Quick Picks: Coyote Repellents & Deterrents
- Best Coyote Whistle: Fox 40 Sonik Blast. Bright orange 120+ decibel whistle – one of the loudest whistles out there!
- Best LED Dog Collar: Blazin’ Safety LED Dog Collar. Keep your dog visible and scare off coyotes at night with this LED collar.
- Best Coyote Vest & Apparel: CoyoteVest. This spiked vest with colorful whiskers will keep coyotes away.
- Best Coyote Pepper Spray: SABRE Protector Pepper Spray. One of the most powerful pepper sprays on the market.
- Best Coyote Deterrent Light (To Carry On Walks): Tactical LED Flashlight. Sturdy, portable, 2-pack of travel flashlights for evening dog walks.
- Best Coyote Deterrent Light (For Yard): URPOWER Solar Lights. Can be easily installed along a fence-line perimeter and are motion activated (as well as solar-powered).
- Best Coyote Repellent Pee: Pee Mart Wolf Urine Granules. The smell of wolf pee has been used by many owners to keep coyotes at bay – these granules are easy to spread around your yard.
Most dog lovers probably have a soft spot for all canines – I know I do.
Coyotes, wolves, jackals, foxes and other wild canines look pretty similar to our domestic dogs and they exhibit a number of the same traits that make us love our pets so much.
But your opinion of wild canines in general (and coyotes specifically) can quickly change when they threaten your dog. Coyote attacks aren’t especially common, but they are a concern for many owners – especially those who have small dogs.
Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the chances of coyote attacks and give your pooch a better chance of surviving any encounters that do happen.
None are guaranteed to work; there is no technique or product that’ll completely eliminate the threats coyotes can present.
But we’ll share some of the most effective tips, tricks, strategies, and tools you can use to help reduce the risk as much as possible.
We’ll also share the basics of coyote biology, ecology, and behavior, so you can understand (and therefore avoid) coyotes.
How to Keep Your Dog Safe from Coyotes: Strategies, Tactics, and Techniques
Short of placing your pet in a permanent protective bubble, there are no completely effective methods for protecting your dog from coyotes.
However, the following tactics will help you greatly reduce the chances of an attack on your pooch.
1. Keep Your Dog Leashed
One of the best ways to keep your dog safe during walks is to keep him close to your side.
Some coyotes are bold (or desperate) enough to attack a dog walking alongside his owner, but most would rather snatch a dog who is not accompanied by a big, bipedal predator.
A leash will help ensure your dog remains close, and it’ll also help prevent your dog from wandering off out of sight.
For that matter, it’s simply a good idea to keep your dog on a leash anyway. I understand that many owners don’t feel the need to do so, but most states have leash laws that mandate their use, and you are putting your dog at risk anytime you let him run out of the front door untethered.
Dog-on-dog violence is much more common than coyote-on-dog violence, and unleashed domestic dogs represent a much more significant threat to your pooch than coyotes do.
2. Supervise Your Pup While Playing in the Backyard
In some cases, your pooch may not even be safe in your own backyard. Coyotes often hunt in residential areas, and many are skilled climbers, who can scale small or poorly built fences with ease (we will discuss coyote-proof fencing a little later).
So, don’t just open the back door and let your dog run outside when nature calls – go out in the back yard with him.
Even if you spend the time checking out the latest K9ofMine.com article on your phone, your presence will help discourage (if not completely prevent) coyote attacks.
3. Limit Your After-Dark Walks
Coyotes are thought to be inherently diurnal (day-active) animals. However, because they are such flexible creatures, who can adapt to a variety of different challenges, many become crepuscular (active at dawn or dusk) or nocturnal when living around humans.
This means that it is wise to limit walks after dark as much as is possible.
This isn’t always possible, especially for those owners living in the north during the winter. However, owners living in the south may be able to eliminate after-dark walks entirely during the summer, when the days are long.
I’m not terribly worried about coyotes bothering my 95-pound Rottie, but because of the way our daily schedule unfolds, she doesn’t need to go out after dark during the summer months. I usually take her out to pee a final time around 8:30 PM (dusk during the summer in Atlanta), and she doesn’t need to go again until the sun comes up the next morning.
