Coyotes are common across Jefferson County parks and neighborhoods; Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources sets hunting and trapping rules statewide, while LMAS and Metro Parks handle local conflict reports and hazing guidance.
Coyote sightings in Louisville Metro are managed primarily under Kentucky Fish & Wildlife (KDFWR) authority because coyotes are classified as a furbearer with a year-round open season on private land. Discharge of firearms within the urban-services district is restricted by Metro Code, so most urban removals require a licensed nuisance-wildlife control operator using approved traps. LMAS will respond when a coyote shows aggressive or rabid behavior or has injured a pet. Residents are encouraged to haze coyotes by yelling, waving arms, or using noisemakers, and to remove attractants such as pet food, fallen fruit, and unsecured trash bins.
Illegal firearm discharge inside the urban-services district is a Class B misdemeanor; trapping without proper KDFWR permits or in violation of trap-type rules can also bring state citations.
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See how Louisville's coyote management rules stack up against other locations.
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