None of these attitudes has ever stopped the coyote. Originally a creature of the Western plains and deserts, it has spread outward across the country until it is found in every state except Hawaii. The openning up of dense forests, the extermination of larger predators, and ironically the intensive "control" effort directed at the coyote only encouraged it to spread its range. Also, coyotes are supremely adaptable- unlike most wildlife, when humans move in, coyotes learn to adapt to the changes- they don't just wander off and die. Some reports of how coyotes have "invaded" human neighborhoods isn't always entirely true- in many cases it was the humans who "invaded" the coyote's neighborhoods! The coyotes are just learning how to live with their new neighbors- sometimes to our dismay. We move in on the Wild, or it moves in on us, and we find that we don't always get along.

That's why I wrote this page. This is my attempt at answering some questions and perhaps bringing in some insights to the problem at hand. Obviously, I come from the perspective that wildness and wildlife is a good thing and something that adds value, interest, and beauty to our lives- it certainly does mine. However, that doesn't mean that you have to be so awed with the aforementioned beauty that you don't take common sense precautions when need be.

First of all- Do coyotes ever attack people? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. So do dogs, deer, and bunny rabbits (I watched as my friend was attacked by their pet rabbit!). All animals are potential aggressors, especially wild ones- that's why they're called wild. Coyotes are wild predators. There is one human fatality from coyotes- it was a three year old girl in the Los Angeles area of California back in 1983, I believe. I've never been able to find much about this attack but I remember reading that she was out playing in her front yard when attacked. Another thing I read somewhere was that someone may have been feeding the coyotes in the area, a bad idea with any predator in a populated area. This is very well known as a bad idea with bears- many "problem bears" are bears that were fed by humans and learned to associate them with food- a dangerous thing. This kind of situation is bad for people if the animal becomes more aggressive or bold and bad for the animal if it wanders up to the wrong person while looking for a handout. (Moral of the story- Don't feed the bears! (Or any other predators!))

Coyotes are opportunists and always looking and learning- it's a major factor in their success. They will check new things out and if they see a weakness or other interesting thing, they may press further. Is this new thing food? A source of danger? Should I care? They're very curious animals. So how should a person deal with them? (Well, if you're me, you make a mental squeal of joy whenever you see one and try to get closer and get it's picture!:)) For people who don't know the animal very well, I'd say watch what it is doing. Do you know dogs and their communications well? That will help- coyotes are just wild dogs. Coyotes usually run when they see people. However, in more protected or urban areas, they may have learned that people are not a huge threat. As long as the coyote hasn't learned to associate people with food, you're probably still OK.

Watch the animal- does it approach you? In a normal situation like this, the coyote will not run and may even act like it's ignoring you, but it won't approach you. (Unless you're in a National Park and you have a begger looking for a handout.) If it seems more interested in its surroundings than you, it's probably Ok. (Of course it will probably watch you to make sure you don't approach IT!) If the coyote were to approach you in an aggressive manner (think of an aggressive dog, hackles up, staring directly at you, tail may be wagging in short, stiff movements, perhaps moving in a stiff manner...) then you can worry!:) (Keep in mind, though, that sometimes when a coyote approaches someone it may just be curious- coyotes have been known to follow people for miles in the backcountry, apparently just out of curiosity.) However, if you don't know, or if you feel uneasy, then take common sense precaution. One thing with coyotes is, that unlike bears, you don't play dead- you do just the opposite! If you ever feel threatened by a coyote (or a mountain lion) show it how tough you are! Way too tough for it to even think about an attack! Wave your arms, yell, throw things, etc. and keep your eyes on the animal.

Kids are the most likely to experience a coyote attack. Tell your kids to fight back if ever attacked and don't let small children wander off (for many reasons, not just coyotes!) Pick children up if approached by a predator. However, just because coyotes are in an area is not a reason to panic. Coyote attacks are extremely rare- even trapped coyotes will usually just cower in front of a human. (In "Track of the Coyote", it tells how biologist Bob Crabtree doesn't even muzzle the trapped coyotes that he radio collars- he would just stare them down and all of the coyotes (except one!) stayed meek and submissive- quite a thing for a trapped wild predator to do as it's being handled by a human for the first time.) It's something if you think about all the thousands of human/coyote encounters (including ones the human is not aware of) that must happen everyday and DON'T result in any altercations. Coyotes are NOT slavering behind every bush waiting to pounce! (Though some hunting publications, like Outdoor Life, would like you to believe that.) But coyotes ARE wild animals and should be treated with due caution and respect. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, and that doesn't just go for coyotes.

Pets are a more likely target. Cats and small dogs are prey-like animals to a coyote. If you have smaller pets, keep them indoors or under watch. Keep dogs in a yard (though coyotes can get over fences) and don't leave dog food around that might attract wildlife. Keep dogs on a leash. Coyotes are not the only predators of small pets, larger hawks and great-horned owls both have been known to swoop in and grab a cat or small dog. ( I found a long-dead cat once in the desert that had been killed by a raptor of some sort- I could tell because its skin had a tell-tale "inside-out" appearance- sign of a bird of prey feeding. )So once again, it's a matter of vigilance.

Dogs and coyotes have a long history-which makes sense given that they're so closely related. (In fact they can breed and produce fertile offspring- the only thing preventing a widespread influx of "coydogs" is the fact that coyotes have a specific mating season (around January) and the rest of the year they're sterile. Coyotes kill small dogs and big dogs kill coyotes. This is true with most predator species- big cats kill smaller cats, and big wild dogs kill smaller wild dogs. (i.e. Wolves kill coyotes, coyotes kill foxes.) It may have to do with competition for territory and food.

