Seeing a coyote during daylight hours often causes concern, as many people assume these animals are strictly nocturnal and that a daytime appearance signals a problem. This assumption is largely inaccurate, as coyotes are highly adaptable canids whose activity patterns shift based on their environment and the presence of humans. Understanding the difference between a coyote’s normal, opportunistic behavior and a genuine sign of illness or habituation is important for maintaining safety and coexistence.
When Daytime Sightings Are Normal
Coyotes are naturally crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, but they are capable of being active at any time of day. In areas with little human disturbance, coyotes may be diurnal, hunting throughout the day when their prey is most available. Their tendency to be nocturnal in populated areas is primarily an adaptation to avoid people, not a fixed biological requirement.
The need to forage drives much of their daytime movement, as coyotes are opportunistic hunters of small prey like rodents, which are active during the day. Their schedules are flexible and depend on when they can find a meal with the least effort. A coyote moving through a neighborhood in the afternoon may simply be traveling between resting areas or hunting.
Seasonal factors also increase the likelihood of daytime sightings, particularly during the late spring and summer months. This is when parents are raising pups, creating a high energy demand for the family group. Hunting activity must increase dramatically to feed the young, often requiring both parents to forage during daylight hours. A coyote seen moving quickly and purposefully is most likely a parent focused on finding food.
Signs That a Coyote Is Habituated or Sick
While a normal daytime sighting is not a cause for concern, a coyote that exhibits no fear of people or appears physically unwell presents a different situation. The two main reasons a coyote might act abnormally during the day are habituation and disease. A habituated coyote is one that has lost its natural wariness of humans, often because it has associated people or neighborhoods with an easy food source.
Signs of habituation include approaching people or pets, standing its ground when yelled at, or lingering in yards and playgrounds. This lack of appropriate fear is a behavioral problem caused by intentional or unintentional human feeding, such as leaving out pet food, accessible garbage, or birdseed. A habituated coyote is not inherently aggressive, but its boldness can lead to unsafe close-range interactions, especially with pets.
A sick coyote may move erratically or unnaturally during the day due to neurological impairment. Symptoms of common diseases like Canine Distemper or Rabies can manifest as unusual daytime activity. Signs of illness include staggering, excessive drooling, a lack of coordination, walking in circles, or unusual tameness. In the case of distemper, coyotes may also exhibit discharge from the eyes and nose or patchy fur loss from mange. Both diseases impair the animal’s natural functions and ability to avoid danger.
How to Handle a Daytime Encounter Safely
If you encounter a coyote that is not fleeing and appears comfortable around you, the safest response is to practice “hazing” to re-instill its natural fear of humans. Hazing involves making yourself look large and acting aggressively toward the animal to make the experience unpleasant. You should stand tall, wave your arms, and yell loudly to scare the coyote away.
Effective hazing techniques also include using noisemakers, such as air horns, whistles, or shaking cans filled with coins. You can also throw small objects like pebbles or tennis balls near the coyote, not at it, to frighten it without causing injury. It is important to continue hazing until the animal completely leaves the area, as stopping too soon teaches the coyote that your actions are not a threat.
If you are walking a pet, keep it leashed and immediately pick up any small dog or cat. Supervising small children and pets outdoors prevents unwanted encounters. If a coyote shows clear signs of disease, such as staggering or unprovoked aggression, or if hazing is repeatedly ineffective, contact local animal control or wildlife authorities immediately.