The coyote (Canis latrans) is an adaptable canine predator found across North and Central America, thriving in urban and suburban environments. Coyote activity and visibility shift dramatically in response to their annual reproductive and survival cycles. These seasonal changes dictate where coyotes travel, how vocal they are, and how protective they become of their territory.
Winter Activity: Mating and Territoriality
The winter months, from late December through February, mark the beginning of the coyote breeding season. Coyotes are socially monogamous, and this period focuses on reaffirming pair bonds. Increased vocalizations, such as howling and yipping, become common as coyotes seek mates and defend their territories against rivals. The gestation period is about 60 to 63 days, requiring the mated pair to secure a territory before the pups arrive. This territorial defense leads to increased travel and movement, especially by the male, as they patrol their range. Sightings may become more frequent because the lack of dense foliage offers less natural cover.
Spring Activity: Denning and Pup Protection
Activity levels change significantly from March through May as the focus shifts to the newborn litter. Pups are typically born in April, numbering between three and twelve, and are housed in a den the female either digs or renovates. The parents become highly active and protective, with both males and females guarding the den site and providing food. This intense need for sustenance often makes coyotes bolder in their hunting, leading to increased visibility near human-occupied areas. The adults remain defensive of a larger denning area that can extend a quarter-mile or more, even after the den is no longer used. This protective behavior, sometimes expressed as “escorting” or hazing, warns people or dogs away from their young. Spring is often when coyotes are most likely to be seen, as they prioritize feeding and safety.
Summer Activity: Rearing and Training
The summer months (June through August) involve a transition from the den to above-ground activity for the growing pups. After about three weeks, pups move to hidden outdoor resting spots known as rendezvous areas, which serve as the family’s base of operations. The family unit is active as adults teach the young essential survival and hunting skills. Pups begin to practice foraging, but parents remain the primary source of food for several months. This period offers the highest likelihood of seeing multiple coyotes together, as the entire family unit hunts and travels as a group. Coyotes may also be more active during the day to acquire the large volume of food necessary to support the litter.
Autumn Activity: Dispersal and Foraging
From September through November, the primary event is the dispersal of juvenile coyotes born in the spring. At six to nine months of age, these young coyotes leave their birth territory to search for their own range and potential mates. This movement results in an increase in transient coyotes navigating unfamiliar areas, often leading to a spike in sightings. These inexperienced individuals may be less wary of humans as they travel across large distances, increasing the chance of an encounter. Coyotes also shift their foraging behavior to prepare for winter scarcity. Their diet becomes more opportunistic, incorporating a wider variety of foods, including berries and fallen fruits, alongside small mammals, to build up fat reserves.