Sometimes, the best strategy is to lay low, even though you are already as low as you can get. There was a little bit of snapping at the aggressor, but the fellow on the ground opted to stay down. He usually flees or hits the ground when the dominant guy approaches to get a rise out of him. The aggressor soon tired of this and moved away — which is what the underdog wanted!
Coyote Yipps
Information and stories about San Francisco coyotes: behavior & personality, coexistence & outreach, by Janet Kessler: Unveiling first-hand just how savvy, social, sentient and singular coyotes really are!
About My Site and Me: This website reflects my 14 years of intense, careful, and dedicated field-work — empirical observations — all photo-documented without interfering or changing coyotes’ behaviors. Be welcome here, enjoy, and learn!
Coyotes reappeared in San Francisco in 2002 after many years of absence, and people are still in the dark about them. This site is to help bring light to their behavior and offer simple guidelines for easy coexistence.
My information comes from my own first-hand observations of our very own coyotes here in San Francisco. They have not been studied or observed so thoroughly by anyone else. Mine is not generic information, nor second-hand.
Note that none of the coyotes I document and photograph is “anonymous” to me: I know (or knew) each one of them, and can tell you about their personalities, histories, and their family situations. There have been over 100 of them, distributed among over twenty families, all in San Francisco. Images and true stories have the power to raise awareness and change perspective.
Contact: Janet@coyoteyipps.com
© All information and photos in my postings come from my own original and first-hand documentation work which I am happy to share, with permission and with properly displayed credit: ©janetkessler/coyoteyipps.com.
==================
Current Coyote Behavior Photo Display at Randall Museum (extended and still running since February 2019)
Zoom Talk: Coyotes in San Francisco: Population, Family Life, Stewardship
(A crash course in SF coyotes!)
October 18th Presentation at PHS/SPCA: Inside the Lives of Urban Coyotes
(Another crash course in coyotes generally!)
Instagram: Coyoteyipps
For more information, Google: bay nature talks: screening of "don't feed the coyotes". I’m in this film. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyotes #urbanwildlife
San Francisco icons include our wild coyotes and Ghirardelli Square, in addition to the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, our Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, our wild parrots, the Transamerica Pyramid, and more. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #sanfrancisco
Four way tug of war. Having something in your possession is only fun if someone comes after you for it, and here they did! This is older brother (to the left) and then three pups who are almost five months old and beginning to resemble what their adult shape and look will be. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwildness
Ahhh, you are right -- not a coyote. This here is Zephyr -- a Ridgeback -- one of my grand-dogs -- yep, a canine grandchild. He's getting along in years so he's wobbly, lumpy and bumpy all over, all of which add to rather than detract from who he is. Today is his birthday. He turned 15! Older dogs have a special place in my heart. As my own dogs aged, I became more and more attached to them: I think we became more "one". By their old age, we had gained a total understanding of each other and worked in tandem -- communication was achieved by a glance, a touch, or simply by telepathy. I'm putting these photos in here just for a change of pace, and to celebrate his birthday. :)) #ridgeback #ridgebacksofinstagram
Coyote communication is intense in order to get the message across under no uncertain terms. It is intense, insistent and persistent which makes it very scary to us civilized humans. In this photo, an older sibling is messaging his younger brother: the messaging occurred right after the younger siblings warmly greeted and welcomed older brother back from an outing. But the youngster probably forgot to kowtow low enough, or something seemingly trivial like that. I want everyone to notice older brother here, the guy with the snarly face, angry eyes, wrinkled nose, gaping mouth, and teeth showing. As I say, coyote communication is intense. This, along with deep growling or grunting is how they communicate with each other. So it should be expected that when a coyote who feels threatened by a dog's presence anywhere around his/herself or his/her denning area -- which could be over half a mile away from an actual den -- is going to use the same intensity, insistence and persistence. The next photo is of a coyote messaging a dog who has entered her denning area. The intent isn't to maul the dog, but to *message* the dog to keep moving on or communicate that the territory is taken. It should be seen as *coyote denning messaging behavior*. For more, see "Coyote Denning Behavior 101" on my coyoteyipps.com blog. Your best option is to always stay vigilant, keep your distance from any coyotes, and walk away and keep walking away from a coyote the minute you see one. Pick up small dogs as you walk away because small dogs are the size of prey that coyotes normally go after. Medium and large dogs are not. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwildlife
One of my sons told me that my message needed more directly to be to the point with as few words as possible. I think this will work now. Please don't feed coyotes. Please spread the word. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwildlife.
