Coyotes have expanded into cities and suburbs across North America, creating coexistence challenges and welfare concerns for both wildlife and communities.
Urban coyotes face chronic welfare challenges from human-wildlife conflict. Mange, caused by sarcoptic mites, spreads rapidly in stressed urban populations exposed to rodenticides that weaken immune function. Vehicle collisions cause significant mortality and injury. Lethal removal programs create population instability — survivors reproduce at higher rates and pups disperse into new territories, worsening rather than resolving conflicts. Aversive conditioning through hazing maintains natural fear of humans without physical harm, representing the most welfare-positive conflict management approach. Access to clean water during droughts, freedom from secondary poisoning through rodenticide reduction, and stable territorial boundaries all improve individual coyote welfare in urban settings.