Wildlife

Coyote Welfare: Lethal Control and Urban Coexistence

Coyotes are the most persecuted carnivore in North America, with 500,000 killed annually through methods that often cause severe suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated 500,000 coyotes are killed in the US annually by government and private killing
Coyotes are listed as unprotected in most US states with no season or bag limits
Snare, poison, and aerial gunning are commonly used despite causing significant suffering
Studies consistently show that lethal control does not reduce coyote populations long-term
Coyotes are expanding into cities as their natural habitat is fragmented

Welfare Considerations

M-44 sodium cyanide devices kill coyotes with violent convulsions and can kill non-target animals and pets. Snares cause prolonged suffering lasting hours or days. Aerial gunning wounds a significant proportion of targeted animals. All these methods are largely ineffective at controlling populations long-term as coyotes respond to culling with increased reproduction rates.

What You Can Do

Oppose the use of M-44 sodium cyanide devices on public lands
Support Predator Defense and Project Coyote coexistence programs
Advocate for evidence-based non-lethal livestock protection methods
Never feed coyotes, which leads to habituation and lethal removal
Report illegal coyote trapping to your state wildlife agency