Coyotes are adaptable animals whose activity patterns extend beyond nighttime hours. While often associated with nocturnal activity, coyotes hunt during the day, adjusting schedules based on environmental and biological factors. They thrive in diverse landscapes, from wildlands to urban fringes.
Understanding Coyote Activity
Coyotes are naturally crepuscular, active during dawn and dusk. This heightened activity coincides with the movement of many prey species like rodents and rabbits. Their activity patterns are flexible, shifting between diurnal (daytime) and nocturnal (nighttime) behaviors.
In areas with human presence, coyotes become more nocturnal to avoid contact. This adaptation allows them to utilize resources when human activity is minimal, helping them survive in altered landscapes. Conversely, in remote regions with less human disturbance, coyotes are more active during daylight, hunting and foraging when conditions are favorable.
Factors Driving Daytime Hunts
Daytime coyote hunts are driven by necessity and opportunity. During spring and summer, feeding young pups increases parental hunting efforts. Both male and female coyotes hunt around the clock to provide food for their litter, sometimes resorting to daytime hunting to meet caloric demands. Pups transition from milk to solid food around 3 to 4 weeks, requiring consistent prey.
Prey availability also influences daytime hunting. If a food source, such as diurnal rodents, is abundant, coyotes adjust their schedule. Coyotes are opportunistic hunters, seizing any chance to find food, whether live prey or carrion. In winter, when food sources are scarcer, coyotes may increase daytime activity to find necessary calories, sometimes venturing closer to human settlements.
Coexisting with Coyotes
Understanding coyote behavior is important for safe coexistence, especially given their potential for daytime activity. Seeing a coyote during the day is not necessarily cause for alarm, but it warrants awareness. Never intentionally feed coyotes, as this can cause them to lose natural fear of humans and associate people with food, leading to bold behavior. Unintentional feeding, such as leaving pet food outdoors or unsecured garbage, also attracts them.
To minimize conflict, secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids and avoid leaving pet food outside. Supervising pets, especially small dogs, and keeping them on a leash in public areas can reduce risks. If a coyote approaches, making loud noises, waving your arms, or throwing small objects can help deter it and reinforce its natural wariness of humans.