Smaller and younger pups may not be able to wait this long between bathroom breaks, but my sidekick doesn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, I usually have to wake her up to go out in the morning – it isn’t as though she’s doing the pee-pee dance in the morning anxiously awaiting the chance to go outside.
4. Stick to Well-Lit Areas
If you do have to walk your pup after dark, do your best to stick to well-lit areas. Coyotes on the prowl will normally prefer to fly under the radar and creep in the shadows, so hug those light posts as best you can.
Places like tennis courts, parking lots, and well-lit parks are often pretty safe places to walk your pup after dark if you need to.
It’s also a good idea to turn your home’s exterior lights on before leaving, as this will help keep you and your pooch safe while entering and exiting the house.
5. Make Noise While You Walk
Like many other predators, coyotes are a bit skittish – they don’t take unnecessary chances, and they prefer to avoid potentially dangerous encounters whenever possible. This means that you may be able to discourage attacks by simply making a racket while you walk your dog.
You can do this in a number of ways.
You can sing or talk to your dog while walking, you can place a bell around your dog’s neck, or you can simply jingle your keys as you walk. You could also play some music or spoken-word audio from your phone.
6. Try to Figure Out the Places Coyotes Frequent, and Walk Elsewhere
If you can, try to figure out some of the places your local coyotes like to hang out. This will help you avoid walking through their preferred hunting grounds and just keep more distance between them and your pooch.
This obviously isn’t always easy – coyotes are secretive critters.
But, if you keep an eye out for their tracks and scat (more on this later) and note the places you hear them calling from, you can usually get a good idea of their movement patterns.
Coyote Deterrents: Products & Tools
We’ve already covered general tips for avoiding coyotes, but to cover all your bases, it’s smart to outfit yourself with some coyote deterrents as well.
Remember that no single technique or product will keep your dog 100% safe, so it is often helpful to consider implementing several techniques or products.
1. Coyote Vests and Protective Garments
A company called CoyoteVest makes a number of garments that are designed to deter coyotes and make it more difficult for one to abscond with your pooch.
The company offers a few different types of coyote-deterring garments, but they all feature spikes or bristles.
These projections should deter some attacks entirely and make it difficult for a coyote to get a grip on your dog if they do launch an attack.
The two primary garments offered by CoyoteVest are the original CoyoteVest and the SpikeVest. They both feature hard plastic spikes (which are removable), and they’re made with Kevlar (the same material used in bullet- and knife-proof vests).
The biggest difference between the two garments is the closures: The CoyoteVest uses snap buckles, while the SpikeVest uses Velcro straps.
The company also offers a variety of add-on accessories, such as HawkShield, which is designed to protect your pooch from predatory birds, and CoyoteWhiskers, which are long nylon bristles that make it even more difficult for a coyote to grab your pooch.
The bristles and spikes are multi-purpose. While they make it more difficult for an attacking coyote to latch onto your dog, they actually function primarily as a deterrent.
The colorful bristles make your pup:
- Look larger than he or she is
- Appear more formidable and threatening
Coyotes don’t usually go after anything that doesn’t seem like an easy target, so the odd-ness of your pup’s new threads may be enough to keep coyotes at bay.
Do Coyote Vests Work?
CoyoteVest is reasonably new to the market (the company was founded in 2015), so it’s not entirely clear how effective they will end up being. The manufacturer claims they have a perfect success record, but they don’t offer any third-party data verifying the claim.
When it comes to CoyoteVest reviews, owners who have used the CoyoteVest rave about it, with many offering their own stories of how the CoyoteVest deterred a would-be attacker.
They also offer the CoyoteZapper, which is an add-on shocking device, which you could activate if your pup was grabbed (although this seems a bit dangerous and un-necessary to be honest).
2. Portable Flashlights
Lights can be very helpful for keeping your pooch safe while passing through coyote territory after dark.
A beam of light shouldn’t be considered a magic bullet, but it will help you see your surroundings better, which should make it harder for coyotes to sneak up on you. It may also provide some deterrent value if you shine it directly at a coyote (while you’re also waving your arms, screaming, and generally acting like a lunatic).
Our Top Pick? The Tactical LED Flashlight
The LETMY Tactical LED Flashlight is one of the best portable flashlight options on the market. It’s compact, easy to carry, incredibly bright, and it operates in 5 different ways – including as a strobe light.
