Coyote Behavior In Our Urban Parks for Dog Owners To Be Aware Of: Based my own first-hand observations of coyotes in the San Francisco Bay Area. [I just UPDATED this article on 4/2024 — originally written in 2010]
Coyotes are wary — they don’t really want to confront dogs, and much less so do they want to confront humans. They prefer maintaining their distance and normally will run off when they see you. If you happen to see a coyote, they most often are “passing through” the area. However, all coyotes, as all dogs and all humans, don’t follow a single norm — there are variations. I will try to explain some possibilities here.
A coyote may stop to observe you and your dog from afar, especially if you yourself stop on a path to look at it — and especially if your dog “looks” at the coyote. A coyote may even come towards your dog to see “what it’s are doing” and “where it’s going”. Please just walk away from the coyote and keep going. Be assured that the coyotes in our parks have never specifically approached humans — it is your dog which the coyote is curious about.
At their core, coyotes have a natural wariness, or even “fear” of humans. Along with the curiosity always will be the fear. Even though most of us move away from what we fear, sometimes we may try getting a little closer to what we fear to “test” it, maybe even to test ourselves. Maybe we should see such a parallel between ourselves and the coyotes. The coyote’s curiosity about the dog may be pulling stronger than the fear repelling it away from the human owner.
Regarding dogs, we all need to know that for the most part, coyotes keep “outsider coyotes” out of their areas and out of their tightly knit family group. Dogs are in this category. Coyotes do not want the dogs interacting with them. I do know that loner coyotes have *appeared* to solicit play from dogs, but it’s not really play, it’s a sort of “testing” behavior: coyotes want to find out how the dog will interact with them. It’s important to pull your dog away and keep walking away from such a coyote.
Dogs are often “monitored” and kept track of in certain parks by the alpha coyotes — these are the parents. I’ve watched as these coyotes moved to a better vantage point to watch until a dog group left the area. The reason dogs are monitored is because they are the coyote’s chief threat in an urban setting: dogs have chased coyotes, and are possibly seen as competition for the available resources in the park. Resident coyotes treat the dogs as they would any other coyote intruder. But also, once a coyote has been chased by a dog — and therefore has seen the dog as an aggressor — the coyote will forever be leery of this particular dog. Dogs often think such chasing is “play”, whereas for a coyote the chase is much more serious. But dogs also often feel protective of their owners or the group of dogs they are with, so they may chase a coyote for this reason.
Note that a coyote “pack” is always a nuclear family group — not at all like classic “stray dog packs” where unrelated dogs get together for mutual survival needs — these dogs are more on the level of “gangsters”. A group of coyotes is a nuclear family — and from what I have been able to observe, a very warm, caring and mutually supportive family — and one the coyote parents are going to protect.
There are exceptions to a coyote’s keeping its distance, depending on the coyote AND on the situation and the “history” of a particular coyote’s interaction with particular dogs. The parents in any coyote family will take charge of keeping their family safe and will come to the aid of the other coyotes if they see dogs getting too close to one of their family members.
Few humans are aware of the communication going on between our own dogs and other dogs. Well, the communication also is occurring between coyotes and dogs, through eye contact and body language and activity level. Keeping our dogs next to us and leashed lessens this communication. We humans are too absorbed in our own conversations and activities to catch the subtle messages between our dogs and the coyotes. It is important to minimize interaction, even eye communication, to prevent it from escalating. At the crux of what dogs and coyotes are communicating is their feeling of safety, and safety very often has to do with personal space. Keeping a large distance between a coyote and you and your dog, and keeping the dog leashed will minimize the dog-coyote communication since communication is normally carried on at a closer range, and will lessen the possibility that any communication might be acted upon.
If a coyote has been chased by a dog, s/he may often flee from the dog and then react with intense, high pitched, distressed screaming or barking: the coyote appears to be *complaining* more than anything else. However, if coyotes fee “intruded” upon when a dog comes too close without chasing — and it’s the coyotes who decide when this is the case — the situation could change, with the coyote circling the dog and even engaging in sequences of darting at the dog and retreating, and finally, if the coyote can get away with it, with a nipping at the haunches of the dog to herd it away from itself or the area, cattle-dog fashion. Pull your dog away from that coyote and keep moving away without running.
