Coyotes are a common sight across North America, adapting to various environments from wildlands to suburban neighborhoods. Their presence raises questions about potential risks, especially concerning diseases like rabies. This article clarifies the prevalence of rabies in coyote populations and offers guidance on recognizing symptoms and taking appropriate action during encounters.
How Common is Rabies in Coyotes?
While coyotes can contract rabies, they are not a primary reservoir for the disease. Rabies is primarily maintained in other wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes, which are common carriers in the United States. Coyotes become infected through interactions with these other rabid wildlife species, rather than sustaining the virus within their own populations.
Rabies prevalence in coyotes remains low, and coyotes rarely test positive for the virus. Even if a coyote contracts rabies, rabid coyotes do not survive long enough to significantly spread the virus. This also contributes to the rarity of the disease in their populations.
Recognizing Rabies Symptoms in Coyotes
Rabies affects the central nervous system, leading to abnormal behaviors in infected animals. These changes can manifest in two main forms: “furious” rabies and “dumb” or paralytic rabies. A coyote with furious rabies might exhibit unprovoked aggression, attack without clear reason, or lose its natural fear of humans and pets. Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth can also be a sign, resulting from difficulty swallowing.
Conversely, coyotes with dumb rabies may appear disoriented, lethargic, or unusually tame. They might stagger, show signs of paralysis, or seem generally unwell. Any wild animal exhibiting such unusual behavior, especially if seen during daylight hours, should be treated with caution as a potential sign of rabies.
Responding to a Potentially Rabid Coyote Encounter
If you encounter a coyote exhibiting any signs of rabies, maintaining a safe distance is the most important step. Never attempt to approach, corner, or capture the animal. Instead, slowly back away and report the sighting immediately to your local animal control or wildlife authorities.
Should a person or pet be bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid coyote, prompt action is necessary. For human exposure, thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Seek immediate medical attention, as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is necessary, involving a series of rabies vaccines and, for unvaccinated individuals, human rabies immune globulin. If a pet is bitten, wear gloves to handle them, wash the wound, and contact your veterinarian immediately for guidance. Vaccinated pets require a booster shot and quarantine. Unvaccinated pets exposed to a suspected rabid animal face a longer quarantine period.
Protecting Your Family and Pets from Rabies
Proactive measures reduce the risk of coyote encounters and rabies transmission. Ensuring all pets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations is a primary preventative step. This vaccination provides a protective barrier for your pets.
To deter coyotes from your property, secure all outdoor trash cans with tight-fitting lids and avoid leaving pet food outdoors, as these can attract wildlife. Supervising pets when they are outdoors, especially at night, helps prevent unwanted interactions with coyotes. Never intentionally feed wild animals, and educate children about not approaching or interacting with wildlife.