Things You Need to Know
Coyotes are common in rural and suburban areas across Arizona. Although naturally curious, coyotes are usually timid animals that run away if challenged. Coyotes can be a risk to people once they become comfortable around humans, usually as a result of feeding or indifference. On rare occasions, human-fed coyotes have bitten people. If you see a coyote near your home, don’t ignore it. The coyote may lose its natural fear of humans, which can eventually lead to bold behavior. Act aggressively toward coyotes during encounters to re-instill a fear of humans.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not respond to calls to relocate or remove coyotes unless they are a public safety concern. Those needing assistance relocating wildlife should contact a licensed wildlife removal business.
LIVING WITH COYOTES
Coyotes are abundant in the western United States and throughout Arizona. They are well adapted to living in cities, suburbs, rural towns and agricultural areas. Coyotes are often observed at night or around sunrise, and it is not uncommon to see one in a backyard, golf course, park or neighborhood. While coyotes are common in rural and suburban areas across Arizona, interactions with humans are generally rare. Most coyotes are wary of humans and actively avoid them. However, interactions may be increasing because of urbanization, coyote range expansion and changing human behaviors, which raises concerns about potential conflicts.
If there is a regular coyote food source in one yard on your block, coyotes will be active throughout the neighborhood. All potential food sources must be removed to keep coyotes from becoming dangerously comfortable around humans. An indifferent attitude toward a coyote in your yard has the same effect as feeding it. If a coyote is in your yard, make the animal aware it is not welcome.
DESCRIPTION AND HABITS
- Medium-sized, doglike members of the canine family.
- Coat ranges from grayish-brown to reddish-brown, often with lighter undersides.
- Large, pointed ears; long, narrow nose; and a bushy, black-tipped tail.
- Typically measure 3.5 to 4 feet in length, including the tail, and stand roughly 2 feet tall at the shoulder.
- Arizona coyotes typically weigh 20 to 30 pounds, with males being larger than females.
- Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores with a varied diet that includes both animals and plants. They primarily prey on small mammals such as rabbits and rodents but will also consume birds, snakes, insects, fish, fruit, carrion and livestock. In urban and suburban areas, coyotes may also incorporate human-provided food sources such as garbage and ornamental fruits into their diet.
- Known for their vocalizations, including howls, yelps and barks, often heard at night or early morning.
- Although coyotes live in packs, they usually travel and hunt alone or in loose pairs.
- Coyotes mate between January and March, and females usually bear four to seven pups in an underground den between March and May.
For more details about coyotes visit the coyote species page.
Possible Conflicts With Humans
Coyote interactions can range from relatively benign sightings of the occasional animal without additional incidents to preying on pets or livestock, to the most extreme cases of coyotes attacking people. Conflicts often occur when coyotes become food conditioned or habituated because of increased access to human related food sources.
Coyotes are curious, clever and adaptable, and they will take advantage of any available food source. Yards with abundant fruit on the ground, pet food, livestock, unsecured garbage cans or unattended pets such as small dogs and cats are often easy food sources for coyotes. Although uncommon, bold coyotes have attacked small dogs on retractable leashes. If you have small pets, they need to be protected from coyotes and other predators. A 6-foot tall fence is not necessarily good protection, as coyotes are skilled jumpers. Keep small pets indoors or in an enclosed outdoor area with a roof, supervise them when they are outside at night or early morning, and always walk them on a leash.
Many conflicts with coyotes occur because of improperly secured domestic birds such as chickens, ducks and turkeys. Domestic birds should be kept in an enclosed area with sturdy materials and a roof. Spreading seed outside the enclosure may attract other wildlife, such as birds and rabbits, which could in turn attract coyotes.
What Attracts Them?
Generally, coyotes frequent a home or neighborhood if they find food, water or shelter.
- Food can include rabbits, birds, rodents, livestock, pet food, unattended pets, garbage or fallen fruit.
- Water sources can include a pet’s water bowl, fountain or swimming pool.
- Shelter can include shrubs, a storm drain or any cave-like area beneath a shed, porch or unused building.
In many neighborhoods where rabbits, quail, doves, roof rats or pack rats are plentiful, it will be nearly impossible to completely eliminate coyote presence. The most effective approach is a neighborhood-wide effort to learn how to coexist with coyotes by managing attractants like garbage, pet food and small pets, and by hazing them if they approach. It is never a good idea to allow coyotes to get too comfortable around humans. If you see a coyote near your home, scare it off by making loud noises, yelling, clapping or blowing a whistle.
What Should I Do?
IN AN EMERGENCY
If a coyote attacks a human, it is important to report it to the Arizona Game and Fish Department or call 911. Anyone bitten by a coyote must immediately seek medical attention from a qualified health care provider.
Call your local Arizona Game and Fish Department office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. After hours and on weekends, a dispatcher is available at 623-236-7201.
if you encounter a COYOTE
- Never approach a coyote.
- Keep eye contact.
- DO NOT turn and run away. Running may stimulate a coyote’s instinct to chase.
- Scare the coyote off with loud noises. Shout, blow a whistle, play loud music, bang pots and pans or rattle an empty soda can filled with pebbles (a “coyote shaker”).