The sun was a huge red orb yesterday morning, and then a partial orb as it slid under the clouds. And a coyote was out, so I got them both in the same frame. The coyote was probably unaware of the sun’s appearance, but he could probably smell the smoke which caused its bright color later in the day, as I could later in that day. The sun actually washed out totally in the photo, becoming visible only when I reduced the exposure by editing it — and even then, the bright red I had seen with my naked eye became an orange/yellow in the photo, and the coyote became a black silhouette until I swiped the “increase exposure” roughly over his image. Anyway, the fires in California are raging, and wildlife as well as humans are being impacted: displaced, maimed or killed, and families disrupted. Natural disasters are part of life. Havoc sets the stage for renewal, I guess. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwildlife
Same coyote, same howling session, different angle — instigated by a loud and high-pitched car alarm. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwildlife
Ignited by a particularly shrill and loud car alarm this time, instead of sirens. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwild
"What a sweet photo", you might think, right?, but actually there's more going on than meets the eye. These are two siblings, not littermates, a year apart in age. Well, we know about siblings in our own families, and it's not much different in coyote families. Here, older brother, to the left (but head to the right) is attempting to pilfer younger brother's dead gopher, but younger brother is keen to older brother's intentions. In the end, they work it out and younger brother gets to keep his gopher: growing up is a learning experience for everyone. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwildlife
Coyotes carry a lot of their histories with them, both as scars on their bodies and in their behaviors. This gal's ankle shows incredible past trauma. Behaviors also reveal past histories. We may not ascertain the specific details, but we know SOMETHING has impacted the animal. There is also a lot about each coyote's history which is totally hidden from view unless you are there to see it happen, such as the decimation of their families by a wolf pack. Read some of Walkaboutlous posts on coyoteyipps.com. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #wildlife #coyotes #nature
Defending her den area: voicing her distress at a dog lingering close by. It’s always best to move on, especially if you have a dog with you. Dogs and coyotes do not like one another. #coyotecoexistence #urbancoyote #urbanwildlife
Be A Coyote Ambassador!
INTRODUCTION PAGES
Top Posts & Pages
Coyotes: What to Know and Do
Download & Print Flyers
- Como espantar a un coyote para que se vaya
- Conflictos con coyotes
- Coyote Advisory from our video
- Coyote Coexistence & Dogs
- Coyote Facts & Fiction
- Coyotes Playing With Dogs
- FACTS MATTER, #resist (STOP TRAPPING)
- Farms and Ranches: the Futility of Killing Coyotes as a Management Tool
- Guía Para Coexistir Con Coyotes Urbanos
- Guidelines For Coexistence
- How To Handle A Coyote Encounter: A Primer
- Killed By Rat Poison – Flyer
- Sign in CHINESE: 土狼警讯
- Sign in SPANISH: ALERTA COYOTE
- Sign: Coyote Advisory
- Trilingual Video Poster
- Truth About Coyote Conflicts
- 共存简要守则 – Guidelines in Chinese
Published Articles & Recap
- A View Transformed: from fear to understanding
- Bay Nature Connections Interview
- Bay Nature: Raising Kids In The City
- Ciudadanos Coyotes: Vamos a conocerlos: Una introducción
- Coyote Behavior & Peaceful Coexistence
- Coyote Town: Leave SF's Coyotes Alone, by Julia Wong
- Coyote Whisperer Warns of Coyote Encounters During Pupping Season
- Coyotes: Beyond The Howl
- EXHIBIT: Coyotes, Beyond the Howl
- Family First: Wily Coyote's Here to Stay, by Linnea Due
- How To Coexist With Wild Coyotes — From SF's Own 'Coyote Whisperer'
- How to get Along With Coyotes As Pups Venture Out, Bay Nature
- How To Handle A Coyote Encounter: A Primer
- Inside A Coyote Family
- Janet Kessler: The Urban Coyote Watcher, by Leath Tonino
- Keep Our Coyotes Safe & Wild
- Making Peace With Coyotes by Tripp Robbins
