Have you ever encountered a coyote…..? maybe or maybe not? If your question is, do coyotes attack humans…? This post is going to be very informative and helpful for you in both of the conditions. Yes, coyotes do attack humans but very few. There are conflicts between humans and coyotes since they have entered urban places.

Do-Coyotes-Attack-Humans

Coyotes attack humans very rarely. There are only two confirmed deaths a year in Canada and the United States. Normally they are timed and confine themselves to rural and forest areas. They are now surviving in urban and other populated areas. But it is possible that you may encounter the coyote in the wind or in your neighborhood.

If you are really interested in knowing what coyotes eat during the day and night, then you love these interesting facts which I include in this post.

Here is the data of coyotes attack on humans:

According to the data of USDA’s Wildlife Services, in the 30 years leading up to March 2006, 160 attacks occurred in the United States. Most of them were in the Los Angeles region. Data from the USDA’s Wildlife Services and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, show that 41 attacks occurred during the period of 1988–1997. from 1998 to 2003, there are 48 attacks were noted. Their research shows that these incidents majorly occurred in Southern California near the suburban-wildland interface.

Graph-Of-Coyotes-Attack

According to the Urban coyote research project analysis was conducted on coyote attacks on humans in the United States and Canada, including 142 reported incidents of coyote attacks resulting in 159 victims.

You might have this question, do coyotes attack humans?… Most of the coyotes are no longer afraid of humans. There are reports of increased coyote sightings in the urban and suburban areas according to recent research. They do not immediately run away when encountering humans and become habitual to the presence of humans.

Some coyotes have started to act aggressively toward humans, chasing bicycles and joggers. They have begun confronting people walking their dogs and stalking small children.

Humans increase the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes because they are feeding the animals directly. They are giving them access to garbage, pet food, and other food remnants. Humans are not in the coyote’s diet, but they may readily attack young children who are unattended.

One more interesting fact about this feeder is, that they prefer to stay away from large predators, including humans. They commonly “shadow” humans passing through their territory to ensure that if somebody bothers their den.

Some deaths by coyotes’ attacks on humans have been confirmed by experts:

  • The conflict happened on August 26, 1981, when an urban coyote grabbed a three-year-old girl named Kelly Keen. She was in the driveway of her mother and father’s home in Glendale, California. The animal scribbled her across the street. Kelly Keen was rescued by his father, by chasing the animal away and rushed her to Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Unfortunately, she died in surgery due to blood loss and a broken neck because of the incident.
  • On October 27, 2009, two eastern coyotes killed a nineteen-year-old singer-songwriter named Taylor Mitchell. Taylor was at Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, at the time of the attack. She was on a break from her concert tour when they approached stealthily and chased her down the Skyline Trail. The victim was airlifted by an air ambulance to Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. She died after midnight from severe injuries and blood loss that was sustained during the assault.

Attacks in which coyotes remained unsuccessful in killing the victims:

  • On June 28, 2010, a coyote leaped on a 12-year-old girl in Spring Valley. The girl fell backward and stricken her elbow, but she was not bitten.
  • On July 18, 2013, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cypress, a 2-year-old girl was attacked by a coyote when she was playing about ten feet away from her mother. Mother was visiting her grandmother’s grave. The coyote accompanied the playing child and started to drag her off into the bushes. It dropped the child and ran away when “lunged at” by the mother. The child was hospitalized for a 2.5-inch gash to the leg and began inhibitory treatment for rabies. Three coyotes were killed by the authorities at the cemetery the same day after the incident.
  • On October 14, 2013, on a dark road just outside Niwot, Colorado in Boulder County, three coyotes attacked a 22-year-old man who was walking to work. The man focused on keeping his balance, wielding his flashlight with one arm and pushing the coyotes with the other, keeping the animals in front of him, protecting his neck and face, and retreating. The coyotes circled, dodged, and attacked in turn, lunging at his throat, biting, clawing, and landing leaping body blows. He was treated for multiple bleeding cuts and abrasions to the arms, head, face, and neck.
Do-Coyotes-Attack-Humans
  • On January 12, 2015, in Ladera Ranch, outside a baby girl’s residence, a coyote with a limp tried to attack the girl when she was in her mother’s arms. The child was saved by her mother who fought with the animal. After that incident, the animal killed two dogs and was being pursued by authorities.
  • On May 22, 2015, in Irvine Park, a 3-year-old girl was picking up after their dog that she, her twin sister, and her mother had been walking. A coyote came out of a hedge and bit at the neck of the 3–year–old girl. She was saved by her mother and other nearby adults. After the attack, the Department of Fish and Wildlife was trying to track coyotes. Before the attack, a girl had already been chased by the coyote in the same area.