The problem is that although coyotes tend to go into hiding shortly after dawn, this is not always the case. I have seen coyotes out at all times of the day: 10:00 am, Noon, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm — these are not the times one would expect to see a coyote, and although the chances are less at these times, the possibility is still there that you might encounter one. So a coyote might be just around the bend on a path or hidden behind a nearby bush where it will surprise you, and you will surprise it. This is another reason why it is important to keep our dogs leashed in coyote areas. Although a young coyote would normally just flee, the mother or father will stand up for themselves and for their pups, even if the pups have reached adult size. This kind of surprise encounter could easily lead to a charge-and-retreat sequence. If your dog is leashed please hurry off, rather than let your dog react.
Another behavior I have seen — it’s in the category of *testing* behavior — is the short “chase-chase” behavior — this seems to occur only between a dog and a coyote which know each other, either through previous visual communication, or because of a chasing episode which they both remember. In this case the coyote will be traveling in the same direction as a walker and his/her unleashed dog, and will come in close with a little “darting in” and “retreat”. The dog will return the behavior. It is almost a “dare” or one-upmanship” interaction with no other intention than just this — it verges on play. A leashed dog can easily be led away from this to prevent its reacting.
A parent coyote may come to the aid of one of his/her full-grown pups and the two will work as a team to vex a dog to get it to leave: one coyote will distract the dog, the other will come around to dart in from the other side. This coyote behavior can be intimidating because of its intensity.
Pupping season is upon us — April for birthing and May through Fall for raising the young. We all need to know that all of the self-protective and defensive behavior coyotes display throughout the year will be intensified during pupping season. A coyote will be defending a den and a large area around it — at least 1000 feet or 1/4 mile — and they will be more sensitive to rambunctious or intimidating dog activity. Please be especially careful during this time about keeping your dog leashed and calm in coyote areas. Coyotes will most often leave your dog alone if your dog leaves them alone and gives them the space they need to feel safe. A dog off-leash cannot do this on his own. He needs your help and guidance in coyote areas.
With all of these behaviors, leashing the dog creates a barrier of sorts: it calms down the dog — and this can be seen by the coyote. But it also keeps the dog right next to the owner which serves to deter the coyote from coming in closer. Coyotes do not want to tangle with humans.
Also, if you are walking in an area where there are several coyotes who are either sitting on the lawn, hunting, or headed in a certain direction, it is best not to intrude upon them, but to leave — why test this situation with your dog. By simply being there, they have claimed the area temporarily.
There are various types of dogs that upset coyotes — that cause them to react. It is mostly the more active dogs that appear to arouse the coyotes. Leashed dogs are calmer and the coyote picks up on this — unless they come too close. There is an exception to this: if a dog owner becomes anxious, he communicates his anxiety, via the leash, to the dog and this causes the dog to become even more actively anxious. If you know you are an anxious type of person, maybe you should walk in a different park.
Small fluffy very active dogs seem to cause an instinctual adrenalin rush in the coyotes: I’ve seen a coyote monitoring when such a dog passed on a path — the dog and owner were unaware of the coyote perched on a ledge above the trail. The coyote stood up, hackles raised and began trotting back and forth on the hilltop. In this case, the dog’s owners moved on quickly, but the little dog was not leashed. Most dogs are calmer when they are leashed. I’ve actually seen a coyote calm down as a dog was leashed. Two different dog owners told me that when their dog sensed that a coyote was around, they actually “asked” to be leashed by hugging against their owners’ legs! Leashing gives a sense of protection to everyone.
Any extremely active dog may arouse a coyote. I’ve seen a calm, resting coyote jolt up to attention when it saw this kind of activity, even from the distance. I think this may be because coyotes themselves are not at all hyperactive unless it is in a predator type of situation. It might be that seeing hyperactivity, such as that engaged in in dog-play may arouse predator and defensive instincts in a coyote.
