Coyotes in the garden

Hey y'all! I'm in the process of planning out my garden, building the soil and etc. and my friend was talking about how coyotes eat the watermelon in her father's garden. My heart sank! I plan on having 2 different varieties. She doesn't haven't a problem because she has a LSGD. We do not have one and at this time don't plan on getting one. My question to you is do you think putting 4' welded wire would help? I know they can jump over that but how likely would that actually happen to get a piece of fruit? We have barbed wire and they go under that. (They did not dig a hole.) If you think that will not work, what do you think will outside of an electric fence? Thanks for all of your help!

Hello,

Try looking at this site from Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife on Coyotes. It lists several options for fencing that you could use as a guide. If you end up putting in a fence please post pictures of it and share how it worked for you!

I get that your current concern is specifically coyotes eating your watermelon...but I would look to fence the garden against all predators: deer, rabbits, groundhog, squirrels, raccoon, birds, etc.  All animals and birds will view your garden as just another spot to forage.

I understand this may be an added expense you had not considered, but I highly recommend creating a solid or electrified barrier system that will safeguard your garden from all manner of predation.

You are looking for something unable to be climbed (raccoon, squirrel bunny etc.) so a barrier such as electrified mesh or (used) metal roofing panels used as fence panels to create a barrier something claws can dig into to climb over.

You are looking for something unable to be jumped (deer, coyote, etc.) mesh, electrified or not that would be at least six-eight feet high.

You are looking for something that cannot be dug under (coyote, rodents, etc.) bury your mesh or fencing at least two feet deep OR bend your fencing at ground level and create a two foot extension along the ground, all around the perimeter so that diggers will hit mesh and not break through.

Often a combination of solid climb and dig proof fencing for the first three feet above ground (metal or electrified) then plain metal or plastic mesh for height will do the job - but remember to use bird netting OVER the garden initially so that your young seedlings are not turned into bird food.

Deer will not want to jump something that they can't see the what is on the other side so a solid fence 6 feet tall will stop most of the deer.

Coyotes are a different story, they will dig under or jump over (most of the time they would prefer to dig under instead) the fence needs to not be climbable and extend around 2 feet below the soil level or angle out away at least 2 feet.

Electric fencing will work best if peanut butter is placed along the hot wire, both of these animals will lick the treat and get a shock to the mouth, this normally only takes one shock to train them to stay away.

Redhawk