Coyotes generally exhibit a natural wariness of humans, instinctively preferring to avoid direct contact. While these adaptable canids are increasingly found in urban and suburban environments, their baseline behavior involves maintaining distance. However, this inherent caution can diminish under certain circumstances, leading to more frequent and bolder interactions with people. Understanding these behavioral shifts is important for promoting coexistence and ensuring safety.
Coyote’s Natural Wariness
Coyotes, as wild animals, possess an innate aversion to human presence, viewing people as a potential threat. This instinct for self-preservation drives them to avoid danger. When undisturbed, coyotes maintain a respectful distance from human activity and often operate under the cover of darkness.
Their secretive nature means seeing a coyote during the day is not cause for alarm. They are highly aware of their surroundings and will flee if they detect human presence, helping them navigate diverse landscapes without frequent direct encounters.
Why Coyotes May Lose Their Fear
Coyotes can lose their natural wariness of humans through habituation and food conditioning. Habituation occurs when coyotes repeatedly encounter humans without negative consequences, causing them to disregard human presence. This lack of negative reinforcement teaches them that humans are not a threat.
Food conditioning is another factor, where coyotes learn to associate humans or human environments with readily available food. This includes intentional feeding or unintentional sources like unsecured garbage, pet food outdoors, or fallen fruit. When coyotes become dependent on these easy food sources, they may exhibit bolder behavior, approaching homes or people as they seek meals.
Safe Encounters with Coyotes
If a coyote does not immediately retreat, hazing can help re-instill its natural fear of humans. Hazing involves using deterrents to make the encounter unpleasant, encouraging the coyote to move away. Make yourself appear large and loud: stand tall, wave your arms, and yell.
Avoid running away, as this can trigger a coyote’s natural chase instinct. Instead, maintain eye contact and slowly back away while continuing to haze. Use noisemakers like whistles or air horns, or bang pots and pans. Throwing small objects towards the coyote, not at it, can also be effective.
Deterring Coyotes from Your Property
Proactive measures can reduce the likelihood of coyotes visiting your property. Eliminating accessible food sources is key: secure garbage cans, bring pet food indoors, and pick up fallen fruit or secure compost piles. These steps remove potential attractants.
Supervise pets, especially small animals who can be viewed as prey. Fencing can provide a barrier, ideally six feet tall with extensions to prevent climbing, and buried 18 inches deep to deter digging. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also deter coyotes from entering your yard.