Why coyotes are losing their fear of humans
In short: Coyote attacks are rare, but they are becoming more frequent in areas like California. While these predators usually avoid people, a shift in behavior is occurring. From intentional feeding to ecological changes, several factors are pushing these animals to view humans—and our children—as potential targets.
While coyote attacks are uncommon and rarely result in serious injuries, they are increasing in frequency. Research suggests that coyotes are losing their natural fear of humans, a trend exacerbated by people intentionally or unintentionally feeding them. In these scenarios, coyotes may display aggressive behaviors such as chasing joggers and bicyclists, stalking small children, or confronting people walking their dogs. Often, an attack begins when a coyote targets a pet, provoking a sequential counter-attack from the owner.
The nature of these encounters varies by geography. In northeast North America, including regions like Pennsylvania and New York, some attackers may actually be coywolves—hybrids of the coyote and the wolf. A notable case in Nova Scotia involved two coywolves that attacked a 19-year-old hiker in 2009. A 2022 study by wildlife ecologist Stan Gehrt suggested this occurred because the local ecology lacked small prey, forcing the coyotes to adapt to larger targets like moose, eventually leading them to view humans as a food source.
Wildlife managers often use 'hazing'—techniques designed to intimidate animals—to mitigate these conflicts. A community-based program in Edmonton, Alberta, involved volunteers patrolling neighborhoods to record coyote reactions. The study found that coyotes retreated from volunteers in 71% of observations and 96% of hazing events. However, the study noted that hazing was implemented too rarely to significantly change long-term behavior, highlighting the rarity of close encounters and the fact that coyotes typically retreat when approached assertively.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Coyote attack
- Also: Urban coyotes were observed rarely and retreated consistently from assertive approaches by volunteers in neighborhoods.
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