However, things are not always hostile among these same animals! In an area where there are a few wolves, wolves and coyotes may actually breed and produce fertile offspring! (This is one of the reasons red wolves are endangered- their numbers were already low when coyotes moved in and the two species bred the surviving red wolves out of existence! During the early years of the 20th Century, when the last "Outlaw" wolves were being hunted down, there was at least one "outlaw" that I remember reading about who had two coyote companions who followed him where ever he went. Between dogs and coyotes the same bonds can occur. I read on a BB post about someone who lives on a ranch here in Arizona. Every day two coyotes make their rounds and play with the ranch dogs! After some time spent together, the coyotes then leave again. These ranch dogs are probably close to coyote size and that can make a difference. Someone else once posted something on my old newsgroup about how they were walking their dog one day up in the Sierra Nevadas and saw their dog playing with another dog. When their dog came running back to its owner, the other "dog" stopped when it spotted the human and fled. That's when this person realized it was a coyote, not a dog. I lost the email from this person- I'll try to find the copy I printed out and re-type it someday.

Coyotes and cats are always a bad mix- at least for the cats! I found out something interesting, though- would you believe the coyote is a defender of birds? It is, in a way. Coyotes keep the populations of feral cats down and consequently save countless birds. That is why our fringe desert areas are not overrun with cats and devoid of birds and other small wildlife. Coyotes will prey on birds if they get the chance, but they aren't effective bird predators- cats are. The same is true concerning other small predators. In fact, in southern California studies showed that songbirds are more abundant in suburban areas with coyotes than areas without them- the coyotes keep cat, fox, and skunk populations down- all of which are more effective bird and bird-nest predators than the coyotes. In some northern plains states, they've found the same thing to be true with ducks- coyotes keep fox and skunk populations down and unknowingly help out nesting ducks. All I can say about cats is they ought to be indoors anyway. It protects them from harm (cars, coyotes, hawks, owls, mean people, and other things) and protects the local wildlife. Although I know this isn't always easy- my Mom has two cats and lets them out all the time- I worry for them and I worry for the local small wildlife. All I can do in this case is just hope they never meet a coyote!

All in all living with coyotes around is like living with any other neighbors- hardly a reason to panic but at the same time take reasonable precautions and stay alert to what goes on around you. If you have a bad feeling pay attention to it but don't overreact either. Discourage predators from finding food around your house and keep an eye on small pets. Coyotes can pop up in suprisingly urban areas. (I believe there was a pair discovered living in New York City's Central Park!) Also, April-July (depending on where you live) is coyote denning time, and that means parent coyotes looking for food and the rare pair feeling defensive about their pups (though normal coyotes, at most, bark at human intruders). Respect wild animals for what they are. Mostly, though, this just means having something really interesting around and if you're lucky you might even catch a glimpse of one. (Or you can be like me and actively seek coyotes out!) I'm reminded of when I first came to the desert and was speaking to some folks at the local sporting goods store. They advised me to get a gun to protect myself from the coyotes- they insisted I shouldn't go out alone in the desert without one! Of course, I've been going out alone and unarmed in the desert for 10 years now and my only problem is getting anywhere at ALL close to one of those coyotes! I have a lot more real things to worry about in the desert than the coyotes. (The two-legged predator worries me a lot more than any four-legged one...though I'd hate to meet a hungry mountain lion!:))

One last little factoid to keep things in perspective- what is the most dangerous wild mammal in America- the one most fatalities occur because of? Bears? Coyotes? Cougars? Nope- Deer! "Bambi" is the roughest, toughest customer in the woods, and don't forget it! I've never been threatened by any wild predator but I've been threatened by several plant-eaters! One was a bison in rut in Yellowstone National Park. This same bull had just minutes earlier been standing in a parking lot while some extremely foolish camera-toting parents had their children "pose" with him from a distance of maybe 10 feet. (This seems like a good time to mention a heck of a lot of wild animal attacks are caused more by human stupidity than anything else....) The children walked away safely, and I was hovering around what I thought was a far enough distance, sketching in my drawing pad. The bull walked over to a tree and began "horning" it. He got more and more agitated- then stopped and looked straight at me with what seemed a murderous gleam in his eye. I suddenly realized that I was a long way from the car<:)....I left the area as quickly as I could without outright running from him. Another time was definitely closer to my own fault. In our desire to get close to a bull elk in northern California, several photographers and myself had begun to get too close. I was still a lot further away than most of the others, but pretty soon you find that the closest ones are blocking your view, and you edge even closer. Bad idea. The bull elk finally had enough and charged us. Actually, I think he showed a lot of restraint given how rude we were being. At this point I finally figured this out and left him alone. The other times have been with deer- and I find them less predictable. Park deer, in particular, are ones to watch out for. I love Park deer because you can really get to see them and watch them- and you get great photos! But they may attack, sometimes with little warning. Especially beware any antlered buck or any deer that expects you to feed them. Watch the tail- I often see deer which are being fed that have their tails up- an aggressive, dominant deer body language position in this situation. If a deer "hooves" you, it's not being cute- it's asserting dominance and may back that up with more than a threat. Yet I see people who laugh and giggle when this happens, not understanding what's actually going on. One thing you can do if you want to know how to deal with wildlife- LEARN everything you can about it. (Of course, you are probably already doing that if you just read this entire page!:)) If you're better informed, you're less likely to do something stupid or misinterpret something. Knowledge is power! Take care of yourself but don't forget to have a good time!:)

Back to Main Page tracks since February 2001