Frequently Asked Questions

The short answer - 6-8ft is no problem for an average coyote.  They use their front paws to gain traction on the top of a given barrier such as a view fence, block wall, chain link fence, etc. They will commonly stay on top of the barrier for a better vantage point (your pet!), or they will propel themselves to the other side (usually when coyote is evading some sort of threat or to avoid detection).  

What is Habituation?

Habituation is probably the most important concept to understand with regard to urban coyote populations.

Habituation, also known as "proximity indifference" essentially refers to the process of coyotes becoming more comfortable in our urban environments.  More specifically, they are more willing to approach humans, our properties, and pets which has the potential for negative outcomes for both coyotes and our pets.    

​

Yes and No... let me explain.  

​

First, a simple definition of hazing: 

"actions homeowners can take to actively or passively deter predators from feeling welcome in a given area".  

The goal of hazing is to encourage what is referred to as "proximity aversion", which is a fancy way of saying to make coyotes disinterested or fearful of an area due to either an absence of attractors, or a direct negative stimuli.  

​

Hazing methods include:

• Passive methods

  • Removing attractors (garbage, dog food bowls on back patio, water features like bird bowls, even seed based bird feeders)​

  • Removing potential shelter in or around the yard (large shrubs, other items in the yard that might provide cover)

  • NOT feeding them (this applies to all wild animals) 

  • Keeping pets inside and supervising them when let out (especially dawn/dusk when coyotes are most active... also least convenient to supervise pets) 

• Active methods​

  • When encountering coyote in person​

    • Shouting, using noise makers (whistle, can with coins in it, bang pots and pans, air horns)​

    • Projectiles (not recommended) like rubber balls, tennis balls, sticks, etc

    • Chemical deterrents 

      • Solution of 10% ammonia and water in a super soaker

      • Pepper spray or bear repellent... maybe viable in an attack scenario but this is a bit extreme.  I would not recommend this for an animal that is not showing immediate aggression

​

So does hazing work... 

​

Yes -

In theory a coyote will not stick around when encountering negative stimuli, or if there is nothing attracting it to the area.  Passive methods are simple and do have the potential for deterring coyotes simply because they may take another opportunity in an area with more attractors... maybe your messy neighbor who has 3 bird feeders and leaves 4 small dogs unattended throughout the day? Active hazing methods definitely work in a direct encounter scenario, but I will explain downfalls to those methods in the next section.

​

No - There are a few primary downfalls of hazing...

​

• Passive Hazing - Is the community all in?

  • Passive hazing methods are easy, however their effectiveness is somewhat dependent on the entire community.  For instance, if 50% of the neighborhood follows hazing principles and the other 50% leave food out and actively feed wild animals (more common than you would think) coyotes will still be attracted to the area

  • This method is only as effective as the community is willing to dedicate effort to

​

• Active Hazing - Will you be there? 

  • Active hazing methods require two critical factors to be present at the same time

    • A coyote must be present, and YOU must be present​

      • Without going into too much detail, this seems impractical and inconvenient.  I have spoken with clients who were literally camping in the yard with hopes of deterring coyotes, something most people dont have the time or willingness to do

      • Many people do not really want to confront a coyote​​

  • Chemical deterrents, especially the more extreme examples can be harmful and borderline inhumane.  I am biased but I dont think most people are willing to harm an animal outside of a direct conflict.  ​​

    • In a direct conflict - all bets are off. More aggressive hazing methods can be appropriate to reduce threat and save yourself or your pet

  • If you successfully deter one coyote from your area, there will always be more.  Coyotes will breed multiple times a year in some circumstances.  In a way, subscribing to hazing will be a constant endeavor as each new coyote will need to be "re-conditioned"   

​

Context

Let's look at the underlying reason hazing is recommended in the first place.  It is recommended because coyotes are becoming "habituated" or comfortable living in urban areas and interactions with humans and pets continue to increase.  In fact, coyotes may prefer choosing territory in urban areas due to easy access to resources.  Especially as Phoenix continues to expand into more uninhabited areas (aka coyote habitat) coyotes will continue becoming more comfortable approaching  humans and neighborhoods.

At some point, coyotes will become comfortable with loud noises, shaker bottles, air horns, etc.  They are quite intelligent and just like any animal will learn over time that pots and pans are not a reason to stay away from an area forever. 

​

Summary

While I can find weak points to hazing, I do want to be clear that I do not believe hazing is BAD, it has its place and I would of course recommend passive methods... active methods when appropriate.  Hazing is part of a comprehensive community based strategy that when done consistently can condition coyotes to stay away. When executed in this context can mitigate a high percentage of encounters.... but realistically - not all of them.    

Coyotes, like other predators, are opportunistic animals.  For this reason, yes if there is an opportunity to attack a pet for an easy meal they will certainly attack pets.  Their wild, opportunistic nature in combination with increased comfort in urban environments means the chances of attacks will likely increase with time.  There are countless examples of injuries or death on various social media sites, news stories, and anecdotal evidence from clients. 

​

• Pet owners warning others after coyote attack

• Video captures moments before coyotes attack dog in Ahwatukee

• Coyote bites in North Phoenix

• Phoenix woman recounts moments when coyote jumped fence and attacked dog

​

Depending on geographic location (i.e. nation wide) coyote diets vary.  For examples, eastern coyotes will use pack tactics to attack prey as large as deer.  In the southwest their diet consists of approximately 80% small mammals, however this does vary seasonally.  Coyotes are omnivores... and will unfortunately eat just about anything they perceive as food.  (eating trash, and the wrapper is not exactly a healthy meal) Their diet is known to include a range of food sources such as cactus fruit, insects, trash, dog food, some flowers, and even snakes.