- On First-Name Basis With San Francisco Coyotes
- Pacifica: Neighbors in the Night
- Photographer's Raccoon Adventure in GGPark
- Recap: My Position Regarding Coyotes
- Reservoir Coyotes, by Tom Molanphy
- San Francisco Residents Coexisting With Coyotes, by Robin Hindery
- SF Coyotes PODCAST 2/2020
- SF's "Coyote Lady", SacBee
- Sharing Bernal Hill With Our Coyote: A User's Guide
- The Bernal Hill Coyote is a Female and Human "Kindness" Could Kill Her
- The Coyote Whisperer, by Shelby Carpenter
- The Need For Wildness, by Tara Lohan
- The Need for Wildness, by Tara Lohan
- The Woman Who Follows Urban Coyotes
- Urban Coyotes Have Lives (PDF version)
- Wildlife In Focus: Coyotes
- YIPS & HOWLS EXAMPLES
TRANSLATION
Web Advocacy and More
- Anticoagulant Intoxication Fact Sheet
- Aversion Conditioning by Lesley Sampson
- Caught On Camera: Presidio Coyotes
- Citizen Coyote: Let's Get To Know Them: An Introduction
- Ciudadanos Coyotes: Vamos a conocerlos: Una introducción
- Cook County, Illinois, Coyote Project
- Coyote Lives In Maine
- Coyote Photos by Charles Wood
- Coyote Settles the South by John Lane
- Coyote Tracker
- Coyote Watch Canada
- COYOTECOEXISTENCE FACEBOOK
- CoyoteCoexistence Facebook (alternative link)
- COYOTECOEXISTENCE.COM
- Coyotes As Neighbors: Video
- Coyotes, wolves, cougars. . forever
- Coyoteyipps INSTAGRAM
- Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research
- FACTS MATTER, #resist (STOP TRAPPING)
- History of San Francisco's Native Plant Program, NAP
- How To Coexist With Wild Coyotes — From SF's Own 'Coyote Whisperer'
- International Consensus Principles for Ethical Wildlife Control
- Mapping Expansion of Coyotes Across the American Continent
- Melanie Furr: America vs. the Coyote
- Micromanagement of Nature Benefits Few Animals
- NapRap
- Rat Poisons Are Harmful
- Save Mount Sutro Forest
- Saving Trees In The Bay Area
- SF Coyotes PODCAST 2/2020
- SFForest.Net
- The Need For Wildness, by Tara Lohan
- The Woman Who Follows Urban Coyotes
- Urban Coyotes Have Lives
- URBANWILDNESS.COM
- Wild Dog Foundation
- WildCare: Live Well With Wildlife
- Wildlife Services: License to Kill
Published Articles & Recap
- A View Transformed: from fear to understanding
- Bay Nature Connections Interview
- Bay Nature: Raising Kids In The City
- Ciudadanos Coyotes: Vamos a conocerlos: Una introducción
- Coyote Behavior & Peaceful Coexistence
- Coyote Town: Leave SF's Coyotes Alone, by Julia Wong
- Coyote Whisperer Warns of Coyote Encounters During Pupping Season
- Coyotes: Beyond The Howl
- EXHIBIT: Coyotes, Beyond the Howl
- Family First: Wily Coyote's Here to Stay, by Linnea Due
- How To Coexist With Wild Coyotes — From SF's Own 'Coyote Whisperer'
- How to get Along With Coyotes As Pups Venture Out, Bay Nature
- How To Handle A Coyote Encounter: A Primer
- Inside A Coyote Family
- Janet Kessler: The Urban Coyote Watcher, by Leath Tonino
- Keep Our Coyotes Safe & Wild
- Making Peace With Coyotes by Tripp Robbins
- On First-Name Basis With San Francisco Coyotes
- Pacifica: Neighbors in the Night
- Photographer's Raccoon Adventure in GGPark
- Recap: My Position Regarding Coyotes
- Reservoir Coyotes, by Tom Molanphy
- San Francisco Residents Coexisting With Coyotes, by Robin Hindery
- SF Coyotes PODCAST 2/2020
- SF's "Coyote Lady", SacBee
- Sharing Bernal Hill With Our Coyote: A User's Guide
- The Bernal Hill Coyote is a Female and Human "Kindness" Could Kill Her
- The Coyote Whisperer, by Shelby Carpenter
- The Need For Wildness, by Tara Lohan
- The Need for Wildness, by Tara Lohan
- The Woman Who Follows Urban Coyotes
- Urban Coyotes Have Lives (PDF version)
- Wildlife In Focus: Coyotes
- YIPS & HOWLS EXAMPLES
Download & Print Flyers
- Como espantar a un coyote para que se vaya
- Conflictos con coyotes
- Coyote Advisory from our video
- Coyote Coexistence & Dogs
- Coyote Facts & Fiction
- Coyotes Playing With Dogs
- FACTS MATTER, #resist (STOP TRAPPING)
- Farms and Ranches: the Futility of Killing Coyotes as a Management Tool
- Guía Para Coexistir Con Coyotes Urbanos
- Guidelines For Coexistence
- How To Handle A Coyote Encounter: A Primer
- Killed By Rat Poison – Flyer
- Sign in CHINESE: 土狼警讯
- Sign in SPANISH: ALERTA COYOTE
- Sign: Coyote Advisory
- Trilingual Video Poster
