Coyotes are common across Iowa’s diverse landscapes. These adaptable canids have integrated into various environments, prompting questions about their habits and safe coexistence. Understanding their widespread distribution and typical behaviors is important for Iowans.
Widespread Presence Across Iowa
Coyotes are found in all 99 counties of Iowa, demonstrating their remarkable ability to adapt to different surroundings. They inhabit a wide array of environments, ranging from expansive agricultural fields and dense woodlands to suburban neighborhoods and even urban areas. Their adaptability has allowed them to persist and flourish where other larger predators, like wolves, were historically removed from the state. Coyotes utilize various areas, including river systems, greenways, parks, and ditches within cities, living in close proximity to human populations.
Understanding Iowa’s Coyotes
Iowa’s coyotes are medium-sized members of the dog family, weighing between 25 and 45 pounds. They stand about 20 to 24 inches at the shoulder and measure 3.5 to 4.5 feet from nose to tail. Their fur is tan and grizzled gray with black tips, featuring pointed ears, a slender muzzle, and a bushy tail tipped with black. During colder months, their thick winter fur can make them appear larger.
Coyotes are nocturnal, with most activity occurring at night, particularly in urban settings where human activity is high during the day. In rural areas, their peak activity occurs around dawn and dusk. These animals are wary and shy around humans, often going unnoticed. Their communication includes vocalizations like high-pitched yips, barks, and howls, which can be heard from significant distances.
Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, meaning their diet is highly flexible and varies with seasonal availability. Their diet includes small mammals such as mice, voles, and rabbits. They also consume fruits, insects, birds, and carrion. In urban environments, coyotes scavenge on accessible food items like garbage, spilled pet food, or fallen fruit, and prey on free-roaming cats or small dogs.
Coexisting Safely with Coyotes
Living alongside coyotes in Iowa requires proactive measures to minimize potential conflicts and ensure safety for both humans and pets. One of the most effective strategies involves eliminating attractants around residential areas. This includes securing all garbage in tightly sealed containers, avoiding feeding pets outdoors, and promptly cleaning up any fallen fruit from trees or spilled birdseed. These actions reduce the temptation for coyotes to frequent human-populated spaces in search of easy meals.
Protecting pets is another important aspect of coexistence. Small pets should always be supervised when outdoors or kept indoors, especially during peak coyote activity times like dawn, dusk, and night. If pets are in a fenced yard, the fence should be at least six feet tall and extend at least 18 inches below ground to prevent coyotes from climbing over or digging under. During walks, keeping dogs on a leash close to you can deter coyotes, as they are wary of people.
Should an encounter with a coyote occur, particularly one that does not immediately retreat, practicing “hazing” reinforces their natural fear of humans. Hazing involves making yourself appear large and loud by waving your arms, yelling, and making noise with items like whistles or air horns. Maintain eye contact and continue hazing until the coyote leaves the area. This teaches coyotes to associate humans with an unpleasant experience, discouraging them from becoming overly comfortable in populated areas.