What do coyotes do when dogs are not around? Life is exquisite for them in our urban parks which are full of small rodents and sources of water! I’ve seen young ones play, I’ve seen them all hunt, I’ve seen them sleep, and mostly, I see them resting on hilltops, basking in the sun, just like the little bull Ferdinand. Ferdinand was discovered by his captors as he sat on a bee: he was taken for being the most ferocious bull in all of Spain, when in fact, he just wanted to sit in a field and smell the flowers. Coyotes, too, are not aggressive, but they will defend themselves from dogs. Dogs are a coyote’s main threat in an urban area. Thanks for reading this.
IN SUM
*coyotes are not aggressive, but may actively attempt to keep their territories safe for themselves and their pups. The biggest threats to urban coyotes come from our dogs. We can help keep both our dogs and the coyotes safe, and feeling safe, by keeping them well apart in our parks.
*keep dogs leashed in a coyote area and always walk AWAY from them. It’s not enough simply to leash.
*avoid active “play” with your dog, such as catching a ball, in an area where you see coyotes frequently — frequent sightings in particular areas indicates they live close by or claim the area.
*always be vigilant: if you even see a coyote, walk on and away from it with your dog leashed — keep your distance.
*if there is a negative encounter with a coyote and your dog, leave the area for both animals to calm down.
*you are unlikely to see a coyote often, but when you do, it is best to know what behaviors it might exhibit.
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Coyote Yipps 
Nov 03, 2012 @ 13:24:20
Thank you for your beautiful site. I live in New Mexico. I have lived in this house for 20+ years and have always had a dog and cats. For 19 years the cats were safe outside if they were out between 10 and 2. One very elderly cat got taken by the coyotes last year. I think the coyotes are hungry because of our ongoing drought situation. After that, I looked out my window and saw the coyote sitting about 10 feet from the cat door, staring at it. Now I let my other cat go out for 15 minutes in the morning and I stay with him, about 3 feet away. My dog (big) stays with us. I have seen a coyote come pretty close during one of these outings. He wasn’t aggressive but it took going towards him to get him to move away.
Also, for as long as I have lived here (and even during the periods when I didn’t have a dog), a group of coyotes has gathered about 100 feet behind the house and yipped and howled. You seem to indicate that this is always in response to an intruder. My neighbors has dogs outside in a fence. Does this count as an intruder? Of course, my dog wants to go out and bark at them because he sees them as intruders in his space.
So, yes, I have let my dog bark and run toward the coyotes all these years. Now, after reading your site, I am re-thinking that. We have had one coyote who seems to call to my dog. He shows up and sits there yipping until my dog comes out and barks at him. They go back and forth for a little while and then I can see the coyote, who I named Yipper, sitting under a tree watching our porch. And my dog lies down on the porch and watches Yipper. The coyote initiates this, sometimes every day at the same time. What’s going on there?
I do think we should co-exist. I recently had a conversation with a co-worker who had signed up for the coyote hunt. This guy and I are friends and I was astonished to hear that he was going to do that. He said that the population is multiplying quickly and we have to “keep it down”. Is there reading material that I could give him that addresses this concern?
Thanks again. Love all your pics.
Nov 03, 2012 @ 21:01:43
Hi Lisa —
I’m so glad you love the photos!
It’s very important to let your coworker know that, where coyotes are hunted and trapped, females produce more pups per litter than in areas where they are protected. By killing coyotes, he could actually be increasing the coyote population. This is how the biology works for these animals. Millions of these animals have been killed, but their population has not decreased. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/coyotes.html. I’ll try to find more articles for you.
My observations are all in urban parks. In urban parks, a dog intruding on a coyote is one of triggers for coyote howling. Another is the sound of sirens. Once the howling response is elicited, the coyotes may communicate back and forth between themselves with their continued howls. But just because these are the triggers I have seen in urban areas doesn’t mean they are the only causes of coyote howling. I do know that when coyotes greet each other, they very often melt into high-pitched hipping and whining — not quite howling, but strong vocalizations. I would think that your neighbor’s dogs almost definitely have something to do with the coyote howling close to your house. Would they possibly be coming to your house because there is easy food access for them?
