I once attended a presentation at Orange County Animal Services where a national speaker talked about coyote behavior and reducing conflict with humans. It was cosponsored by several organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States. Here's the short version of what I took away.
Coyotes are very adaptive, smart, and shy. Their diet is mostly rodents — mice, rats, rabbits, and squirrels — along with fruit, birds, and small fawns. Domestic cats, human garbage, and pet food also contribute. Coyotes have been known to eat anything that smells of food, including fast-food bags and Styrofoam containers. Small dogs, cats, and chickens are at risk if left outside in unsecured enclosures. A coyote can jump a six-foot fence and climb chain link, so it's best not to leave pets outdoors unsupervised, and to always use a leash when walking a dog.
Coyotes don't hunt in packs; they live in small family units, with only the alpha female bearing pups each year. Efforts to control populations through trapping, relocation, or extermination have proven ineffective — biologically, coyote reproduction accelerates to quickly fill an empty niche. They may react aggressively only if you walk a dog too close to a den where they're raising pups.
Habituation
Coyotes grow accustomed to humans and our neighborhoods as they learn to associate us with food. It's important that we, as a community, recognize and change the behaviors that invite them into our yards and onto our porches. We can minimize encounters by scaring them off — known as hazing — and by removing temptations:
- Do not leave pet food outside.
- Keep garbage and compost in secure containers.
- Don't leave small pets outdoors without supervision.
- Above all, do not feed coyotes.
Hazing
Hazing is a set of simple deterrents that re-teach coyotes to fear people and avoid our homes. Make noise, wave your arms, and stand your ground when one comes close. Bang on pots and yell "Go away, coyote!" Throwing sticks and rocks helps too. They will not attack you. If you have a small pet with you, pick it up or put it behind you and face the coyote down — never run away.
Persist every single time you encounter one, and don't let up until it has clearly left a good distance — not just drawn back ten or twenty feet. With time, these measures provide lasting results.
For more information and tips, see the Humane Society's page on coyotes at humanesociety.org/animals/coyotes.