Lightweight, ultra-bright 3000 lumen flashlights that are easy to take along on night time dog walks.
It’s also affordable (it’s actually sold as a two-pack), water-resistant, and built like a tank so that you don’t have to worry that it’ll break if dropped.
You could also opt for a classic flashlight, like the Maglite 5-Cell Incandescent Flashlight. This flashlight is not only bright, it’s big too. In fact, it’s 18 inches long and weighs almost 1.5 pounds. This means it may prove valuable if you end up in a tussle with a ‘yote and need to whack him upside the head.
3. LED Dog Collar Lights
Illuminated collars may help too. Skidding coyotes may take off when they see the odd light emitting from your pup’s collar. Even if they don’t scare off a coyote, they’ll help you keep a better eye on your pup after dark, which is incredibly important.
Additionally, if (heaven forbid) a coyote does snatch your pet, it’ll be much easier to follow and find him again if he’s wearing a light-up collar.
Our Top Pick? The Blazin’ Safety LED Collar
The Blazin’ Safety LED Dog Collar is a great choice, as it is not only bright, but it is available in several different colors and sizes, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s also rechargeable, via the included USB port.
Bright, colorful light-up collar that's rechargeable and backed by a lifetime warranty.
If you prefer a harness to a collar, check out the noxgear LightHound. It’s a little pricey, but most owners who’ve tried it love it.
4. Coyote Whistle & Other Noise-Emitting Devices
Light isn’t the only thing that may help convince coyotes to keep their distance; loud sounds may scare off a ‘yote too.
Coyote whistles and similar sonic devices will also help you attract the attention of nearby bystanders, who may be able to help frighten off coyotes.
There are a number of different things you can use to make loud, frightening noises. Whistles are a great low-tech option, as they’re light, easy to carry, and they don’t need batteries.
Option 1: Fox40 Sonik Blast Whistle
The Fox 40 Sonik Blast produces 120+ decibels, making it one of the loudest pea-less whistles on the market (the pea is the little ball you can hear rattling around inside some whistles).
Loud, 120+ decibels pea-less safety whistle that's sure to scare of coyotes.
The whistle is made from super-durable ABS plastic, and it’s sold as a two-pack. Lanyards are included to make the whistle easy to drape around your neck.
Option 2: Air Horn
You could also opt for an air horn. Air horns rely on compressed air and a little megaphone to produce loud blasts of sound, which can often be heard up to 1 mile away. They are a little less convenient to carry than whistles, but many – like the Mini Eco Shoreline Air Horn – are very affordable.
Portable 120 decibels air horn that can be heard from over a mile away -- plenty loud to scare off any coyotes.
You could also pick up a hand-held personal alarm. These are usually designed to help protect people from criminals, but they’d likely work as well as (if not better than) whistles or air horns.
Option 3: Personal Alarm
The SABRE Personal Alarm is one of the best-rated personal alarms on the market.
Ultra-compact and portable SABRE personal alarm, with a 130dB siren boasting a range of 1,250 feet.
It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and it comes with a keyring attachment (which you could probably hook to your dog’s leash) and boasts 130 decibels of ear-splitting sound.
Pepper Spray
We’ve talked about using pepper spray to repel attacking dogs before. While they’re not perfect tools, they are often effective at stopping charging dogs. They’d likely be similarly effective against coyotes.
You will, however, have to consider the fact that your dog may catch a little friendly fire if you have to use it.
That’s no minor concern; pepper spray is serious stuff that can cause severe pain for the eyes, nose, and mouth. It can even burn your skin. But those consequences are undoubtedly preferable to an actual coyote attack.
You’ll just have to make the best decision you can on behalf of you and your pooch.
Our Pepper Spray Pick? SABRE
SABRE Maximum Strength Protector Pepper Spray is one of the most concentrated pepper spray products on the market, so it’s probably the best one to try.
Features a 15-foot range for long-distance protection with 1.0% Major Capsaicinoids (the maximum strength allowed by the EPA).
In our article about dog repellent sprays, we actually note that SABRE might be a bit overkill for an aggressive dog, so it’s probably a solid choice for coyotes.