As for the behavior of Yipper and your dog: from what I have seen, this could either be testing, daring, inciting or one-upmanship behavior between the two animals, or it could be a friendly, or at least not-unfriendly, game between the two. I would love to be kept updated! In the meantime, I’ll try to find out more. Janet
Nov 03, 2012 @ 21:48:56
Hi Lisa, It sounds like those coyotes are getting too close to human habitation for their own good. The Humane Society offers some guidelines on coyote hazing here: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/wild_neighbors/coyote_hazing.pdf .
Part of co-existing with coyotes is maintaining our own space just like they maintain their space. A coyote can get confused about what is its space and what is our space. Sure there are areas we can share, close to or in our yards should be off limits unequivocally, including looking in and gawking.
I think what is going on with Yipper is that Yipper thinks your dog is the one in charge of your space. It is probably a good thing to have taken away some of your dog’s authority over the yard, if I understand you correctly. But at the same time, it sounds like Yipper is now pushing it a little and getting too close. That is where hazing a coyote could do some good. Yipper has got to understand that it is your space, not your dogs, and that compared to your dog, you can be an absolute holy terror Yipper shouldn’t ever want to even look at!
Nov 04, 2012 @ 04:11:43
My experience and understanding — so far — is that “hazing” is not the solution to all coyote problems and that it actually could contribute to more “habituation” if the coyotes get used to it. The verdict is not in about this. There have been no studies, per se, on the effectiveness of hazing, though it can be used to effectively keep an animal at a distance from individuals, or from individuals and their dogs. Behavior can vary immensely between individual coyotes and at different times of the year, but unless the coyotes are approaching a human, or fail to flee if charged by a human — this is the definition of “habituation” — they really are exhibiting normal behavior. Coyotes here in San Francisco have howled with dogs at the edge of property lines — no one thinks too much of it. The coyotes in our parks, of course, have become used to seeing people and vice versa — they have watched people and allowed people to watch them at a fairly good distance, but this has not caused them to approach people. They have approached some dogs, but they did that right from the start — it’s a territorial issue for the most part. We encourage everyone to keep their dog away from coyotes by leashing up. Please remember that most conflicts are related to feeding coyotes, either intentionally or inadvertently. If there really is a problem this would be the first thing I would address: make sure there is no food for them to find.
Maybe I’m confusing the issue here, but I watched some large men employed by the SF Park Department charge at some coyotes aggressively with sticks. The coyotes had been sitting quietly on a hill. The men said they wanted to “scare” the coyotes away. First of all, there was no need to do that — the coyotes were bothering no one — they were resting off the beaten path. But, a lot of people think it is a coyote’s crime if it is merely seen. Secondly, unless you are trying to “correct” a specific behavior with very specific protocol, the coyote is simply going to learn to avoid the person doing the hazing. As I said, hazing is effective for keeping coyotes at a distance from individuals.
I should add that the protocol for hazing must not be used indiscriminately, but should only be used on truly habituated coyotes.
Nov 04, 2012 @ 19:19:34
To me the issue is much about space. Coyotes sitting on a hill in the distance should cause us little if any concern. Also, in shared spaces, part of sharing is our willingness to leash our dogs and to move away from coyotes if we encounter them. Additionally, I don’t have the experience or training to give advice about how to manage coyotes who in shared spaces exhibit behaviors that meet the definition of habituation. For those problems I too would look to Janet and other experts for advice and choose from humane options.
A coyote in our home space is another matter. From my point of view, instinctively, I wouldn’t want a coyote in my yard or close to my home. My yard is my space and a coyote doesn’t belong there. I would have shooed Yipper away the first time I saw him just as I would shoo away a neighbor’s dog coming around to contest with my dog. When shooed, a coyote that is acting normally will run away. For Yipper, the best result would be for him to never come back after being shooed away. Yipper belongs in wild spaces, not in or around a yard. Yelling, making ourselves large, shaking and banging things are methods for scaring a coyote away, techniques that are described more fully in the material on hazing available from the Humane Society.