There are some incidents you have read above. In most of them, the coyote tried to hurt children. Coyotes were afraid to prey on animals bigger in size.

What to do to avoid an encounter with coyotes:

  • Coyotes attack humans very rarely but you need to make your surroundings inhospitable for coyotes.
  • Keep trees and shrubbery neatly trimmed to eliminate hiding places for the animal.
  • Do not leave food outside of your home or near the house. The possibility of conflicts with coyotes is increased by humans. Because they have started feeding them directly and by giving them access to garbage, pet food, and other food remnants.
  • Fallen fruit and birdseed can be cleaned up by you from your yard. Do not keep any pet food outside because it is an opportunistic feeder
Avoid-Coyotes-Attack
  • Secure the garbage and compost bins with rope, chain, bungee cords, or weights to keep coyotes from getting in.
  • Prepare for encounters with coyotes if you frequent their natural habitat or you are at the place where coyotes are seen so often.
  • If you are hiking, bring a large stick or umbrella with you in case of an attack.
  • It is also useful to have noisemakers, like air horns and whistles, easily on hand in order to scare them.
  • Vessels filled with chemical solutions, such as pepper spray or a vinegar-filled water gun can be also used.
  • Do not leave your children and pets alone in the park or outdoors. Especially when you are living in an area with the possibility of seeing coyotes.
  • Do not try to approach or frighten a coyote if you see one in the wilderness.
  • Educate children about what to do if they encounter a coyote on their own at home or in the wild.

What to do if a coyote attacks someone?

Here are some steps that you can follow if a coyote attacks it might help when you encounter this animal:

  • Escalate your response only if a coyote comes closer. Keep in mind that most coyotes prefer to stay away from large predators, including humans.
  • Try hazing to scare the animal away from you. Make you look as big, powerful, and aggressive as possible.
  • Wave your arms above your head and shout out a loud and authoritative tone in order to frighten the coyote into digressing.
  • Things that appeal to multiple senses, including different lights, sounds, and motions can be used.
  • Stand in your place instead of running. Make eye contact and haze until the coyote retreats.
  • Be consistent in your behaviors and mannerisms and make sure to allow room for the animal to escape.
  • Throw objects such as sticks and rocks to make the coyote feel unwelcome and propel it to leave you alone.
  • Spray a hose or water gun and make loud noises, if you are approached by a coyote in your area.
  • Never run away from a coyote, this increases the possibility of being attacked.
  • Coyotes show their aggression by growling. Try to throw sticks or clumps of dirt if the coyote becomes aggressive.
  • Avoid aiming to strike the coyote’s head, it may intensify the aggression of this animal.
  • Try to back away from the animal and continue to be loud and bold.
  • If an animal attacks you, try to protect your throat and arteries. These parts of the body are susceptible to serious injury and blood loss through biting.
  • Coyotes attack humans very rarely if it happens to you, consult immediately a doctor or other medical professional if you have been attacked.

Let us know in the comment section if this article about does coyotes attack humans is helpful for you. Besides that, you can also share your experience while encountering the coyote.

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About David Gray

David Gray is born & raised in Bozeman Montana, USA. He has been hunting & fishing since 2009. And used most of the outdoor gear during his 22 years of hunting experience. He likes to spend most of the time in the woods, on the trail, or by the water. He taught us about his outdoor journey and equipment experience.

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17 thoughts on “Do Coyotes Attack Humans: Make Your Surroundings Safe from Coyotes

  1. Jason says:

    Thanks for an informative article.

    I encountered one lone, short coyote, or a large fox, this evening while walking my 6 lb pomeranian in residential Portland, OR.

    The animal was keenly interested in my dog so i picked up the dog. Undeterred by the dog’s being in my arms, the animal crossed the street quickly to approach us. At this point I scolded, “No! Go on!” At which it retreated by about 25 feet in a serpentine type of retreat.

    We walked back home and I made the mistake of walking with the wild animal behind me where I kept turning back to keep an eye on it. Fortunately it did not move any more in our direction until
    We were a good sixty feet ahead of it.

    Most remarkable was how quickly and silently this animal moved and how dead-set it was to get at my dog. It was like I had to break it out of its trance before it paused the hunting it was doing. I am over 6 ft tall so i figured just my moving around would make it leave but no.

    I felt pity for the animal before I left it behind us and like tried to console it a bit because in the city loads of people fully hate and or fear wild dogs and act accordingly. My mistake. Your advice to be consistent is sage. I am pretty sure it would have refrained from coming after us at the 60 feet mark had I not changed my tune or otherwise showed the sign of weakness.

  2. David Grey says:

    Great message to others thanks for sharing it.