It also comes with a handy belt clip, it features a safety lock to prevent accidental discharges, and it has a 15-foot range.
How to Keep Coyotes Out of the Yard: Protect Your Property
There are almost certainly coyotes around your local park or dog park, but they’re probably not far from your back yard either. Coyotes frequently inhabit residential areas – even in relatively urban locations.
This means your pet may not even be safe in your own backyard. But there are a few things you can do that may make your property safer for your pet.
None of these tactics are guaranteed to work, and some are undoubtedly more likely to help than others. Nevertheless, they all deserve consideration.
Fence In Your Yard
Fences are one of the most effective ways to protect your pup while he’s enjoying some backyard time.
The problem is, coyotes are very skilled climbers, jumpers, and diggers, so you can’t just throw up some fencing in a haphazard manner and expect it to work. You need to select and install the fencing very carefully.
For starters, you’ll want to select an effective type of dog-proof fencing – a cute little picket fence isn’t going to cut it. Brick or cement fences (which are really walls, rather than fences) are likely the best options, and privacy fences are also good choices.
You just need to make sure the fence is at least 6-feet-tall (and 8-feet-tall would be even better) and extends below ground level for at least 18 inches.
Chain-link fencing can also be effective, but it’s easy for coyotes to climb.
So, you’ll need to install coyote rollers or fence extensions to keep ‘yotes from climbing up and over the fence. You can also make your own coyote rollers, as demonstrated in the video below.
Keep Your Property Tidy & Clean
Yard clutter may attract coyotes for a variety of reasons.
Large items like planter boxes and storage sheds provide places for coyotes to hide, while smaller stuff like old plant pots and kids’ toys serve as hiding places for mice, bugs, and other critters coyote like to eat.
Additionally, excessive clutter can also provide pathways where coyotes can travel without being seen. So, be sure to go through your yard and remove any unnecessary items or debris.
Eliminate Potential Food Sources
Coyotes probably aren’t initially drawn to residential properties because they want to eat pet dogs – it’s all of the other easy, high-value foods we offer them.
Some of the most common food sources homeowners inadvertently serve include:
- Pet Food
- Garden Vegetables
- Tree Fruits
- Bird Feeders
- Prey Animals
- Compost Piles
- Farm Animals
- Grills and Smokers
Install Coyote Deterrent Lights Around Your Property
Portable lights are helpful for walking around with your canine after dark, but stationary lights can make your entire property safer for your pet.
The best option is to install one or more security lights in your backyard.
Top Pick For Ultra-Bright Security Light: HALO
Wall mounted dusk-to-dawn light that auto turns on in the evening. Boasting 4,000 lumens and 50,000 hours of life.
The HALO Outdoor Dusk to Dawn Light is one of the best options available. It’s not only energy-efficient, crazy bright, and affordable, it’s also easy to install.
It even comes equipped with a built-in photocell, which automatically turns the light on when the sun goes down. This means you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to turn the light on at night.
Top Pick For Motion-Activated Fence Lights: URPOWER Solar Lights
Motion-activated LED lights, able to detect motion within 16-26ft at night. And they use solar power to recharge, so no batteries needed!
If the HALO Light is a little more light than you need, you may find the URPOWER Solar Lights to be a better option.
These lights are motion-activated, so they don’t stay on all the time. But, your dog – or more importantly a coyote – will easily trigger them. They come in packs of four, and they’re easy to install on fence lines, exterior walls, or dog runs.
Equip Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Motion-activated sprinklers are sometimes used to keep dogs, cats, squirrels, and other animals away from yards and gardens, and they may help deter coyotes too.
Obviously, a stream of water isn’t going to harm a coyote, but because they’re often relatively skittish animals, an unexpected soaking may cause them to turn tail and run off.
Top Pick For Motion-Activated Fence Lights: Orbit Yard Enforcer
Detects movement up to 40-ft away, spraying any approaching coyotes. It also features customizable settings to choose operation times.
The Orbit Yard Enforcer is a very effective garden security device that can even double as a watering tool!
It’s easy to install, and it features an infrared “eye” that can distinguish between animals and things like trees blowing in the wind. While it’s primarily intended to scare off deer from chomping on your garden’s edibles, it might deter coyotes as well with a splash of water.
Best of all, it’ll work during the day or night.
