San Francisco is increasingly home to coyotes. Once absent due to past eradication efforts, coyotes began to return in the early 2000s, establishing themselves within the city’s diverse environments. This re-establishment highlights their adaptability to urban areas.
San Francisco’s Coyote Habitats
Coyotes primarily inhabit green spaces and natural areas, but their territories often extend into adjacent residential neighborhoods. The Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and Twin Peaks are well-known areas where coyotes are frequently sighted. These locations offer suitable conditions due to the availability of cover, water sources, and food.
Within these parks, coyotes establish dens in dense vegetation and wooded areas for raising young. The Presidio, for example, offers a good habitat with wild food sources, water, and open green space. Similarly, Golden Gate Park’s extensive size and natural elements support at least two coyote families, with territories that can extend into surrounding neighborhoods.
Urban Coyote Adaptations
Coyotes thrive in urban environments by adapting their behaviors and diets to available resources. Their diet is opportunistic, including rodents, rabbits, and voles, but also human-associated foods like garbage, pet food, and fallen fruit. A study found that human-origin food was present in 78% of collected samples, with chicken being a significant item.
These animals often shift their activity to be more nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) to avoid human encounters. This behavioral plasticity helps them navigate busy urban landscapes.
Coyotes are intelligent, exhibiting problem-solving skills. Their social structures also contribute to urban success. They may live alone, in pairs, or in small family groups, with a bonded alpha pair typically breeding once a year. While their territories are smaller in urban settings compared to rural ones, these family units effectively utilize fragmented habitats.
Living Safely Alongside Coyotes
Coexisting with coyotes involves understanding their behavior and minimizing conflicts. Never intentionally or unintentionally feed coyotes, as this causes them to lose their natural wariness of humans and can lead to bold or aggressive behavior. Securing trash, keeping pet food indoors, and cleaning up fallen fruit can prevent coyotes from being attracted to residential areas.
Keeping pets on leashes, especially at dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active, helps reduce potential interactions. Small pets, like cats, are safest kept indoors. If a coyote approaches too closely, hazing techniques such as yelling, waving arms, making loud noises, or throwing small objects can deter them.
Continue hazing until the coyote completely leaves the area, as they may stop and observe before fully retreating. For aggressive or unusually bold coyote behavior, report incidents to relevant authorities like San Francisco Animal Care and Control. Coyotes are generally shy and avoid human confrontation, and serious incidents are rare.