As Janet reminds me, the term hazing is a protocol, an overall strategy for dealing with habituated coyotes. Janet makes an excellent and important point. I agree that it is a different problem if a truly habituated coyote frequents a neighborhood.
Personally, I’m pretty territorial. I even used to chase off the neighbor cats that would taunt my small kitty while sitting on “her” fence! When I would go out in the back yard to deal with an intruder cat, my mamma kitty would charge out in front of me and act tough when without me she had to run away. I felt pretty proud of myself helping my mamma kitty. In retrospect, it would have been a greater help to mamma kitty had I simply moved her food dish into the house and stopped feeding her outside. I didn’t realize it, but the food dish was attracting neighbor cats.
Apr 30, 2019 @ 12:03:52
Thank you for writing this informative article about coyotes and our dogs, I really enjoyed it.
Feb 04, 2023 @ 15:04:13
Hi! Thank you for providing so much information about coyotes. It’s all very interesting. I live in east TN and coyotes are frequently seen in the nearby neighborhood (across a fairly busy 4 lane state road). I never hear of them in my neighborhood though. That has been the case for the last 5 years up until 2 days ago when one was passing through my next door neighbor’s yard. My husband ran it off. We have a chain-link fenced around our backyard and 2 French bulldog/Boston terrier mix (25 lb and 30 lb) who bark their heads off and aggressively bolt out of the house to bark even more at anything passing through. We have a dog door so they can go in and out at their leisure all day. They were in the house so they didn’t see the coyote. Based on what you’ve seen of coyote behavior, would you say it’s very likely one might jump our fence to take one of my dogs or would the 2 dogs aggressively barking inside the fence be enough to dissuade it from coming over our fence? We also have 3 and 5 year old children that I’m afraid to let into the back yard. I’m locking the dogs in the house unless I can watch them but my husband says they’ll be fine. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Feb 04, 2023 @ 20:41:40
Hi Tara —
Thank you for contacting me. First, could you please let me know how high your chain-link fence is? High fences DO dissuade coyotes — I’ve seen it stop coyotes cold. However, unless it’s 6 feet or higher, with a roll bar on top, it is POSSIBLE — though UNLIKELY — for a coyote to jump it. Also, you must look for digging under the fence: coyotes can get through a 7″ opening under the fence.
In Tennessee, you have larger (though not more dangerous) coyotes than we have here in San Francisco. Ours here are only about 30 pounds. A coyote supposedly can carry off an animal that’s smaller than itself, but it’s usually cats and very tiny dogs left alone that they have grabbed. In all cases, supervision could have prevented the catastrophe.
Bites or scratches to children are EXCEEDINGLY rare — but it HAS HAPPENED. I always think it’s best to err on the side of caution. I would supervise kids and dogs out of doors if coyotes are around.
Sorry not to be the bearer of better tidings than this. You can prevent all incidents, but you have to be there to do so.
Janet
Feb 05, 2023 @ 15:54:46
Hi Janet, thanks so much for the response. Our fence is about 4 ft high. A friend suggested purchasing wolf urine to put around the fence and said they wouldn’t come around if we did that. Do you know how effective that is?
Feb 05, 2023 @ 18:07:25
Unfortunately, a coyote can jump a 4 foot fence. As for the wolf urine, forget it! I watched a woman put it out in one of our parks here in San Francisco. Literally, within minutes, a coyote came by, sniffed it and then rolled in it. It’s definitely not a deterrent. And, you have to think where the stuff comes from: no one is out collecting wolf urine to sell, so it’s all bogus. Hope this helps!! Janet
Feb 05, 2023 @ 19:54:37
Thank you for the feedback! I appreciate it!
