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Using coyote urine as a DIY pest repellent

You’ve tried every DIY pest control method you can think of (except contact us!), and you're down to your last DIY option: coyote urine. Coyote urine has been sold in many hardware stores, marketed as a great pest deterrent for homeowners to use in their yards and around their gardens to keep pesky animals away. But does it actually work? 

We spoke with our technical team to get down to the nitty-gritty of using coyote urine as a pest repellent. It may be listed as a DIY method, but we’re here to tell you that it may not be the best option for complete control. Find out why below. 

Grey, black, and white raccoon standing on a branch

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How does coyote urine work?

Coyote urine has been reported to repel pests if used appropriately. The urine is applied to some sort of fabric, such as shreds of old shirts or cotton balls, and then placed throughout the area where the deterrent needs to be. 

When a pest comes near the soaked fabric, it will recognize the scent of the coyote from the urine and will believe itself to be in danger if it moves any closer to that area. The pest will then retreat and find somewhere else to inhabit.

Close up of white cotton balls

What does it repel?

Coyote urine is best used for pests that are prey species of coyotes. Think rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, and, in some cases, white-tailed deer. Some also claim that it works to deter raccoons, skunks, birds, and other smaller mammals.

Brown-grey colored bunny standing on its hind legs looking to its right through the bushes

Does it attract coyotes?

The good news is that you won’t have to worry about opening your back door to a coyote. If you decide to make the DIY purchase and use coyote urine as a pest deterrent, it should not attract coyotes or other unwanted pests into your yard.

Brown, tan, and black coyote walking out of a caged in area.

How long does coyote urine last?

Unfortunately, not very long, which is why it is not really recommended as an end-all-be-all DIY pest control method. Urine oxidizes fairly quickly when exposed to the oxygen in the air and the smell will then dissipate. If you think about it, other animals, are constantly urinating outdoors, and the outdoors does not smell like urine. You’ll need to reapply the coyote urine fairly often, especially after it rains, for this method to last.

View through a window with curtains surrounding it of a green backyard while it is raining.

Does coyote urine actually work?

The idea is that the smell of a larger predator will deter other smaller pests from entering the area due to fear of being attacked. However, the effectiveness is pretty minimal when it comes to using coyote urine as a pest deterrent. 

As stated previously, pure urine will oxidize fairly soon after being exposed to the air. This will degrade the smell of the urine and, in most instances, make it unrecognizable as a “predator” smell. So, while it may work for a short period, the pest will start coming back as soon as the smell dissipates. It certainly isn’t a fool-proof solution.

Black and brown colored squirrel scaling the top of a bird feeder.

Don’t DIY! Call Western Exterminator. 

DIY pest control methods seem like a great option at first, however, more often than not, they don’t work. A lot of DIY methods, like coyote urine, do not fully eliminate the pest issue at hand and only control the problem for a short period of time. Using DIY pest control methods will likely result in a pest infestation, something no one wants to deal with. 


Contact the Technicians at Western Exterminator at the first sign of any pest problem! Our Technicians are the experts in pest control. They have the knowledge and proper tools to eliminate and control any pest that is buggin’ your property.

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