Coyote presence across North America, from remote wilderness to densely populated urban parks, often prompts public anxiety about potential conflict. These highly adaptable members of the dog family have successfully expanded their range, leading to more frequent human encounters. While their opportunistic nature can generate fear, data shows that severe attacks on people are extremely rare. Understanding coyote behavior and the circumstances that lead to conflict is necessary for safely coexisting with this widespread predator.
The Official Record of Fatalities
The documented record of human fatalities directly attributed to coyotes in the United States and Canada is exceptionally small. Only two confirmed instances of death resulting from a coyote attack have been recorded in North America since records have been kept. These isolated tragedies occurred decades apart, highlighting the statistical rarity of such an event.
The first fatality happened in 1981 in Glendale, California, when a three-year-old child was fatally wounded by an urban coyote near her home. The second occurred in 2009, when a 19-year-old folk singer was attacked by a pack of coyotes while hiking alone in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia. These two incidents are the only known cases where a coyote has caused a human fatality. In nearly all other recorded encounters, the animals display a natural wariness of humans, and their actions are more often driven by habituation than by predatory intent.
Analyzing Non-Fatal Incidents and Risk
While fatal attacks are almost unheard of, non-fatal incidents are more common, though still low in number compared to other wildlife encounters. Approximately 367 attacks on humans were documented across the United States and Canada between 1977 and 2015. Most of these incidents resulted in minor injuries, as victims were usually able to scare the animal off by yelling or throwing objects.
The primary factor driving increased conflict is habituation, which occurs when coyotes lose their natural fear of people due to accessible food sources. Coyotes that are intentionally or unintentionally fed—such as through unsecured garbage, pet food left outside, or fallen fruit—begin to associate human spaces with easy meals. This loss of wariness can lead to bold behaviors like approaching people, investigating yards, or following pets.
Coyote attacks are often classified as either predatory or investigative. Children, particularly toddlers, are at greater risk for more serious injuries in predatory attacks. This higher risk is attributed to their small size, which may be perceived as prey, and their inability to defend themselves. Nearly 40% of victims documented in one study were children ten years old or younger.
The expansion of coyotes into urban and suburban environments increases the overlap with human activity, but this does not automatically increase risk. The true risk only rises when human actions, such as direct feeding or providing access to attractants, create a behavioral shift in the animals. A coyote that remains wild and wary poses little threat, while a habituated one may become a nuisance or, in rare cases, a danger.
Preventing Conflict and Coexisting Safely
Managing human behavior is the most effective strategy for preventing conflict and encouraging coyotes to maintain their distance. Never intentionally feeding coyotes is paramount, as is eliminating all sources of unintentional feeding.
Eliminating Attractants
To remove the primary attractants that draw coyotes into residential areas and cause habituation, focus on these steps:
- Secure all garbage in tough containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Wait until the morning of collection to place garbage curbside.
- Remove outdoor pet food and water bowls.
- Clear fallen fruit promptly from the ground.
Additionally, small pets like cats and small dogs should not be left unattended outside, especially at night. Coyotes may view unattended small pets as potential prey or competition.
Hazing Techniques
Using a technique called hazing is an important tool to reinforce the animal’s natural fear of humans when one is encountered. Active hazing involves making oneself appear “big and loud.” It is important to continue hazing until the coyote completely leaves the area, ensuring the animal learns that human presence is a negative experience. Effective deterrents include:
- Standing tall, waving arms, and yelling at the coyote.
- Making loud noises with an air horn or whistle.
- Using shaker cans filled with pennies.