How to Survive a Coyote Attack

Co-authored by Elmer Bensinger

Last Updated: September 27, 2024 Approved

The coyote is one of the most common and adaptable animals in North America. As a general, coyotes are timid and confine themselves to rural and forested areas, although they can also survive in urban and other populated areas. Coyote attacks against humans are extremely rare and, in fact, there are only two confirmed deaths in Canada and the United States. However, it is possible that you may encounter a coyote in the wild or in your own neighborhood.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Creating an Unwelcome Environment for Coyotes

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1
Make your environment inhospitable for coyotes. Most coyotes are no longer afraid of humans and there are reports of increased coyote sightings in urban and suburban areas. In other words, a coyote who does not immediately run away when encountering humans has probably become habituated to the presence of people. You can help prevent coyotes from wandering into your neighborhood by attending to the environment in several ways.
- Keep trees and shrubbery neatly trimmed to eliminate hiding places for coyotes.
- Install coyote-proof fences or other motion-triggered deterrents like light or sprinkler systems.
2
Do not leave food outside of your home or campsite. Humans increase the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes by feeding the animals directly and by giving them access to garbage, pet food and other food remnants.
- Clean up fallen fruit and birdseed from your yard and do not keep any pet food outdoors.
- Secure your garbage and compost bins with rope, chain, bungee cords or weights to keep coyotes from getting in. To prevent tipping, secure the side handles to stakes driven into the ground or keep the bins in a secured shed or garage.^{[1]
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When hiking, bring a large stick or umbrella with you in case of attack. It is also useful to have noisemakers, like air horns and whistles, readily on hand in order to scare off any approaching coyotes. Other options include vessels filled with chemical solutions, such as pepper spray or a vinegar-filled water gun.
4
Get a Guard Dog. While coyotes love hunting against small dogs, cats, pests such as rodents, and other wildlife animals, they fear large and heavy dogs due to their size, aggression, and strength (though coyotes may attack elderly dogs). A guard dog will protect you, your property, and your family from intruders by fighting them. In this case, the following breeds of dogs make great dogs that will scare coyotes enough to get them to leave your property:
- The Great Pyrenees
- Anatolian Shepherd (just to name a few)

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Encountering a Coyote

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1
Do not approach or frighten a coyote if you see one in the wilderness. Coyotes commonly "shadow" humans passing through their territory to ensure that you don't bother their dens. As long as the animal does not approach, you should just continue with whatever you were doing.
- Escalate your response only if a coyote comes closer. Remember, most coyotes prefer to stay away from large predators, including humans. Avoid turning a harmless sighting into a dangerous encounter by evaluating the situation carefully before undertaking any action.
2
Engage in "hazing." To haze is to scare the animal away from you. Make yourself look as big, imposing, and aggressive as possible. Wave your arms above your head and shout in a low but loud and authoritative tone in order to frighten the coyote into retreating. Use tools that appeal to multiple sense, including different lights, sounds and motions.
- Stand your ground. Make eye contact and haze until the coyote(s) retreats. Be consistent and assertive in your behaviors and mannerisms and make sure to allow room for the animal(s) to escape.
- Keep the coyote's attention on you as the source of danger and discomfort. Do not haze from buildings or cars because the animal won't be able to see you as clearly. ^{[2]
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- Throw objects such as sticks and rocks to make the coyote feel unwelcome and induce it to leave you alone.
- Spray a hose or water gun and make loud noises by banging pots together if you are approached by a coyote in a residential or urban area.
3
Protect more vulnerable members of your group. Immediately recall and leash your dog or other pets. Shield any children with your body or place them in the center of the group and form a ring around them.
- Educate children about what to if they encounter a coyote on their own at home or in the wild. Instruct them to keep eye contact with the animal and to throw rocks and sticks if cornered and without an adult nearby to assist. Demonstrate and rehearse different situations with the children.^{[3]
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This indicates submission, weakness and fear; instead, face the coyote to maintain a dominant posture.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Facing and Escaping an Attack

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Do this if your initial efforts to look and sound aggressive do not force the animal to retreat. While moving away, maintain your dominant and powerful stance and keep facing the coyote.
This increases like likelihood of being attacked. You cannot outrun a coyote. It may go against your gut instinct to not run away, but this is an important preventive measure against a coyote attack.
Coyotes show their aggression by growling or snarling. If you see these behaviors, try throwing sticks or dirt, either at the ground near the coyote or at the coyote itself. Avoid aiming to strike the coyote's head, as this may intensify the animal's aggression.
Try again to back away from the animal. De-escalation is the best strategy as an attack looks increasingly possible.
These areas of the body are vulnerable to serious injury and blood loss through biting.
Do not use poisons against coyotes as these are inhumane and may also be illegal. Further, they may result in the secondary poisoning of other pets or animals. In addition, do not try to enclose or capture the animal. It is most important that you get yourself (and your group if this is the case) to safety. Further, it is illegal to keep wild animals and domesticate them.
You should especially see a medical professional if you have been bitten so the wound can be assessed and cleaned. In most attacks to date, the coyote was either being fed by people or had bitten an individual while he or she tried to rescue a pet from the coyote. In rare cases, individuals were bitten by cornered coyotes; even more rare are attacks by rabid coyotes.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Following an Encounter with a Coyote

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If this behavior occurred on your property, consult your local municipality. For encounters in a preserved forest or national park, report to the relevant forestry or parks district.
If you encounter them in urban or suburban spaces, share this information with neighbors and your local animal control branch. Coyotes are creatures of habit.^{[4]
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Coyotes involved in biting attacks will be targeted and removed from the population. They are then often tested for rabies and are killed if found infected. However, it is important to note that an attack by an individual coyote does not warrant the general killing of coyotes. Recall that coyote attacks on humans are exceptionally rare.

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Do coyotes attack people?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Coyote attacks against people have been known to happen but they are rare. In those instances where a coyote has attacked a human being, there have been only 2 deaths confirmed from this in Canada and the United States. The coyote is wary of humans; it knows humans as strong, big, diurnal hunting creatures and it knows that it is not a good match should it attack a human. The most likely reason for an attack would be if you were to threaten its cubs or its own life. Your pets, on the other hand, are at great risk should a coyote come close to cats or dogs.

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Do coyotes come out during the day?

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While coyotes are mainly nocturnal, this does not mean you won't ever see them during the daytime. For starters, both dawn and dusk are still times with some light during which coyotes are likely to be active as part of their nocturnal foraging. And, they may be around during the day for such reasons as needing to move cubs away from danger, needing to escape danger themselves, sating hunger when they caught nothing at night, moving from one location to another (especially if there are territorial disputes) and the like. However, they will be super wary during the daytime, as they know they have little cover if spotted by predators like humans.

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How do you defend yourself against a coyote?

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Check out Methods 2 and 3 of the above article for the recommended steps to take if you need to defend yourself against a coyote. Remember that coyote attacks on a human being are rare and if you avoid threatening the coyote, it'll do its best to get away from you.

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The best way to avoid a coyote attack is to teach your child the difference between an encounter and an attack; you don't want them tossing rocks and provoking any coyote they find.

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