  3. Mark says:

    We have 40 fully treed acres deep in the woods. Since this isn’t in the suburbs, we don’t ever leave the house without a sidearm if we plan to walk more than 10 yards away from the house. Of course there are other considerations we have than just coyotes. There is the occasional bear, bobcat or wild pig, and mountain lions have been reported in the area. We are deliberately, conscious of our surroundings for our own safety. This is a mentality that is missing in those who live in the suburbs today and has resulted in unfortunate encounters.

  4. David Grey says:

    Yeah, you are right Mark. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

  5. Paul Goldfin says:

    What caliber handgun would you recommend to take down a suburban coyote? I’d like to use the smallest caliber possible so my animal-loving neighbors don’t hear me putting the animal down. Would a .22 do the trick with one well-placed round?

  6. David Grey says:

    Any 22mag revolver or KelTec PMR – 30 22 mag is good to take down the suburban coyotes.

  7. David Grey says:

    Any 22mag revolver or KelTec PMR – 30 22 mag is good to take down suburban coyotes.

  8. RICK POWELL says:

    I HAD A ENCOUNTER WHILE WALKING MY DOG, I WAS WARNED BY A MAN IN A PICK UP TRUCK DRIVING BY, HE WARNED ME I WAS BEING STALKED BY 4 COYOTES, I HAD NOTICED ONE CONSISTANTLY WATCHING ME AND MY GERMAN SHEPARD IN A PERIOD OF A MONTH TAKING THE SAME ROUTE EACH DAY AND SAW ONE COYOTE WATCHING ME EVERY TIME I WALKED MY DOG. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST CURIOSITY FROM PAST ENCOUNTERS AS I HAVE LIVED IN THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS 25 YEARS AND ALWAYS SAW COYOTES RUNNING AWAY FROM HUMANS, BUT THIS OCCURED NEAR CYPRESS PARK IN LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZONA AND I AM A NEW RESIDENT FROM JULY 2021. i REPORTED THE MATTER YO FISH AND GAME AFTER THE FOUR COYOTES STALKED ME FOR ABOUT 200 YARDS PERSISTANTLY KEEPING A SAFE DISTANTANCE OF ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM ME. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THEM ATTACKING MY DOG . NOW AFTER READING THIS ARTICAL I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AS THIS AREA HAS APPARENTLY BECOME THIER TERRITORY. THE FISH AND GAME EMPLOYEE SAID HE WOULD PASS IT ON TO A OFFICER, BUT DID NOT SEEM TO TAKE MY CONCERNS SERRIOSLY. I BELIEVE NOW THERE IS A REAL DANGER OF AN ATTACK MAYBE YOU CAN FORWARD YOUR ARTICAL TO THEM ? AND THIS POSTING I MADE? R.A. POWELL

  9. Johnny says:

    A big thank you for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.

  10. dina mckillop says:

    Thanks for the article to wake me up a little.
    I really had never heard if coyote attacks on humans and wasn’t aware it was much of a risk to me or large dogs.
    I live in far Northern Ca. We have mixed rural properties and city area as well.
    I encountered what I believe to have been a very large coyote or perhaps a wolf one day while walking a Labrador. It was sniffing in a flower bush and had a large humped neck , it was about the size of a German Shepard.
    The dog and I were the only ones out in a quiet remote neighborhood in the hot middle of the day.
    I did not know what to do and basically walked up to his butt by a few feet, before I noticed him in front of us.
    The dog with me somehow, did not notice him.
    I quickly pivoted and walked away fast, looking behind us for the couple of blocks.
    The animal never fixated on us,
    and was more interested in whatever the bush had to offer.
    Another time I was in the woods at a home with her 3 very large dogs outside early morning.
    I looked down in the shallow canyon and saw 3 coyotes looking up at us.
    We were a pretty safe distance away, but I feared one of my dogs would fixate and give chase into the woods.
    Again, I diverted the dogs attention, and none of them even noticed one.
    We went in the house as I instinctively worried about a dog running after them, never really worried for myself !
    I decided that day, they were probably afraid of us because we were all bigger then them.
    Now I see I was naive and need to carry the air horn and other protection I own, that I often leave in the car instead of having in me and being prepared.
    I’m actually pretty unobservant most the time, so I’ve been lucky not to have an incident.

  11. Daniel Stoika says:

    I just moved to the Northern part of Michigan and have 12 heavly wooded acres and am surrounded on two sides by state land. working in the yard late afternoon hear a howl then another kind of hits your inner fight or flight when hearing it so close. This artical helped me to understand them. It was not a dog and we don’t have wolves in the lower part of Michigan. Will carry a little more often when out thank you again for this information.

  12. David Gray says:

    Thanks for your comment

  13. Randy says:

    Really informative blog.Thanks Again. Want more.

  14. Herpesyl says:

    Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes which will make the most important changes. Many thanks for sharing!

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