Coyotes are adaptable wild canids found across North America, from natural landscapes to urban areas. Understanding their behavior and potential risks helps people coexist safely with these animals.
Understanding Coyote Habits
Coyotes are medium-sized members of the dog family. They inhabit diverse environments, including forests, grasslands, deserts, and urban settings. Their varied diet includes small mammals, fruits, insects, and carrion.
While they can be active at any time, coyotes are frequently more active during dawn and dusk. They are naturally timid and generally prefer to avoid human contact, often fleeing when they detect human presence.
When Coyotes Pose a Risk
Coyotes can pose a risk to domestic animals, particularly small pets. Cats and small dog breeds are often perceived as potential prey, especially if left unsupervised outdoors. Larger dogs can also be at risk, particularly during the coyote breeding season or if displaying territorial behavior near coyote dens. Coyotes can also transmit diseases such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus to pets.
Coyotes are opportunistic predators and can threaten livestock like poultry, sheep, goats, and young calves. Lambs and young calves are particularly vulnerable.
Attacks on humans are uncommon, but they can occur under specific conditions. One primary factor is habituation, which happens when coyotes lose their natural fear of people due to intentional or unintentional feeding, such as leaving pet food outdoors or unsecured garbage. Coyotes may also exhibit aggressive behavior when defending their den sites or pups during pupping season. Sick or injured coyotes may also behave unpredictably.
Preventing Coyote Encounters
Minimizing attractants around your property can significantly reduce the likelihood of coyote encounters. Secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids and avoid leaving pet food or water bowls outdoors. Cleaning up fallen fruit from trees and regularly raking areas around bird feeders to remove spilled seed can also deter coyotes by eliminating food sources and reducing prey animals like rodents.
Supervising pets is important, particularly during dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active. Keeping cats indoors and walking dogs on a short leash, rather than a retractable one, provides better control and safety.
Fencing can also be effective, especially if it is at least six feet tall and includes measures to prevent digging underneath, such as burying the fence one foot deep or adding a mesh apron. Pruning dense vegetation around your yard can remove potential hiding spots for coyotes. If coyotes appear too comfortable around humans, hazing them can re-establish their natural wariness.
Responding to a Coyote Sighting
If you encounter a coyote that does not immediately retreat, it is important to avoid running, as this can trigger a chase response. Instead, make yourself appear as large and intimidating as possible by standing tall, waving your arms overhead, and shouting loudly. Using noisemakers like whistles or air horns can also help scare them away.
Throwing small objects such as rocks, sticks, or tennis balls near the coyote, not necessarily to hit it, can help deter it. If you have small children or pets with you, pick them up immediately to keep them safe. If a coyote exhibits unusually bold or aggressive behavior, such as not being deterred by hazing, it is advisable to report the sighting to local animal control or wildlife authorities.