Coyote sightings are common in Rhode Island, prompting residents to learn about these adaptable animals and how to coexist safely. The eastern coyote (Canis latrans) is a relatively recent arrival to Rhode Island, first documented in 1966.
By 1969, they began appearing in communities statewide. Today, coyotes are established in every Rhode Island community, except Block Island. Their eastward expansion from historic prairie ranges was facilitated by forest clearing for agriculture and the eradication of large predators like wolves in New England. With fewer competitors and abundant food, coyotes filled a vacant ecological niche, establishing themselves throughout the state.
Understanding Coyote Behavior and Habitat
Eastern coyotes in Rhode Island typically have brownish-gray coats, slender builds, sharp, pointed faces, large ears, and bushy tails with black tips. Males weigh 35-45 pounds, females 30-40 pounds, making them larger than western coyotes due to historical interbreeding with wolves and domestic dogs.
Coyotes are generally shy and secretive, most active at night or around dawn and dusk. They may be seen during the day, especially when foraging for pups or in areas with readily available food. They communicate through barks, yips, and howls to identify themselves, declare territory, and convey their location. As opportunistic omnivores, their diet primarily includes small mammals like rabbits, squirrels, mice, and voles, but also deer fawns, birds, insects, and carrion. They also consume fruits such as apples, grapes, and berries, cultivated corn, and scavenge human-associated foods like garbage and pet food.
Coyotes are habitat generalists, meaning they can thrive in diverse environments, from undeveloped rural areas to suburban neighborhoods and even urban settings. In Rhode Island, they inhabit forests, fields, parks, beach fronts, and office parks. For shelter and raising young, coyotes may den in rock crevices, brush piles, or under buildings, and in urban areas, they can utilize storm drains or spaces beneath sheds and decks.
Coexisting Safely with Coyotes
Minimizing conflicts involves reducing attractants around residential areas, encouraging coyotes to maintain their natural wariness. Never intentionally feed coyotes, as this causes them to lose their fear of people and become emboldened.
All outdoor food sources, including trash, compost, and pet food, should be secured in containers with tight-fitting lids and only placed curbside on the morning of collection. Cleaning barbecue grills, picking up fallen fruit from trees, and removing dense brush or weeds from around yards can also help eliminate potential food sources and hiding spots.
Protecting pets is another important aspect of safe coexistence. Cats should be kept indoors, and dogs should always be supervised and walked on a leash, especially small breeds, as coyotes may view them as prey or competition. Feeding pets indoors is recommended, and if outdoor feeding is necessary, uneaten food should be removed immediately. For livestock, securing them in pens or buildings and considering electric fencing for poultry and rabbits can provide effective protection.
If a coyote is encountered and does not immediately retreat, hazing techniques can be employed to reinforce their natural fear of humans. This involves acting large and loud by waving arms, clapping hands, and shouting in an authoritative voice. Making loud noises with an air horn, whistle, or a “coyote shaker” (a can filled with pennies) can also be effective. Small objects like stones or sticks can be thrown towards, but not at, the coyote to scare them away without causing injury.
It is important to never run from a coyote or turn your back; instead, maintain eye contact and slowly back away if the animal does not retreat. Any coyote exhibiting bold or aggressive behavior towards humans, such as approaching for food or stalking, should be reported to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) or local animal control.