Coyotes (Canis latrans) are notably vocal animals, using a complex range of sounds to communicate information. Their vocal repertoire serves many functions, from establishing territorial boundaries to maintaining social bonds within a family unit. Understanding the context of these vocalizations is the only way to discern whether a sound is a simple greeting or a sign of an active predation event.
Identifying Predatory Vocalizations
The sounds a coyote makes during the actual moment of a kill or while consuming prey are typically not the familiar, drawn-out howls often heard at night. Instead, the final moments of a predatory event are marked by high-intensity, short, and aggressive vocalizations. The most common sounds are harsh growls, deep snarls, and rapid, guttural barks, all signaling immediate aggression or resource possession.
These close-quarters sounds are meant for immediate participants, not broadcast over long distances. Coyotes also produce a sharp, explosive sound called a “huff,” which involves the forceful expulsion of air through the nose and mouth. This combination of raspy, low-frequency growls and snarls indicates extreme agitation and physical dominance over a captured resource.
Vocalizations During the Hunt and Group Cohesion
The sounds made just before a kill, during the chase or assembly, are tonally different from the aggressive sounds of the attack itself. Coyotes use high-pitched yips, short barks, and group howls to coordinate and rally the pack prior to engaging prey. These vocalizations indicate high energy and a focused state, serving to locate other members or to signal the presence of prey.
A common sound during the pre-hunt phase is the excited, rapid-fire yip-howl, which can give the false impression that many more coyotes are present than there actually are. This chorus effect helps advertise the pack’s presence and size, intimidating both prey and rival coyotes. These sounds are generally higher in pitch and smoother in tone than the snarls and growls associated with the final moment of capture.
What Aggressive Vocalizations Communicate
Aggressive vocalizations, such as growls and snarls, serve the immediate purpose of resource guarding and dominance. A coyote growling over a fresh kill communicates a clear, short-range threat to any approaching animal, including other coyotes or scavengers. The intensity of the sound is directly proportional to the perceived threat to the resource it is protecting.
These sounds also communicate a state of high excitement and adrenaline to the animal itself and its family unit. Snarling and growling reinforce the dominance hierarchy, establishing immediate control and preventing conflict among the group over the food source.
What to Do When Predatory Sounds are Heard Nearby
If you hear the harsh, close-quarters growls and snarls that indicate a coyote is actively preying on an animal nearby, take immediate, non-confrontational action. Secure all pets by bringing them indoors immediately, as the sounds indicate a heightened state of predatory focus. Never approach the source of the aggressive sounds, as this could lead to a direct confrontation with a highly focused predator.
Hazing techniques are the safest way to discourage a coyote that is too close to a residential area. You should make yourself appear as large as possible by raising your arms and yelling loudly and aggressively at the animal. Using noisemakers, such as an air horn, whistle, or banging pots and pans, is also effective in startling the coyote and reinforcing its natural fear of humans. If the coyote retreats only a short distance, continue the hazing until it has completely left the area, maintaining a safe distance.