Coyote Repellents
Dogs aren’t coyotes, but they’re close relatives, so it’s worth considering some of the lawn and garden products on the market that are designed to repel dogs.
Unfortunately, most of the repellents designed to keep your yard or garden dog-free don’t seem to be terribly effective. Some owners have found them helpful, but others reported that they appeared to attract dogs. Some even appear to damage plants and grasses.
Nevertheless, as long as you select one that is non-toxic, it may be worth trying – especially if you pick one made from predator urine. Coyotes typically avoid big predators, so, in theory, these may prove useful for keeping your yard yote-free.
Top Pick For Pee Deterrent: Pee Mart Wolf Urine
Concentrated wolf urine granules that can be sprinkled around the perimeter of your home.
Pee Mart Wolf Urine Granules have been helpful for some homeowners. These granules are essentially pellets made from dehydrated wolf urine, so they should be safe to use around your dog, and they’re easy to spread around your yard.
They also market a liquid version of the product, although customers didn’t rate the liquid version as highly as the granules.
Get A Big Dog or Two
It bears mentioning that there are several dog breeds who’ve been historically tasked with repelling predators. These large and extra-large dog breeds are usually used to guard livestock, but they’d likely perform equally well at protecting your backyard and other pets.
Just be sure to think through this idea carefully – you will be putting the dogs in harm’s way to an extent. That said, most large livestock guarding breeds like the Great Pyrenees and Kangal are capable of repelling wolves, bears, and other predators more formidable than a 40-pound coyote.
You’ll need to have guarding dogs trained, which is neither quick nor cheap, but it may be a viable option in some situations.
Don’t Deliberately Feed Coyotes
File this under “things that shouldn’t have to be said,” but you should never deliberately feed coyotes.
You may have the best intentions for doing so (such as keeping them full, so they don’t start viewing your pooch as prey), but by doing so, you’ll actually be teaching them that your property is a food source.
This will not only cause coyotes to start visiting your property more often, it’ll often cause them to stop fearing humans, thereby exacerbating the problem.
Getting to Know the Coyote
Anytime you are trying to protect your dog from a threat, you need to learn as much as you can about it so that you can take the necessary steps to keep your pet safe. We’ll explain some of the basic facts about coyotes below to help.
Physical Traits of a Coyote
Generally speaking, coyotes (Canis latrans) resemble domestic canines. They don’t really look that dissimilar from the shepherd mixes you may see at your local dog park. In fact, many people have trouble distinguishing coyotes from dogs.
Coyotes are a bit smaller than most people suspect, thanks in large part to their fluffy coats. The average weight of a coyote is between 20 and 45 pounds or so, and they stand about 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder.
As a point of reference, German shepherds – one of the breeds most likely to be mistaken for coyotes — are usually in the 75- to 95-pound ballpark, and they stand about 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder.
Whippets, believe it or not, are actually a good size comparison for coyotes.
Whippets are a few inches shorter than the average coyote, and they look much smaller, given the differences in coat length, but their weight range is very similar (whippets usually weigh between 20 and 50 pounds).
Just note that coyotes vary in size a bit across their range.
Those living in the northeastern U.S. and adjacent portions of Canada are usually the largest (which may be a byproduct of interbreeding with wolves in the past), while those living in the south and west are generally smaller. That said, the largest coyote on record (a 75-pound male) was killed in Wyoming back in the ‘30s.
Coyotes can occur in almost every color imaginable, but they’re usually some combination of brown, grey, and white. Melanistic (black) individuals are also seen from time to time, primarily in the southeast.
To recognize a coyote, just look for the following traits:
- Pointy, erect ears
- Long and slender snout with a small nose pad
- Bushy, drooping tail, which often (but not always) features a black tip
- Narrow chest
Where Do Coyotes Live?
Historically, coyotes were only found in the wide-open habitats of the western U.S.
Wolves were the dominant predators across the country, and they helped to limit the coyote’s range. They’d not only compete with coyotes for food, they would even predate upon them from time to time.
But around the beginning of the 19th century, humans began altering habitats in significant ways and killing off the country’s wolves and coyotes. However, coyotes are much more difficult to eradicate (their population actually exploded – more on this later) than wolves, which allowed them to expand their range.
