To save a wall from the mice and coyotes, get a wolf

Today’s question: Over the course of a few visits, my rather industrious parents built a very nice rock wall lining my lengthy drive. It’s held up well until recently, when all too often I find sections significantly damaged. Based in part on photos from a surveillance camera, I’ve deduced that mice or other small critters are living in or under the wall, and the coyotes take to tearing it apart in an effort to find a meal.

Can you offer a solution to prevent the coyotes from tearing down the wall?

In the course of reading up on this one I came across a piece that described coyotes as “treacherous.” I know they can be a real annoyance or perhaps even dangerous, but “treacherous” seems kind of harsh, don’t you think? After all, they’re just trying to make a living.

Anyway, the obvious solution would be getting rid of the mice or whatever else is living in your wall, but that doesn’t sound very practical in your case.

You wouldn’t happen to have a couple of gallons of wolf urine sitting around, would you? I’m told coyotes hate the smell of wolf urine, but how you find such stuff without having a pack of wolves handy I can’t say. Maybe check an outdoor sporting goods store.

Or try rags soaked in ammonia instead.

I’d say your best bet would be motion-activated lights or water sprinklers. A strand of electrified fence would work, but might lead to other problems.

My question is: what are your parents doing next winter? I’ve got a few projects at my place if you aren’t using them.