Apr 18, 2023 @ 17:51:15
Our Jack Russell chased a coyote into forest near our home in North Vancouver , B.C. 2 days ago / luckily he came back unscathed after a long 5-7 mins of whistle blowing! Thank you – your article is very interesting & helpful / I’m keeping him leashed now -his prey drive is too strong & the coyotes seem very active at this time of year , and they seem to be bigger than ever !
Apr 18, 2023 @ 17:59:40
Hi Hekena — Glad my article was helpful. I suppose that next to a Jack Russell, the coyotes do look huge. Remember that coyotes’ 3″ fluffy winter coats make them appear bigger during the winter months. And I’ve seen Jack Russells challenge coyotes — these little dogs have an inflated view of their own size! Yes, best to keep him away from coyotes: always supervised and on a leash out of doors. Thanks for your comment! Janet
May 13, 2023 @ 14:17:43
I live within a national forest, a 3 story senior apt complex. A large den of coyotes frequent our area during late to early am hours and start to howl and yip causing my inside dog to bark back which wakes up the neighbor below my apt. Neighbor wants me to get rid of my dog who is not an incessant barker but he does respond back to the coyote. I am accommodating the neighbor by additional behavioural therapy with my dog, bark collars, silent whistles and ultrasound systems to curb my dogs enthusiasm, extra excercize, etc., etc. He is a dandimont, a sottish terrier, a fantastic watch dog and enjoyed and well liked by the other residents This particular neighbor has chronic pain issues and needs his sleep, we all do. However these unpredictable coyote outbursts only cause my dog to respond. I set up a meeting with this neighnor and the property manager to let him know what I am willing to try and help. But now the stress on me to accommodate him is taking its toll. I have read much on coyote behavior and lived round them most of my life. They don’t bother me but they do get my little dog to respond at most inconvnient hours. I need an ally. Help
May 13, 2023 @ 17:19:36
Hi Emma —
I’m sorry that your situation has deteriorated into stress, but I can see why. Since nothing can be done legally about the coyotes — they have the right to trek through their territory as they mark in order to keep other coyotes away from the area — this is what limits the population in any particular area — you need to concentrate on the dog and the neighbor.
The coyotes apparently don’t wake up your neighbor, but the dog does. White noise seems to help humans and possibly could help your neighbor, but also your dog. Apparently noise closer-in drowns out noise from further away. If the neighbor could play, say sounds of a running stream at night, this might help him; and possibly you could leave the radio on (in another room than the one you sleep in) for the dog? In both cases, the further away sound would be minimized or even eradicated for the listener. Also, suggesting this to your neighbor — that both you and he can do something — would show him that you are willing to work on something with him. Goodwill counts for a lot.
The other possibility is that you could record the coyotes — or find a recording of coyotes — and try to get your dog used to listening and eventually ignoring them — this might take a bit of your time, but it might work.
The last possibility is to put up a fence which would divert the coyotes’ path from their normal howling location. Then again, the coyotes may be coming to your area only to keep tabs on “the dog that responds to them”. If your dog were to stop barking back at them, maybe they would stop.
I would love to hear how this problem situation works itself out! Please keep me posted!
Janet
May 14, 2023 @ 01:22:41
Thank you Janet. The perimeter around this apt building is a driveway so I cannot divert the coyotes. Suggesting to the neighbor he try white noise as well might help. My dog can be in a sound sleep and if he hears anything like a dog bark he bolts to the living room, this is a shoebox ize apartment, and ratt;es off 405 barks before I can tackle him. I have eveb tried attaching a leash to this collar at night so when he bolts off the bed I can retrain him. But by then the barks are done and our apartments are horribly uninsulated. Other neighbors here living acros the hall don’t hear my dog. it’s only the apartmemts that are underneath another apartment. Neighbor is not overly copperative. This morning 4 a.m. coyote barked three times, my dog replied 3-4 times. The neighbor called by phone at 4:01 a.m. lert it ring and hung up. I am dealing with a man that had a horrible back injury and really needs his peace but living where we all do is anything but peaceful. There is a dog park, a people park, baeball field and a enior center that hots parties on Friday nights so you can picture what I am up against. I have even looked into moving into another partment here but that is just moving the problem around. I am on the 2nd floor where my dog can look down into all these parks. I thought on the ist floor might be better but my dog was a rescue and when I adopted him he came with serious abuse issues. It ha taken me 9 years just to get him where he is. I need his guard dog abilitiy, he has saved my l ife twice and he is so loving and an emotional support beyond belief. I love him so much. I will accommodate my neighbor as much as I can but you are right he has to participate too. I ordered more dog deterrent devices, silent dog whitle, ultrasound boxes, etc. My dog sees it all a punishment. I even tried sedatives from the vet to see if he would sleep through the night. he did, until he heard the coyotoes. I am looking to move ou of here if a parrticular home becomes available soon and have no neighbors above me or below me. Until then I have to keep trying but my blood pressure is up because of all of this.
