Encounters between people and coyotes appear to be on the rise, in part because the animals aren't scared of us anymore, experts said at a daylong meeting Wednesday.

Several speakers said humans are largely at fault, in some cases even feeding coyotes, habituating them to people. Leaving pets and pet food out and sloppy trash storage also are making the problem worse, they said.

Representatives from several metro-area communities, including Arvada, Centennial, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch and Parker, said they're hearing more reports of coyote encounters. While Division of Wildlife biologists have no firm data on coyote populations, they agree that anecdotal evidence suggests there are more conflicts with people.

The meeting at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds attracted about 200 city officials, wildlife biologists, open-space managers and law enforcement officials. It came after an uptick in sightings and at least two recent attacks on people in Broomfield and Greenwood Village, as well as attacks on pets.

But coyote encounters are hardly new. Colorado Division of Wildlife officials noted that some cities have been dealing with the issue for decades, while others are seeing conflicts for the first time.

"Coyotes are Front Range natives," said Jennifer Churchill, a spokeswoman for DOW, during a morning presentation.

"A lot of these coyotes were born and raised in the metro area; they're comfortable here and familiar with their neighborhoods."

DOW plans to begin tracking coyote attacks on humans after several requests for comprehensive data on the problem.

DOW has investigated eight attacks in the last five years and believes there have been others. But, the state agency doesn't have a formal tally because people and agencies involved - including local animal control and police departments - don't always provide information to DOW.

Churchill presented data on eight attacks in the past five years, including five in the metro area and one in Colorado Springs. One occurred in Holly, and another at Copper Mountain.

DOW didn't include the recent attack on a teenager in Greenwood Village, who fended off the animal and wasn't injured, because the case didn't come to the agency's attention until three weeks after the incident and the trail "went cold," Churchill said.

DOW isn't denying the attack occurred, but wasn't able to investigate it.

Of the eight documented cases, coyotes bit humans in seven of them.

In the other case, a coyote "nipped" at children snowboarding at Copper Mountain Ski area. Employees reportedly had been feeding the animal.

In Aurora, coyotes killed at least two pets last year.

Simply destroying or relocating the animals won't fix the problem, said Mary Ann Bonnell, senior natural resource specialist with Aurora Parks & Open Space.

"People are not understanding coyotes will eat anything," she said, adding that people are providing too many chances for easy meals for the animals. And, "once you get rid of them, there's always a replacement coyote."

Coyotes seem to breed in response to population crashes, with bigger litters quickly making up for dips in their numbers, experts said.

Between 1915 and 1947, the government paid 1,884,897 one-dollar bounties for dead coyotes, said Joe Padia of DOW. "They're still here," he said.

Coyotes actually have far more opportunities to thrive in cities than outlying areas because of a plentiful rodent supply along with garbage, pets and other food sources, said Jack Murphy, executive director of Urban Wildlife Rescue in Denver.

In Lakewood, officials are rethinking their long-running trapping efforts, saying the resilient animal overcomes human efforts to cut their numbers.

In Greenwood Village, officials are preparing to hire a company to kill problem coyotes.

Jay Stewart, who runs the company, said public perceptions that he and others are trying to "eradicate" the animals are misguided.

Instead, he tries to focus on eliminating the ones causing the most problems, often by trapping them. He then shoots the coyotes.

"I don't know if anyone's had a recent vet bill, but when a coyote trashes a dog, and the owner wants to save that dog, it costs a whole lot more than (it does) to trap," Stewart said.

Avoiding conflicts

Coyotes are at home throughout many Front Range communities, but people can take several steps to reduce the chance of conflicts with the animals.

TIPS FOR THE HOME

* Never feed coyotes.

* Remove pet food, water sources, bird feeders and fallen fruit from your yard.

* Keep trash secure with a locking lid.

* Trim vegetation to reduce hiding places.

* Enclose compost piles.

* Deter coyotes with a six-foot privacy fence.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A COYOTE

* Make it feel unwelcome by throwing rocks and sticks. Spraying with a hose or a vinegar-filled water gun can also be effective, as can making loud noises by banging pots and pans or other raucous instruments.

* Make yourself appear as big and loud as possible. Wave your arms, clap, shout in an authoritative voice.

* Don't run or turn your back on the coyote. Face the coyote and back away slowly.

PROTECTING YOUR PETS

* Keep pets on a six-foot leash when walking.

* Never allow your pets to "play" with a coyote.

* Pick up small pets if confronted by a coyote.

* Don't leave dogs or cats outside after dark.

* If you must leave your pet outside, secure it in a fully enclosed kennel.

* Avoid known or potential coyote den sites and thick vegetation.

COYOTE HABITS

* Coyotes are active year-round but become most visible during breeding season in February and March.

* Coyotes can be spotted at daytime but are most active at dawn and dusk.

* Coyotes might perceive other animals, including pets, as a threat, competition, a mate or food.

* Coyotes keep watch near their dens to keep threats away from their young.

* Coyotes are curious and are known to stare at humans. They sometimes follow people out of curiosity or to keep them away from their pups.

Coyote's long shadow

The image and name of the coyote is woven throughout our culture. A coyote is:

1. A wild canid of North and Central America.

2. A smuggler of illegal immigrants north across the U.S. border.

3.A trickster god of animist American Indian religions. Sometimes characterized as a buffoon or evil. The character traits often ascribed to Coyote are similar to those of the Norse god Loki.

4.(plural) NHL team in Phoenix. Ice hockey in the Sonoran Desert?

5. In literature there is Coyote Waits, a Tony Hillerman Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn series of mystery novels set in Navajo Nation.

6. On the silver screen as Coyote Ugly, a romantic comedy about the wild adventure of a woman seeking to become a songwriter in New York City. Features beautiful women showing lots of skin.

7. A spot to whet your whistle is the Coyote Ugly Saloon. It features beautiful women showing lots of skin.

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