Fast forward to modern day, and coyotes have colonized most of North America.
They can be found living on farms, forests, and fields, as well as suburban neighborhoods, vacant lots, and industrial zones. They’ve been seen in Central Park, cruising around Beverly Hills, and they’ve even turned up riding subway systems.
Chances are, you’re never terribly far from a coyote. And the same thing goes for your pup.
What Do Coyotes Eat?
Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, which is a fancy way of saying they eat whatever they can.
In natural habitats, they largely feed on bugs, rodents, birds, rabbits, and other small critters. They are also capable hunters who occasionally take down deer or livestock, but they generally prefer smaller prey.
Coyotes will also scavenge animal carcasses when the opportunity arises. They’ll also eat fruit, such as persimmons and blackberries, when they can.
However, in urban and suburban settings, coyotes often include additional foods in their diets.
Garbage is a very important food source for the coyotes in urban areas, but they’ll also nibble on pet food left outdoors. And, unfortunately, they will also prey on cats and small dogs from time to time.
Why Do Coyote Attacks Happen?
Coyote attacks on dogs and cats occur for several different reasons. Some attacks are predatory in nature (the coyote is trying to eat the dog it attacks), but others are related to territorial issues (the coyote sees the dog as a competitor).
To help understand the nature of and reasons for coyote attacks, the Urban Coyote Research Project reviewed 14 years of newspaper reports in and around the city of Chicago. The information gleaned from this review is quite helpful for dog owners (the researchers do, however, concede that this type of media-reported data is problematic in some ways).
A few of the takeaways from the research include:
- There were 70 attacks on dogs reported over the 14-year study period (there were 10 attacks on cats reported during the same period).
- Attacks are becoming more frequent. Two or fewer attacks were reported each year at the beginning of the study period, but that figure climbed to 6 to 14 for the final years.
- Attacks were most common during the late fall through early spring.
Dogs are not on the historic coyote menu; they’re a resource that a small number of coyotes have learned to exploit. This is probably more likely to occur in places where their typical food sources are scarce, competition for food is high, or there are an unusually large number of small dogs present.
Territorial attacks are typically most common during the time period between April and August when adult coyotes are raising their young. That said, most attacks on dogs occur during the winter.
Coyote Attack Video: Don’t Worry, It Has a Happy Ending
It can often be helpful to see how a typical coyote attack on a small dog unfolds. But because coyote attacks are rarely captured on video, few people have the chance to do so.
However, a dog owner’s home security camera recently captured a coyote attacking a family pet and running off with it. As you can see, the entire event happens pretty quickly, and the coyote doesn’t have any trouble making off with the 13-pound Shih Tzu.
Viewer discretion is advised, as this video may be upsetting to some. It does have a happy ending, and the dog survives without suffering any serious injuries. However, she emits some pretty heart-breaking vocalizations and the whole thing is pretty tough to watch.
As explained in the video, the Shih Tzu’s invisible fence collar ended up shocking the ‘yote when it tried to cross the property line with the small dog. This caused the coyote to drop the dog, who was then able to escape.
This is obviously not how invisible fence collars are supposed to work, and we wouldn’t expect this to work in the vast majority of cases. If the coyote’s grip had been a little different, or its jaws had damaged the receiver, this story could have had a much different outcome.
However, it seems likely that some of the deterrent products we discuss below (particularly the CoyoteVest) would have protected these pups from the prowling predator.
Small Dogs vs Large Dogs: Who Is at Risk from Coyote Attack?
According to the data assembled by the Urban Coyote Research Project, coyotes may attack dogs of all sizes.
However, attacks on small breeds are much more common than attacks on medium or large breeds. Additionally, and not surprisingly, attacks on small dogs were more likely to prove fatal than attacks on larger dogs.
Yorkies, poodles, Shih Tzus, and Jack Russels were among the breeds most likely to suffer an attack – they combine to represent 32% of the attacks in the study area.
These breeds probably don’t exhibit any atypical vulnerability to coyote attacks; the frequency of attacks probably reflects the fact that they’re all small breeds, who’re also very popular pets.
Other small breeds represented 36% of the attacks recorded, meaning that – in total – small breeds were the victims in 68% of attacks.
