Are Coyotes Dangerous to Humans? Attacks and Coexistence

How often do coyotes attack people?

Given that millions of coyotes share the continent with hundreds of millions of people, attacks are strikingly rare. Reviews of reported incidents in the United States and Canada count on the order of a few hundred attacks over several decades, far fewer than the number of serious dog bites in a single year.

Most incidents are bites or scratches, and many happen in suburbs at the edge of wild land. Southern California, particularly the Los Angeles area, has recorded more attacks than anywhere else, and several studies have linked these to coyotes that were fed by residents.

Small children are the most frequent victims, because their size makes them less intimidating to a coyote. Adults are bitten occasionally, often while trying to protect a pet.

The two fatal attacks

Only two deaths from coyote attacks are confirmed. In 1981, a three-year-old girl was killed in her front yard in Glendale, California, in a neighborhood where people had been feeding coyotes. In 2009, a 19-year-old woman was killed by two coyotes while hiking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The Nova Scotia case surprised scientists because the coyotes had not been fed by people. It involved eastern coyotes, which are larger than western ones and carry some wolf ancestry; researchers later found that these coyotes relied heavily on moose there. Both cases remain extremely unusual.

Why some coyotes become bold

The main cause of coyote problems is food from people. When coyotes find pet food, garbage, compost, fallen fruit or birdseed, or are deliberately hand-fed, they learn to link humans with easy meals. Over time they may approach people, follow walkers with dogs or enter yards in daylight.

Wildlife biologists describe a typical progression: coyotes first seen at night, then in daylight, then approaching people and pets, and finally showing aggression. Breaking this cycle early, by removing food and scaring coyotes away, is the best way to prevent attacks. This is why feeding coyotes is illegal in many US cities and states.

Disease is a much smaller factor. Rabies in coyotes is rare in most of North America today, though any wild mammal acting strangely, such as staggering, circling or showing no fear at all, should be avoided and reported.

When are coyotes most likely to be bold?

Coyote encounters follow the calendar. In late winter, during the breeding season, coyotes travel more, call more and can be more defensive of their territory. From April to July, parents guard dens and young pups, and they may follow or “escort” a person or dog walking near the den, sometimes with barks and huffs, until the intruder has moved on.

Escorting is a defensive behavior, not a hunt. The safest response is simply to leave the area calmly, keep dogs close and take a different route for a few weeks. In fall, young coyotes leave their families and wander through unfamiliar areas, which explains a rise in sightings in suburbs and along roads.

Myths about dangerous coyotes

Myth: a coyote seen by day must be rabid. Healthy coyotes are often active in daylight, particularly when feeding pups.

Myth: coyotes lure dogs away to be ambushed by the pack. There is no good evidence for deliberate luring. A coyote that runs off with a dog in pursuit may lead it toward family members near a den, but this is defense, not a planned trap.

Coyotes and pets

Pets are at greater risk than people. Coyotes may see cats and small dogs as prey and larger dogs as rivals, especially near a den in spring and early summer. To protect pets:

• Keep cats indoors, particularly at dusk and at night.
• Walk dogs on a short leash and stay with them in the yard.
• Do not leave pet food or water bowls outside.
• Secure garbage and compost, and pick up fallen fruit.

What to do if you meet a coyote

Most encounters end with the coyote trotting away. If a coyote lingers or comes closer, wildlife agencies recommend:

• Do not run. Running may trigger a chase.
• Make yourself big and loud. Stand tall, wave your arms, shout and clap; this is called hazing and teaches the coyote to avoid people.
• Keep children and pets close. Pick up small children and small dogs.
• Back away slowly while facing the coyote if it does not leave.
• Never feed or approach a coyote, and never corner one or approach a den.

Report coyotes that approach or follow people to local animal control or your state or provincial wildlife agency. If someone is bitten, seek emergency medical help immediately and call 911 in the US or Canada.

Coyotes compared with other wild canids and cats

Coyotes cause more incidents than wolves, simply because they are far more common and live in cities, but each encounter is low risk. For comparison, see are wolves dangerous? and are bobcats dangerous? To learn how coyotes live and why they adapt so well to towns, start with the coyote profile.