The coyote, Canis latrans, is a highly adaptable canine species that has expanded its range across North and Central America, thriving particularly in suburban and urban environments. This success is due to its tolerance for human activities and its ability to utilize resources in developed areas. As human populations expand, encounters with this predator have become increasingly common. Coyotes are naturally wary of people, but they can lose that fear—a process called habituation—when food sources like unsecured trash or pet food become readily available. This loss of wariness drives human-coyote conflict, making it necessary to understand how to react when a sighting occurs.
Immediate Actions During a Sighting
If you spot a coyote that is not immediately running away, the most important action is to maintain its natural fear of humans through “hazing.” Hazing uses deterrents to move the animal out of an area and discourage its presence. Start by establishing a dominant posture: stand tall, make eye contact, and wave your arms to appear larger.
Never turn your back or run away from a coyote, as this can trigger its predatory chase instinct. Instead, use loud noises and movement to make the animal uncomfortable. Yell loudly, clap your hands, stomp your feet, or use noisemakers like whistles or air horns. You can also throw small, non-injurious objects like sticks or small rocks toward the animal, aiming to land them nearby to startle it. Continue this hazing until the coyote completely leaves the area.
Protecting Vulnerable Family Members
When a coyote is present, secure vulnerable family members, specifically small pets and children, before attempting to haze the animal. Small dogs and cats are often viewed as potential prey by coyotes, and attacks on them are common. This threat is highest during the coyote’s denning and breeding seasons, typically from January through May.
Never leave small pets unattended outside, even in a fenced yard, and keep cats indoors to minimize risk. If a coyote is spotted while walking, immediately pick up small dogs and place them behind you before hazing the coyote. Larger dogs should be kept on a short leash, especially during dawn and dusk hours when coyotes are most active. Teach children never to approach or feed any wildlife. If a child encounters a coyote, they should be instructed to slowly retreat to an adult or safe location, make themselves large, and make noise.
Proactive Measures to Deter Future Visits
The most effective long-term strategy for minimizing coyote encounters is to eliminate the attractants that draw them to residential areas. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders, frequently drawn to neighborhoods by easy access to food. All outdoor food sources, including pet food, unsecured garbage, and compost piles, must be removed or tightly sealed.
Securing trash cans with locking or bungee-corded lids is necessary, and cans should not be placed at the curb until the morning of collection. Fallen fruit from trees and seed from bird feeders should be promptly cleared, as these attract rodents which are primary coyote prey. Removing dense brush, tall weeds, and wood piles eliminates potential den sites and hiding spots for coyotes and their prey. Installing motion-sensor lighting can deter coyotes by startling them with a sudden burst of light. For physical barriers, a fence should be at least six feet high, and an apron of wire mesh should be buried 18 inches into the ground to prevent digging underneath.
Determining When Professional Intervention Is Needed
While most coyote sightings do not require a call to authorities, certain behaviors indicate habituation or illness that warrants professional intervention. A coyote that exhibits persistent, aggressive behavior, such as growling, stalking people, or ignoring intense hazing efforts, poses a threat to public safety. Similarly, if a coyote appears visibly injured, sick, or is displaying erratic behavior, suggesting diseases like rabies, it should not be approached.
In these instances, contact your local animal control agency or state wildlife management department. A simple sighting of a coyote moving through a neighborhood during the day is not an emergency. However, an animal that has established a den under a porch or in a high-traffic public area should be reported. Emergency services like 911 should only be contacted if a coyote is actively attacking a person or pet.