However, there were reports of large dogs being attacked. Five percent of the attacks involved boxers, while 7% of the attacks involved Labs. Other large and medium-sized breeds were involved in 9% of the recorded attacks.
It is likely that attacks on larger breeds were territorial in nature, but that’s difficult to know for sure.
How Common Are Coyote Attacks?
There is no central repository for nationwide coyote attack statistics on dogs (that we could find – if you’re aware of one, please let us know in the comments).
There are also a number of challenges with regards to assembling this kind of data. For example, many attacks go unreported, some people mistake dogs for coyotes, and the number of attacks differs from one area to the next.
However, to give you an idea of the risks, we crunched the numbers from the Chicago-based study referenced above.
There are approximately 1.2 million households in the city of Chicago (note that the study referenced above considered the entire Chicago metropolitan area, so our final results will overstate the risks slightly).
According to the formula provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association, this means there are roughly 438,000 dogs in that area.
There were 70 attacks total reported over the study period, which means that the odds of your dog being attacked are roughly 1 in 6,257 over 14 years.
As a comparison, an estimated 1.2 million dogs are killed by cars each year in the U.S.
Basically, your chances of a coyote attack are pretty minimal. But of course your risk can very based on the type of dog you have and where you live.
What to Do If You See a Coyote While Walking Your Dog
We’ve talked about the various tools and techniques that may be helpful for repelling coyotes, but as mentioned earlier, none of these things are always effective.
So, you’ll need to know what to do if you see a coyote while out walking your dog.
Hopefully, you’re keeping an eye out for coyotes while walking your dog, as this may give you the chance to spot the coyote before he spots you and your pup.
But whether the coyote has noticed you or not, you’ll want to do the same basic thing: Stop walking and slowly start to back away.
Pick up your pooch if you can, but if that’s impossible, just be sure to keep your pooch close to your side.
Don’t turn your back to the coyote, just walk backward while maintaining strong eye contact.
Hopefully, the coyote will realize he’s been spotted, so he’ll just slink back into the brush and look for an easier meal elsewhere.
If the coyote starts to follow you, try to frighten it by raising your hands over your head, yelling at it, throwing rocks at it, or anything else you can think of.
What to Do If Your Dog is Attacked by a Coyote
If your dog ends up in a physical confrontation with a coyote, you’ll need to take immediate action.
However, while you’ll obviously want to do everything you can to get your dog out of harm’s way, it is important to avoid putting yourself in danger too.
Begin by trying to scare away the coyote – they’re typically rather timid animals, who want nothing to do with a 100-pound-plus, bipedal predator. So, scream, yell, clap your hands, wave your jacket over your head, and do anything else you can to look big and scary.
If this fails to work, you may need to try to fend off the coyote with a big stick or throw rocks at him (just be careful not to hit your own dog!). You can also try using your personal alarm, air horn, or pepper spray to help drive off the attacking coyote.
If nothing else, try to attract the attention of other people in the area. Even if you aren’t able to scare off the coyote by yourself, a group of people is almost certain to frighten one away.
Once you and your dog have retreated to safety, you’ll want to take your pup to the vet. Any injuries he has incurred will need to be treated to prevent infections from developing, and your pup may also need booster shots to prevent him from contracting rabies or distemper.
Identifying Coyote Tracks and Scat
As mentioned earlier, coyotes are essentially everywhere – there aren’t many places in the continental U.S. that don’t have healthy coyote populations. In fact, because coyotes are so secretive, many people live amidst them without even realizing it.
That’s one of the reasons it is so important to learn to recognize the signs coyotes often leave behind. Many times, this is the only clue you’ll have that coyotes are in your area.
My own pooch and I frequent a park that’s nestled up against an industrial complex – it’s the ideal habitat for modern coyotes. There’s plenty of forested area, a few adjacent fields, and there are food sources (including rodents, berries, and trash) all over the place.
We come across coyote tracks and scat during virtually every walk, but I’ve never actually seen one of the animals – and we’ve walked hundreds of miles at that park over the years. We even do so around dawn and dusk, when we’re the only ones in the park.
Fortunately, coyote tracks and scat are pretty easy to recognize. So, check out the descriptions below, so you can keep an eye out while walking around with your own dog.