- Truth About Coyote Conflicts
- 共存简要守则 – Guidelines in Chinese
Web Advocacy and More
- Anticoagulant Intoxication Fact Sheet
- Aversion Conditioning by Lesley Sampson
- Caught On Camera: Presidio Coyotes
- Citizen Coyote: Let's Get To Know Them: An Introduction
- Ciudadanos Coyotes: Vamos a conocerlos: Una introducción
- Cook County, Illinois, Coyote Project
- Coyote Lives In Maine
- Coyote Photos by Charles Wood
- Coyote Settles the South by John Lane
- Coyote Tracker
- Coyote Watch Canada
- COYOTECOEXISTENCE FACEBOOK
- CoyoteCoexistence Facebook (alternative link)
- COYOTECOEXISTENCE.COM
- Coyotes As Neighbors: Video
- Coyotes, wolves, cougars. . forever
- Coyoteyipps INSTAGRAM
- Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research
- FACTS MATTER, #resist (STOP TRAPPING)
- History of San Francisco's Native Plant Program, NAP
- How To Coexist With Wild Coyotes — From SF's Own 'Coyote Whisperer'
- International Consensus Principles for Ethical Wildlife Control
- Mapping Expansion of Coyotes Across the American Continent
- Melanie Furr: America vs. the Coyote
- Micromanagement of Nature Benefits Few Animals
- NapRap
- Rat Poisons Are Harmful
- Save Mount Sutro Forest
- Saving Trees In The Bay Area
- SF Coyotes PODCAST 2/2020
- SFForest.Net
- The Need For Wildness, by Tara Lohan
- The Woman Who Follows Urban Coyotes
- Urban Coyotes Have Lives
- URBANWILDNESS.COM
- Wild Dog Foundation
- WildCare: Live Well With Wildlife
- Wildlife Services: License to Kill
TRANSLATION
Archives
- September 2021 (2)
- August 2021 (6)
- July 2021 (5)
- June 2021 (6)
- May 2021 (5)
- April 2021 (6)
- March 2021 (5)
- February 2021 (5)
- January 2021 (5)
- December 2020 (6)
- November 2020 (4)
- October 2020 (7)
- September 2020 (5)
- August 2020 (5)
- July 2020 (5)
- June 2020 (6)
- May 2020 (5)
- April 2020 (6)
- March 2020 (7)
- February 2020 (9)
- January 2020 (7)
- December 2019 (6)
- November 2019 (5)
- October 2019 (5)
- September 2019 (5)
- August 2019 (6)
- July 2019 (5)
- June 2019 (6)
- May 2019 (6)
- April 2019 (6)
- March 2019 (5)
- February 2019 (6)
- January 2019 (6)
- December 2018 (6)
- November 2018 (6)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (6)
- August 2018 (6)
- July 2018 (10)
- June 2018 (7)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (8)
- March 2018 (5)
- February 2018 (5)
- January 2018 (9)
- December 2017 (7)
- November 2017 (6)
- October 2017 (7)
- September 2017 (6)
- August 2017 (6)
- July 2017 (8)
- June 2017 (7)
- May 2017 (9)
- April 2017 (8)
- March 2017 (5)
- February 2017 (6)
- January 2017 (6)
- December 2016 (6)
- November 2016 (5)
- October 2016 (5)
- September 2016 (5)
- August 2016 (5)
- July 2016 (6)
- June 2016 (6)
- May 2016 (5)
- April 2016 (5)
- March 2016 (5)
- February 2016 (5)
- January 2016 (4)
- December 2015 (6)
- November 2015 (6)
- October 2015 (8)
- September 2015 (6)
- August 2015 (6)
- July 2015 (7)
- June 2015 (6)
- May 2015 (7)
- April 2015 (6)
- March 2015 (6)
- February 2015 (6)
- January 2015 (7)
- December 2014 (6)
- November 2014 (7)
- October 2014 (9)
- September 2014 (7)
- August 2014 (7)
- July 2014 (7)
- June 2014 (7)
- May 2014 (8)
- April 2014 (7)
- March 2014 (9)
- February 2014 (7)
- January 2014 (8)
- December 2013 (7)
- November 2013 (9)
- October 2013 (11)
- September 2013 (8)
- August 2013 (7)
- July 2013 (13)
- June 2013 (12)
- May 2013 (9)
- April 2013 (6)
- March 2013 (8)
- February 2013 (8)
- January 2013 (9)
- December 2012 (9)
- November 2012 (8)
- October 2012 (15)
- September 2012 (12)
- August 2012 (14)
- July 2012 (8)
- June 2012 (12)
- May 2012 (11)
- April 2012 (8)
- March 2012 (9)
- February 2012 (10)
- January 2012 (8)
- December 2011 (9)
- November 2011 (10)
- October 2011 (15)
- September 2011 (10)
- August 2011 (25)
- July 2011 (22)
- June 2011 (22)
- May 2011 (14)
- April 2011 (13)
- March 2011 (15)
- February 2011 (20)
- January 2011 (30)
- December 2010 (33)
- November 2010 (39)
- October 2010 (38)
- September 2010 (48)
- August 2010 (35)
- July 2010 (63)
- June 2010 (39)
- May 2010 (28)
- April 2010 (18)
- March 2010 (16)
- February 2010 (16)
- January 2010 (24)
- December 2009 (26)
- November 2009 (18)
- October 2009 (7)
- September 2009 (3)
- July 2007 (1)
