn’t be well received in the city or suburbs.
Another option is an electric topped fence. This is a fence that has a wire that is put on the top and energized with electricity.
This type of fence can stop coyotes from jumping over the fence, similar to coyote rollers when they try and jump the fence, it will zap the coyote and deter them from continuing to try and scale the fence.
Chicken Wire
You can place chicken wire near the bottom of your fence and bury slightly below grade, this will ensure a coyote doesn’t dig under your fence and likewise that your pet doesn’t dig under the fence and escape.
What Else Can You Do To Help Keep Coyotes Away?
There are a number of other things you can do to help keep coyotes away such as avoid keeping food scraps and/or pet food outside which may attract the coyote. Feed your pets inside where possible and any food or scraps left outside should be secured from animals.
Bird feeders can entice coyotes to jump fences, while coyotes often aren’t attracted to the feeders directly, they often are interested in the birds and other small creatures that are attracted to the bird seed.
Lastly, secure your trash can, it should have a secure lid that is kept on at all times, this will not only help reduce the smells but also ensure the coyote can’t get to the food scraps inside.