Coyote Tracks
Coyote tracks look relatively similar to dog tracks, aside from a few details.
Coyote tracks are normally about 2.5-inches long and 2-inches wide. Both the front and back paws make four-toed impressions, and you can normally see imprints made by their sharp claws (especially the two middle claws).
The foot pads of coyotes make vaguely triangular-shaped impressions, and the prints made by the rear paws are slightly smaller than those made by the front paws. Dog tracks, by comparison, are rarely as symmetrical as coyote prints, and the claws often make slightly blunter impressions.
Additionally, the negative space between the impressions on a coyote print form an “X,” while domestic dog prints rarely do.
This video is a great beginner’s guide on how to spot coyote vs wolf tracks!
Coyote Scat
Like their tracks, coyote scat looks relatively similar to dog poop, but there are a few differences.
Typically, coyote poops are about ½-inch in diameter, they have a spongy consistency, and they’re usually greyish in color. They’re often deposited in the middle of trails (dogs often poop on the sides of trails), and you may even see multiple poops in the same area.
One of the easiest ways to distinguish between the poop of a domestic dog and a coyote is to examine how homogeneous it is. Domestic dogs typically eat dog food, so their poop tends to look the same from one end to the other – it doesn’t look as though it is comprised of different things.
On the other hand, coyote poop will often have a variety of different things in it.
You may see large amounts of rodent fur or bird feathers, or you may see bones or insect exoskeletons. Sometimes, you may also notice the presence of numerous seeds, which are left over from the fruit the coyotes have recently eaten.
You may also notice your dog taking a greater interest in coyote poop than typical dog poop. My own dog spends far more time sniffing coyote poop than the poop left behind by other dogs.
You can see a photo of some coyote poop we found during a recent walk below. Note the fur content, as well as the visible bone fragments.
Interestingly, there were some rabbit droppings underneath the coyote poop too. But unfortunately, I can’t for the life of me find them in the photo!
Rabbits — along with rats and squirrels — likely form a significant portion of the diet of the coyotes in this particular park.
One Final Point: Killing Coyotes Does NOT Help
Reasonable minds often differ when it comes to human-wildlife conflicts.
I’ve been an environmental educator my entire adult life, so you can imagine how I feel about wild critters. I certainly don’t want anyone’s pooch to be attacked by a coyote, but I also appreciate the value coyotes provide to natural ecosystems.
For that matter, I just think coyotes are neato.
However, I can understand how some people may believe that killing problematic coyotes (or all coyotes) would be a good idea. After all, while coyotes are typically shy animals who avoid humans, they can (rarely) lose their inherent fear of humans, which can lead to attacks on pets or people.
Don’t forget: Coyotes may not only inflict wounds with their teeth and claws, but they may also transmit dangerous diseases like rabies (however, coyotes are typically not the most significant rabies vectors in the U.S. – that distinction belongs to raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes in most places).
But none of that matters for one very simple reason: Killing coyotes doesn’t reduce their population. In fact, it often causes the population to increase.
This occurs for a number of reasons, but it basically boils down to this: Coyote populations typically exist in near harmony with their environment. Food supply, territory size, nearby competitors, and other factors keep their reproductive rate relatively low.
Yet when coyotes are killed, these relationships become disrupted.
The remaining coyotes rearrange their social structures, which often allows more animals to breed than would have before. Many of the coyotes also begin breeding at younger ages.
You can read more about the reasons killing coyotes often makes the problem worse here, but I’ll leave you with one final, very telling, point: Coyotes maintained small populations in the U.S. for thousands of years, but humans began killing them off en masse around 1850.
Since then, the coyote population has tripled, and their range has expanded dramatically.
So, while it makes sense to take any steps you can to protect your pooch from coyotes, and exclude the wild canines from your property, it is not a good idea to kill them.
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There are no two ways about it: If you have a small to medium-sized dog, you need to be aware of the potential dangers coyotes represent.
Attacks are still (statistically speaking) fairly rare, so you needn’t panic, but you should definitely do everything you can to keep your canine safe.
Have you ever had an encounter with a ‘yote? We’d love to hear about it (particularly if the story has a happy ending). We’d also be interested in hearing any strategies our readers have devised that have helped keep coyotes at bay.
Let us know in the comments below!
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