Coyotes are wild animals that are found throughout North America. They typically avoid humans, but encounters between coyotes and people do occur, especially in urban and suburban areas where development is encroaching on their natural habitat. If you happen to come across a group of coyotes, here are some tips on what to do to stay safe:
Why are you seeing a group of coyotes?
Coyotes are highly social animals that live in packs consisting of parents and their offspring. A group of coyotes that you see together are likely a family unit. Packs work cooperatively to hunt prey, defend their territory, and raise pups. You may encounter a pack of coyotes for the following reasons:
- They are active animals and may be out searching for food or patrolling their territory.
- Development has fragmented their natural habitat, bringing suburban areas and coyotes into closer proximity.
- They’ve adapted well to urban and suburban environments and have learned there is readily available food, water, and shelter.
- You are close to or on their territory and they are simply curious or being defensive.
- It’s mating season between January and March, so they may be more visible as pairs travel together.
- It’s pup season between April and August, so adults will be active hunting for food for their growing pups.
How should you react if you encounter a pack of coyotes?
Here are some tips for reacting properly if you come across a group of coyotes when out walking or enjoying the outdoors:
- Remain calm and do not run or turn your back. Running may trigger a chase response.
- Maintain eye contact and make yourself look as large as possible by waving your arms or jacket above your head.
- Yell loudly and firmly at the coyotes to scare them off.
- Back away slowly while continuing to make noise and maintain eye contact.
- If you have small children with you, pick them up so they don’t run or panic.
- If the coyotes do not retreat, throw rocks, sticks, or other projectiles in their direction.
- Carry a noisemaker, whistle, walking stick, or pepper spray that can be used to intimidate bold coyotes.
What to do if the coyotes don’t back down
In the rare case that yelling, making noise, and threatening postures don’t cause the coyotes to retreat, be prepared to escalate your response:
- Be more aggressive – shout louder and make yourself appear even larger.
- Throw rocks, sticks, tennis balls, or anything you have on hand directly at the coyotes.
- Carry a sturdy walking stick or golf club that can be used to intimidate coyotes who get too close.
- Use pepper spray or bear repellent if you happen to have it with you.
- If possible, move into a building, car, or area where you can safely put a barrier between yourself and the coyotes.
- If needed as a last resort, physically engage the coyotes by hitting, jabbing or swinging your stick/golf club to fend them off.
When to call for help with aggressive coyotes
Call 911 or local authorities right away if:
- The coyotes appear sick or diseased.
- The coyotes are acting extremely bold and aggressive.
- The standard techniques for scaring them off don’t work.
- The coyotes approach within 10 feet despite your efforts.
- You feel immediate danger from a potential attack.
Wildlife authorities have better resources to control problem coyote situations through trapping, tracking collars, or other removal methods. They can also test coyotes for rabies or distemper to protect public health if necessary.
How to prevent future coyote encounters
Here are some tips to minimize coyote conflicts in your neighborhood:
- Never deliberately feed coyotes or leave out pet food/water which can attract them.
- Ensure that garbage cans and compost bins have tight fitting lids and can’t be tipped over.
- Trim bushes and vegetation to reduce hiding places and potential den sites.
- Install motion sensor lights and alarms to scare off coyotes on your property.
- Bring pets in at night and supervise them when outside to prevent coyote attacks.
- Clear out bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
- Limit food availability by cleaning up fallen fruit/berries from trees and gardens.
- Close off crawl spaces under sheds, porches, and decks to prevent access.
- Work with neighbors to make sure entire neighborhood is taking preventative measures.
What to do about a den site on your property
It’s best to stay away from known or suspected coyote dens. Mother coyotes will defend the area aggressively. Here’s what you can do:
- Note the location and avoid getting close.
- Keep pets away as they can disturb den sites and be attacked.
- Contact wildlife authorities to track the den and decide proper removal steps when pups have matured and left.
- Monitor the area for increased coyote activity as the parents hunt to feed their young.
- Secure garbage cans and remove other attractants until the den is abandoned.
- Use loud noises, lights, or scents to encourage them to move off the property.
- Clear away brush cover if allowed in your area to make it less attractive for future dens.
How dangerous are coyote attacks on humans?
Full-on coyote attacks on adult humans are extremely rare. Here are the stats:
| Type of Incident | Annual Average in U.S. |
|---|---|
| Fatal attacks on adults | 1 every 20-30 years |
| Bites or scratches | Less than 16 per year |
For perspective, domestic dogs bite over 4.5 million people annually in the U.S., often inflicting serious injuries. Deer are responsible for killing around 120 people each year in collisions. Bees, wasps, and snakes all cause multiple fatalities annually as well.
So while caution around coyotes is warranted, especially with children and pets, the overall risk of being attacked by a coyote remains very low compared to many other common hazards.
Are coyote attacks on pets a real threat?
Coyotes do view small pets such as cats and small dogs as potential prey. Here are the relative risks by the numbers:
| Pet Type | Estimated Annual Attacks in U.S. |
|---|---|
| Cats | 300,000 to 500,000 |
| Small dogs | 500 to 3,000 |
| Large dogs | 100 to 150 |
The takeaway is that coyote attacks on cats and small dogs occur regularly in suburban areas. Larger dogs are much less likely to be attacked but it can still happen in some cases. Keeping pets supervised, using leashes, and not leaving pet food outside will greatly reduce these risks.
How do I report a coyote attack or sighting?
Contact your local animal control, police department, or wildlife agency to report coyote incidents and request removal or monitoring as needed. Having detailed information will help them respond effectively.
Information to report includes:
- Date, time, and exact location of the encounter.
- Number of coyotes involved and approximate size/weight.
- Tag numbers or collars if the coyotes were tagged.
- Detailed description of the coyotes’ behavior – curious, aggressive, scared etc.
- If your pet or someone was bitten/scratched.
- Your contact information for any follow up.
Photos or videos are also very helpful for identifying the coyotes. The authorities can use this information to track problem animals and decide on solutions like trapping or relocation if needed.
How can officials manage aggressive coyotes?
Animal control and wildlife officials have several options for dealing with aggressive coyote behavior:
- Warning signs – Posted around parks/trails to alert people to coyote presence.
- Surveillance – Use trail cameras or night observations to find dens or track movements.
- Hazing – Use scary tactics like loud sounds or chasing to make coyotes more wary of humans.
- Trap and euthanize – Problem coyotes may need to be humanely killed as a last resort.
- Live trapping – Catch and relocate habituated coyotes away from suburban areas.
- Lethal removal – Shoot or poison coyotes in the extreme cases where aggression continues.
Officials try hazing and aversive conditioning first to encourage natural coyote fear of humans. Selective trapping or lethal control is used only when necessary as a last resort for public safety.
Conclusion
Encountering a group of urban coyotes can be an unnerving experience, but some simple precautions will keep you safe in most cases. Remain calm, make yourself appear large, make loud noises, and back away slowly. Severe coyote attacks are very rare, but pets are at greater risk, so supervise them when outdoors. Report aggressive coyotes to wildlife authorities so they can take appropriate management measures. With proper care and coexistence practices, coyotes can retain their natural place in suburban environments.