Coyotes, adaptable wild canids, are increasingly present in suburban and urban environments across North America, leading to public apprehension regarding potential interactions with humans. While the sight of a coyote can be concerning, particularly for families with children, understanding their behavior and implementing safety measures can help foster safe coexistence. Attacks on humans remain rare occurrences.
Understanding the Risk of Coyote Attacks
Despite their widespread presence, studies indicate that most interactions between coyotes and people are non-aggressive. Over the last 50 years in North America, there have been fewer than 10 coyote attacks on humans per year on average.
Children are more susceptible to predatory attacks by coyotes, with most incidents involving small children under five years of age. This heightened risk for children is primarily due to their smaller size, which can be perceived as potential prey.
Factors Contributing to Coyote Aggression
Coyote aggression towards humans stems from specific behavioral changes. One primary factor is habituation, which occurs when coyotes lose their natural fear of humans. This loss of wariness results from intentional or unintentional feeding, such as leaving pet food outdoors, unsecure garbage, or fallen fruit. When coyotes associate human presence with readily available food sources, they may become bolder, approaching residential areas and people more frequently.
Disease, particularly rabies, can also cause coyotes to exhibit abnormal and aggressive behaviors. While rabies in coyotes is uncommon, a rabid animal may lose its natural fear, become unusually tame, lethargic, or display unprovoked aggression. Another significant factor leading to aggressive encounters is the protection of den sites or young pups. During pupping season, which runs from February through the fall, parent coyotes can become highly defensive and territorial, challenging perceived threats to their offspring.
Preventing Coyote Encounters
Minimizing coyote encounters involves proactive management of attractants and human behavior. Securing all outdoor food sources is a primary step, preventing coyotes from associating human dwellings with easy meals. This includes keeping trash in locked receptacles, avoiding leaving pet food or water bowls outside, and promptly removing fallen fruit from yards. Maintaining a clean yard by trimming overgrown bushes and removing debris can also reduce hiding spots.
Supervising children and pets when outdoors is important. Small children should never be left unattended, and pets, especially small dogs and cats, should be kept on leashes when outside and brought indoors at night. Installing tall fencing, ideally over six feet with a roll bar, can help deter coyotes from entering yards.
Hazing techniques can reinforce a coyote’s natural avoidance of humans. This involves making loud noises, waving arms, or throwing objects towards the coyote (not at them) when one is sighted to scare it away. Consistent hazing teaches coyotes that human areas are undesirable.
Responding to a Coyote Encounter
If you encounter a coyote, knowing how to respond can help ensure safety. Never run from a coyote, as this can trigger their natural chase instinct. Instead, stand tall and make yourself appear as large as possible by waving your arms overhead or opening a jacket. Maintain eye contact with the animal and make loud noises, such as yelling, clapping, or using a whistle or air horn.
If the coyote does not retreat, you can throw small objects like sticks, rocks, or tennis balls towards it, aiming to land near the animal to scare it without causing injury. If a small child or pet is present, pick them up immediately to make them less vulnerable. Slowly back away from the coyote while continuing to make noise and appear large, heading towards a building or more populated area if possible. Any aggressive coyote behavior, such as chasing, growling, or lunging, should be reported to local animal control or wildlife authorities promptly. If a bite occurs, seek immediate medical attention and contact your local health department for guidance regarding rabies exposure.