DFG News Archive

DFG Cautions to Expect More Contact with Coyotes

The chances of encountering a coyote will likely increase over the next several months as coyotes nurture newborn pups and people enjoy warmer weather, cautions the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).

Coyotes bear litters during April and May, with females delivering between three and nine pups. Adult coyotes caring for young will need to forage more. This can lead to increased aggressiveness, said DFG wardens, who have seen an upswing in reported coyote encounters in southern California and the inland desert areas.

"We're entering the season of increased contact between people and coyotes," said Steve Edinger, Assistant Chief for DFG's South Coast Region. "The Department wants to be proactive and caution people about encounters with coyotes. These are not animals to regard as pets. They are wild animals that are predators, and they should be treated with caution and respect."

Edinger's region includes San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and accounts for most of the reported encounters between human and coyotes.

The coyote (Canis latrans) is a member of the dog family and is native to California. It closely resembles a small German shepherd with the exception of the long snout and bushy, black-tipped tail. Coyotes are extremely adaptable and resourceful, and can survive on whatever food is available. They prey on rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals, as well as young deer and sheep. In urban areas, coyotes have attacked people's small pets - cats and dogs included - and have attacked small children as well.

According to a recent scientific paper presented at a wildlife and natural resource conference, there have been 89 coyote attacks on humans in California between the late 1970s and December 2003.* Approximately 79 percent of the attacks have occurred in the last decade, indicating that the problem is increasing, the report stated.

"Of the attacks on children and adults… 63 percent occurred during the season when adult coyotes would most likely be provisioning pups or experiencing increased food demands because of the female's gestation (March through August), while 37 percent of attacks occurred during the other six months of the year (September through February)," the report stated. "Alternatively, this seasonality in attacks could be related to other behaviors associated with territoriality, reproduction, and defense of den sites and/or pups."

DFG does not collect statistics of coyote attacks, but Mike McBride, Assistant Chief for DFG's Eastern Sierra - Inland Desert Region, said his office continues to receive numerous calls about coyotes coming into urban areas, where people are surprised to see them.

"This is the time of year when we've seen coyotes become more territorial," McBride said. "We've had calls of people out walking their dogs when coyotes have become aggressive."

DFG Senior Wildlife Biologist Doug Updike said that coyotes are adaptable predators, found in most open habitats. They are tolerant of human activities, and adapt and adjust rapidly to changes in their environment. As coyote pups grow older and there becomes more competition for its source of food, it is likely a coyote's natural aversion to people will change. The biggest problems occur when people feed coyotes - either deliberately or inadvertently.

To avoid problems with coyotes, people should follow these guidelines:

• Never feed a coyote - Deliberately feeding coyotes puts pets and other residents in the neighborhood at risk. In addition, people can inadvertently feed coyotes by leaving pet food or garbage where they can get it. Feed pets ndoors or promptly remove outdoor dishes, bring bird feeders in at night, store bags of pet food indoors, and use trashcans with lids that clamp shut.
• Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings - Reduce protective cover for coyotes and make the area less attractive to rodents. Coyotes, as well as other predators, are attracted to areas where rodents are concentrated, such as woodpiles and seed storage areas.
• Protect children - Although rare, coyotes have been known to seriously injure young children. Never leave children unattended in areas known to be frequented by coyotes, even in familiar surroundings, such as a backyard.
• Protect pets and livestock - Keep small pets such as cats, rabbits, and small dogs indoors, especially at night. They are easy, favored prey. Coyotes have been known to be responsible for a large number of cat disappearances in a single residential neighborhood. • Use negative reinforcement - If coyotes are present, make sure they know they're not welcome. Make loud noises, throw rocks, or spray them with a garden hose. To keep coyotes wild or to prevent a coyote from becoming habituated to humans, it is important that coyotes retain their natural wariness of humans.

Most coyote sightings should be reported to local animal control districts. However, if a coyote acts aggressively or attacks people, call the emergency number 911, or contact the nearest DFG office. For more information on coyote prevention tips, go online at www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/coyote.html.

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* "Coyote Attacks: An Increasing Suburban Problem" Authors: Robert M. Timm, Rex O. Baker, Joe R. Bennett, and Craig C. Coolahan Presented at 69th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Spokane, Wash., March 16-20.