Coyotes are adaptable wild canids increasingly present in urban and suburban landscapes. Their successful integration into human environments leads to more frequent sightings and interactions. Understanding how to coexist is important for human safety and wildlife welfare. This article provides practical guidance on coyote behavior, prevention, encounter response, and when to seek professional help.
Understanding Coyote Behavior
Coyotes are naturally wary animals, avoiding human contact. They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, active at night, dawn, and dusk. However, daytime sightings are not unusual, especially in winter or if accustomed to human presence.
In urban settings, coyotes are opportunistic feeders, adapting their diets to available sources. Their natural diet includes small rodents, birds, insects, and fruit. Urban coyotes may also consume human-associated foods like garbage, outdoor pet food, and fallen fruit. They occasionally prey on domestic cats and small dogs.
Coyotes establish territories that can range from 4 to 15 square miles, depending on food availability. They may den in burrows, under dense brush, or adapt to urban structures like sheds and decks. While generally solitary, they may travel in loose groups, especially during winter or when hunting larger prey.
Preventing Coyote Encounters
Proactive measures are effective in reducing the likelihood of coyotes frequenting your yard or neighborhood. Securing potential food sources is a primary step. Always keep pet food indoors and ensure trash cans have tight-fitting lids, taking them out only on the morning of pickup rather than the night before. Bird feeders can also attract coyotes indirectly by drawing in rodents and birds, which are natural prey.
Removing water sources and overgrown vegetation can also make your property less appealing. Trim dense shrubs and trees that might offer cover for coyotes. If you have sheds or decks, install L-shaped barriers or wire mesh around their bases to prevent coyotes from denning underneath.
Supervising pets is important, particularly small dogs and cats. Keep pets on a leash outdoors, especially after sunset and at night, and avoid retractable leashes. For properties, a coyote-proof fence can be installed, at least 6 feet tall with an underground barrier of 12 inches buried in an L-shape to deter digging. Coyote rollers on top of fences can also prevent climbing.
Responding to an Encounter
If you encounter a coyote, the immediate goal is to make it feel unwelcome and reinforce its natural wariness of humans. Never run or turn your back, as this can trigger a chase instinct. Instead, stand tall, make yourself appear as large as possible by waving your arms over your head, and make loud noises. Shouting in a deep, authoritative voice and stomping your feet are effective techniques.
Hazing involves using deterrents to encourage the coyote to leave. This can include blowing a whistle or air horn, banging pots and pans together, or spraying the coyote with a garden hose or a squirt gun filled with water. You can also throw small objects like sticks, rocks, or tennis balls near the coyote, but not directly at it, to startle it without causing injury. Continue hazing until the coyote completely leaves the area, even if it runs a short distance and then stops. If a pet is present, pick up small pets immediately.
When to Contact Authorities
While most coyote sightings do not require intervention, certain situations warrant contacting local animal control, wildlife agencies, or law enforcement. You should report coyotes that exhibit aggressive behavior, such as approaching people closely, showing no fear, or attacking pets. Signs of aggression can include agitated barking, growling, raised hackles, or lunging.
Contact authorities if you observe a coyote that appears sick or injured. Symptoms of illness may include matted fur, visible skin conditions, disorientation, stumbling, excessive salivation, or unusual tameness. If a coyote bites a human, report it immediately. Contact your city’s animal control or non-emergency police line for guidance on the appropriate local agency.