I have researched laws, ,county laws and most say it has to be habituable dog barking to enforce anything. My dog is not a constant yapper. I couldn’t own him if he was. Thanks for helping.
May 14, 2023 @ 01:35:03
Isi it possible, that there is a relationship between my dog and these coyotes? My dog ha been around coyotes about 8 years. Some nights it sounds as though there are 100 of them. They yip altogether then wait about an hour and start up again with yips and howls then wait another couple of hours and start over. It can be a large pack of coyotes or two or three. Some residnets here use to leave food out for them in our hallways. Coyotes have been seen recently by our elevator door on first and second floors. I even called Fish and Game for help, no answer. Property manager sent warning to all residnets not to feed any of our bears or wildlife. I think some folks might be still doing it.
May 14, 2023 @ 04:58:04
Hi Emma — Yes, it’s entirely possible that there is a relationship of sorts between your dog and the coyotes: they know and may even wait for each other — and maybe they look forward to the barking exchange!
Although they may *sound* like 100 of them, you can be sure that at the most it’s ONE family: territoriality dictates that only one family lives on each territory which can run from 2 to 4 square miles or larger. Coyotes can produce a variety of tones and pitches so that a few often sound like many more than there really are.
Yes, feeding has to stop. In fact, feeding may be what is drawing them to the area. Feeding wildlife is actually a crime: possibly you can post signs saying this? I don’t know what state you are in, but here in California, there is the potential for a $1000 fine and jail time for feeding coyotes. Let people know that coyotes are excellent hunters and don’t need their diet supplemented by humans. In addition, human food alters their intestinal flora and could cause health issues.
So, yes, try approaching your neighbor and suggesting white noise, at the same time letting him know that you, too, will be attempting to use white noise to block the coyote sounds from you dog.
Let me know how it goes!! And good luck!
Janet
Apr 18, 2024 @ 15:08:32
I’ve seen various species of wildlife follow humans and other species who may pose a threat. It seems like they do this to keep track of this threat, to know what it is doing and where it is going. Having this information may be helpful when deciding what to do about it and when deciding how much of a threat this really is. I’ve seen coyotes do this, and also female elk who have new calves hidden in the area. The female elk will follow coyotes all around and try to distract them from finding their hidden and very vulnerable calves. I suspect that coyotes may do the same thing.
Apr 18, 2024 @ 18:36:00
Hi PondFrog — Yes! Coyotes do the same thing exactly!
Apr 18, 2024 @ 19:43:08
Janet, I’m so glad you reminded us of this fantastic article on your site. You may remember the story of my encounter with a coyote here in Los Angeles–it was the spark that led me to your website! I’ve learned so much from you that now I feel much more confident moving through our park with my dogs. Yes, always leashed, and I try to remain as calm as I can. Coyotes tend to be intensely curious about one of my dogs because he is the same size, coloring, and basic shape as them. He must seem very confusing to them–a coyote with a human?!
Thanks again for all this great information–the more people know about coyotes, the safer for our dogs and the coyotes!
Apr 18, 2024 @ 20:08:45
Thank you, Lisa! It was first posted in 2010!! I’ll repost it so that it will be seen at the beginning of the blog. Looks like you are doing well! I’m so happy about that! With patience and perseverance, we can get to our goals!