- Wave your hands or objects such as sticks or brooms.
- Throw small stones or sticks, or use a commercial repellent such as Mace if the coyote approaches.
- Spray the coyote with a hose.
- Walk pets on a leash. If a coyote is observed on a walk, pick up small pets and protect small children.
- Move toward other people, a building or an area with activity.
To Prevent Human-Wildlife Problems
- Remove attractants outside your home, including pet food, water sources, bird feeders, fallen fruit and garbage that can attract rodents and birds for coyotes to eat.
- Never feed wildlife.
- Encourage your neighbors not to feed coyotes or leave anything out that might attract them or other animals such as rabbits, squirrels and birds.
- Feed your pets inside or remove uneaten pet food between feedings. Never leave small pets unattended, especially at dusk and dawn when coyotes are most active. If it is necessary to leave them outside unattended, keep them in a sturdy enclosure with a roof.
- Keep poultry, rabbits, rodents or any livestock in secure enclosures with sturdy roofs.
- Trim and remove any ground-level shrubs and branches that provide hiding places or den sites for coyotes or their prey.
- Secure garbage containers and put out trash containers on the morning of pickup, not the night before.
- When you encounter coyotes while walking a small pet, pick up your pet and leave the area.
- Install motion-activated lights, sprinklers or noise makers.
- Work with neighbors to achieve a consistent solution to the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find the information you need to know.
Why Can’t a Coyote Just Be Relocated From My Neighborhood?
Coyotes tend to be abundant where food is plentiful, so even if a coyote is removed, other coyotes will visit the same area if attractants are not removed. Coyotes have established home ranges and excellent homing skills. They often return to the area of capture after relocation or may continue the same behaviors in the release area, such as killing poultry or seeking out prey around bird feeders.
For a fee, wildlife control businesses will remove animals from the property, but remember this is not a permanent solution. Removing attractants is critical to reducing conflicts. Preventing coyote encounters is more effective than attempting to relocate them.
Are There Any Health Concerns I Should Be Aware of When Coyotes Are Present in and Around My Community?
Rabies is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected animal but can also be spread when saliva comes into contact with open wounds or mucous membranes. Symptoms of this disease include foaming at the mouth, erratic or hyperactive behavior, and fearful, paralyzed or lethargic behavior. Call 911 or your closest Arizona Game and Fish Department office immediately if you see any animal showing symptoms of rabies. Seek immediate medical attention if you have been bitten by a wild mammal.
Canine distemper, while not transmissible to humans, is highly contagious among animals. It can be transmitted to and from canines through infected saliva, urine, feces or respiratory secretions. Clinical signs of this viral disease include fever, loss of appetite, coughing, and eye and nose discharge. Symptoms can appear similar to those of rabies.
Mange is a skin disease in coyotes caused by mites, leading to intense itching, hair loss and scabs, especially around the face, ears and tail. While not always fatal, it can weaken coyotes, making them more susceptible to secondary infections, starvation and dehydration. Transmission to dogs is possible through direct contact.
What Are the Laws and Policies Governing Coyotes and Protection From This Species?
- It is unlawful to feed wildlife, including coyotes, in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties, per Arizona Revised Statute 13-2927. Some cities and smaller counties have also implemented their own ordinances against feeding wildlife. Check your local city and county ordinances for specific regulations.
- The possession of live coyotes is illegal.
- Coyotes are classified as predators and have a year-round hunting season. A valid hunting license is required. See the Arizona Game and Fish Department Hunting Regulations.
- State law bans firing a gun, bow and arrow or crossbow within a quarter mile of an occupied residence or building while taking wildlife, unless you have the owner’s permission.
- Check your local city ordinances, but most ban shooting firearms within city limits. Some cities also ban using slingshots, BB guns, air guns or bows.
- For property damage, refer to Arizona Revised Statute 17-239 on wildlife depredation, in addition to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Hunting Regulations.
How Can I Keep My Chickens or Other Livestock Safe From Coyotes?
Coyotes normally hunt at dawn and dusk. Keep chickens in the coop or a protected run until midday. You may need to switch their feeding time to the afternoon to get them inside before dusk. Store chicken feed in airtight containers to avoid attracting predators. Make sure chickens are locked inside the coop at night, when coyotes are most active.
Strengthen the coop structure and run with sturdy materials. This includes reinforcing the bottom with hardware cloth, extending fencing below ground to prevent digging and using secure latches on doors and openings. Do not use chicken wire because it is easily torn by predators. Use heavy-duty hardware cloth on the sides and top. Extend the hardware cloth at least 12 inches below ground and bend it outward to create an L-shaped barrier to prevent coyotes from digging under the fence. Cover the top of the run with hardware cloth or another sturdy material to prevent coyotes from jumping or climbing in. Regularly inspect the coop and run for any signs of damage or weakness.
Install motion-activated lights and sensors around the coop and run to startle and deter coyotes. Remove any overgrown vegetation around the coop that could provide hiding places for coyotes. Certain dog breeds can also help protect your flock.
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