Wild Coyote Coexistence in Urban Environments

Coyotes have expanded into every major North American city. Coexistence requires understanding coyote behavior and welfare impacts of lethal versus non-lethal management.

Key Facts

Coyotes now live in every major US city including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Denver
Lethal control of coyotes is largely ineffective as survivors rapidly reproduce to fill vacated territories
Coyote diet in cities includes garbage, pet food, fruit, and small pets left outside unsupervised
Education-based coexistence programs have successfully reduced coyote-human conflict in multiple cities
Hazing — non-harmful deterrence using noise, water, and movement — reduces coyote boldness effectively

Welfare Considerations

Coyotes killed in urban conflict situations die from poisons, traps, and shooting — all causing acute welfare harm. Lethal control programs that fail to address attractants — unsecured food, pet food, garbage — inevitably lead to new coyotes replacing killed individuals, creating a cycle of killing without conflict resolution. The welfare of individual urban coyotes is compromised by habituation to human food sources that brings them into conflict. Non-lethal management programs that address root causes while hazing bold individuals provide better long-term welfare outcomes than lethal control alone. Urban coyotes that retain wild behavior through appropriate hazing live safer lives than those habituated to human food.

What You Can Do

Remove attractants including unsecured garbage, pet food, and fallen fruit from yards
Keep pets supervised outdoors and on leash in areas with coyote activity
Haze bold coyotes by being loud, large, and assertive to maintain their wariness of humans
Support Project Coyote and urban coyote coexistence education programs in your community