Typically, coyotes will live anywhere from 7-10 years.  However, a high percentage of coyotes do not survive past the first year of life.  Litters average 2-7 pups, however depending on territory location and resource availability this could be as large as 12.  

Coyotes prefer to hunt and move around dawn and dusk.  This coincides with when prey is more readily available, and in Phoenix summers when temperatures are more conducive to activity.  This does not mean coyotes will not travel or hunt during the day, they are complex creatures living in a dynamic ecosystem, and various drivers may lead them to hunt or travel during the day.  

First, lets review a few ways coyotes travel when it comes to choosing a given area to call home.  

​

Coyotes will either "immigrate" or "emigrate" to our neighborhoods.  

Immigration refers to coyotes that find a suitable environment with adequate resources and choose this area as their territory.  Immigration is considered a permanent or at least a long term living situation where they will stay in the area until they either cannot or choose not to for some reason.  

Emigration refers to coyotes that are temporarily displaced and will emigrate from another area into a neighborhood.  Emigration happens for a variety of reasons:

• Searching for more or better resources (typically food or shelter) 

• Pushed out of a pack due to competition or lack of resources

• Removing themselves from threat 

Emigrating coyotes may not stay in the area long term, but are found in the area as a function of their... emigration status ;)

​

In general, coyotes are looking for optimal resources.  This includes, shelter, climate, food and water, etc.  In Arizona, many of our neighborhoods are in areas referred to as transition zones, which describe areas where an urban development transitions into a more rural or "wild" environment.  These transition zones simultaneously provide the benefits of natural terrain and the abundance of resources that comes with urban life.  

Because of this, coyotes in Arizona somewhat have the best of both worlds.  In our neighborhoods, they have access to abundant food - trash, dog food, small animals, and even bird seed.  They also have close access to natural habitats that are good locations for den sites or can be an easy way to escape some sort of threat.  Urban environments also provide tons of easily accessible water.  These factors provide a very desirable habitat especially in the heat of the summer where exposure to the elements would probably drive them from a less hospitable environment to a new habitat anyway.

​

In short, what would do?  Would you struggle to survive in a difficult environment with less resources, or would you move to an area that has more abundant resources?  As we have said many times, coyotes are opportunists and if given the choice will find the most advantageous habitat... In this case it happens to be that there are many attractors bringing them into our urban environments. 

In general, no.  Coyotes are typically not aggressive toward humans or our pets (especially pets larger than 30lb or so).  There are however a few factors that might influence aggressive behaviors

​

• Mating Season

  • Coyotes will often exhibit more aggressive behavior during mating season (Approx Jan - March) ​as males are often more defensive of their territory while competing for mates or protecting pups.  It is also during this time that a coyote may attack larger animals (mid to large size dogs, deer, javelina) as their threat meter is basically always high and they may feel more need to defend as opposed to evading threats

• Threat or Defensive Behavior

  • If a coyote is approached by an animal it perceives as threat, i.e. a barking dog, it may act aggressively simply because it is scared or defensive.  Just like you and I, we might be more aggressive towards other people if we perceive a direct threat​

• Disease

  • Most commonly, coyotes (and other animals) can exhibit aggressive behavior when a number of diseases are present​

    • Rabies is widely known to make animals irrationally aggressive, even toward themselves! They have been seen chasing cars, people, pets, and have even been documented chewing on themselves due to what must be sheer ​discomfort or altered mental state. Rabies can also present as confused or aloof behavior, such as wandering aimlessly or trailing into areas they normally would not be comfortable being seen

    • Mange is another well documented disease that presents with a very unhealthy looking animal.  They lose fur, will often appear patchy, and open sores may be visible.  In general a coyote with mange will likely be more reclusive, spending more time licking its wounds than seeking out food or shelter which typically leads to premature death

Both trapping and using lethal means are common "control" methods.  While both of these methods have appropriate uses, in the case of urban coyote populations there are a few reasons why they are not ideal.  

​

Trapping

• Disease Transportation

  • If a coyote is carrying a disease, that disease now has the potential to spread into other areas/populations

• New Home v Known Home

  • When a coyote is dropped into a new area, it is not familiar with the habitat, resources, etc.  Coyotes are typically good at adapting to new environments, however entering into a new environment does make it less likely that a coyote will survive long term

• Social Intolerance

  • Often coyotes will not be welcomed into a new pack when entered into a new territory, again making survival much less likely depending on age, health, and other factors

• Stress Related Death

  • Imagine your leg being trapped, you are then drugged and transported into an unfamiliar environment miles from the are you know.  This is an incredibly stressful event which can lead to premature death when compounded with factors listed above

• Return to Original Territory

  • ​Depending on how the relocation is performed, i.e. if the coyote is relocated within a reasonable distance from their original territory, they do have the ability to simply navigate back to the area in which they were trapped​​

• Removal Consistency​

  • Removals are only useful if they are constantly being done.  Coyotes will continue to breed and continue to seek out optimal habitat. When one coyote is removed from an area, others are likely to take its place.  For this reason, removals are only effective for population control if it is a constant, around the clock effort.  This may be valuable for rural properties who need to protect livestock or other animals, however it is not an effective long term solution

​

Lethal Methods

• Breeding Pressure

  • Lethal methods are typically only used for aggressive or "nuisance" coyotes.  The primary reason being that the death of a coyote signals females to breed more... not less.  For this reason, killing coyotes is directly counterproductive to overall population control since it increases breeding drive