Myth 1: Coyotes only live in rural or wilderness areas.
Fact: Coyotes thrive in urban, suburban, and rural environments alike. They are highly adaptable and often live undetected in cities, parks, and residential neighborhoods.
Myth 2: Coyotes are dangerous to people.
Fact: Coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare. Coyotes are naturally fearful of people and typically avoid confrontation. Most negative encounters occur when coyotes become habituated (lose their fear) due to intentional or unintentional feeding.
Myth 3: Feeding coyotes makes them friendly.
Fact: Feeding coyotes makes them lose their natural fear of humans, which increases the risk of bold or aggressive behavior. Never feed coyotes directly or indirectly (e.g., leaving pet food, unsecured trash, or fallen fruit).
Myth 4: Coyotes hunt in large packs.
Fact: Coyotes usually live in small family units (a mated pair and their pups). They sometimes travel or hunt alone and rarely form large packs like wolves.
Myth 5: Coyotes are nocturnal.
Fact: Coyotes are crepuscular—most active at dawn and dusk—but may also be seen during the day, especially when feeding young or when humans aren’t perceived as a threat.
Myth 6: Coyotes are killing off native wildlife.
Fact: Coyotes are a natural part of the ecosystem and help control populations of rodents, rabbits, and other small mammals. However, they can impact small pet populations if precautions aren’t taken.
Myth 7: If you see a coyote during the day, it must be sick or dangerous.
Fact: Daytime sightings are not necessarily a sign of illness. Coyotes may be out during the day looking for food, especially when raising pups. Abnormal behavior—like aggression, confusion, or staggering—would be cause for concern.
Myth 8: Killing coyotes will solve the problem.
Fact: Removing coyotes creates a vacuum effect—new coyotes quickly move into the area. The most effective long-term strategy is coexistence through hazing, securing attractants, and community awareness.
Myth 9: Coyotes can’t jump fences.
Fact: Coyotes are excellent jumpers and climbers—they can clear a 6-foot fence if there’s a foothold or nearby object. A 6–8 foot smooth fence with a roll bar or coyote roller is most effective.
Myth 10: There’s nothing residents can do to deter coyotes.
Fact: Communities can reduce conflicts by:
Securing trash and compost
Removing fallen fruit
Keeping pets indoors or supervised
Using hazing techniques (shouting, waving arms, noise makers)
Educating neighbors to avoid feeding or approaching coyotes
References:
Project Coyote — Model Coyote Coexistence Plan. Project Coyote+2Project Coyote+2
Project Coyote — “How to Coexist with Coyotes” guide. Project Coyote
Urban Coyote Research Project — “How to Avoid Conflicts with Coyotes” page. urbancoyoteresearch.com+1
Urban Coyote Research Project — Fact sheet “Sources of Conflict” (PDF). urbancoyoteresearch.com
California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Coyotes. wildlife.ca.gov+1
The Humane Society of the United States — Template Coyote Management & Coexistence Plan (PDF).