Spotted a coyote in your yard? Experts say to take these 8 steps now

If it feels like coyotes are suddenly everywhere, you aren’t imagining it; according to National Geographic, Coyotes have now expanded their range to 49 states. You’re sipping your morning coffee, gazing out at the dew-covered lawn, when you see it: a pair of golden eyes staring right back at you. With coyote populations in states like California tripling since 2013, this isn’t just a fluke nature moment; it’s the new normal.   

So, spotted a coyote in your yard? Don’t panic. Experts, researchers, and field biologists have cracked the code for safely managing these encounters. I’ve compiled the ultimate guide into the 8 steps you need to take right now to keep your pets safe and your yard coyote-free. We’re going to dig into the data, bust some myths (no, they aren’t plotting to lure your dog into an ambush), and get into the nitty-gritty of coyote psychology. Grab another cup of coffee, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

Execute the “hazing” protocol immediately

Your instinct might be to quietly retreat and let nature be nature, but you must fight that urge. The scientific term for what you need to do is “hazing,” but I prefer to call it “becoming the neighborhood nightmare.” The goal here is simple: you want to be the loudest, scariest, most annoying thing that coyote has ever encountered to reset their fear of humans.

A 2025 study on hazing emphasized that you must continue the behavior until the animal completely leaves the area, not just moves a few feet away. Be relentless and use these tactics:

• Stop and yell: Use your deep voice. Scream “GO AWAY COYOTE!” or “NO!”
• Get Big: Wave your arms or a jacket above your head to hack their predator-prey size calculation.
• Charge: Take a few aggressive steps toward them (safely) to assert dominance.

Deploy active deterrents from your toolkit

Sometimes, your voice isn’t enough, especially since city coyotes tolerate sirens and traffic noise daily. If you have a “frequent flyer” in your yard, you need to upgrade your arsenal to tools that provide a multisensory shock. We are talking about sound, sight, and touch working together to make your yard the least fun place on the block.

My personal favorite is the “Shaker Can,” an empty soda can filled with 40 pennies and taped shut.

• The Shaker: Shake it violently or throw it near (not at) the coyote to create a harsh, metallic racket they hate.
• The Hose: Blast them with water if they are within range; wet fur is a great negative reinforcer.
• Projectiles: Throw tennis balls or small rocks toward them to create a fear of impact.

Conduct a ruthless “food audit.”

The coyote is in your yard because there is something delicious there. You need to audit your property like a health inspector because studies show urban coyotes eat everything from donuts to ornamental berries. If you are running a buffet, they will keep coming back, and a fed coyote eventually loses its fear of humans.

Check for these common offenders immediately:

• Pet Food: Feed Fluffy indoors. The smell of kibble soaks into the concrete and attracts rodents, which in turn attract coyotes.
• Bird Feeders: These attract squirrels and rats, a coyote’s favorite snack. Coyotes also eat the birdseed themselves.
• Fallen Fruit: Pick up those rotting apples or avocados daily.
• The Grill: Clean the grease trap; it smells like a steak dinner to a canine nose.

Fortify your perimeter with rollers

Coyotes are athletic geniuses that can clear a 6-foot fence in under a second. Standard fences are basically just ladders to them, so you need to modify the top of your barrier to deny them traction.

I highly recommend installing “Coyote Rollers“: aluminum or plastic cylinders that spin freely when an animal grabs them.

• How it works: When a coyote jumps and grabs the top of the fence to pull itself up, the tube spins, they lose their grip, and it falls back down.
• The Anti-Dig: Add an “L-footer” of buried wire mesh at the base of the fence to stop them from digging under.

Armor up your pets with safety gear

We love our pets, but to a coyote, a small dog is just a competitor or a snack. While attacks on humans are rare, interactions with pets are “normal coyote behavior,” especially during pupping season. You need to dress your pets for survival, not just for style.

Consider these protective measures:

• Coyote Vests: IMO, these are essential for small dogs. They are Kevlar vests with hard spikes that prevent a coyote from biting your dog’s neck or back.
• Short Leashes: Keep the leash under 6 feet. Retractable leashes are a disaster because you can’t protect a dog that is 20 feet away.
• Indoor Cats: Keep cats inside. Outdoor cats in coyote country have significantly shorter lifespans.

Modify your landscape to deny habitat

Take a look at your yard; is it a lush jungle of overgrown bushes? You might have built a coyote hotel. Coyotes love cover for ambush hunting and resting, so you need to landscape with a defensive mindset.

Eliminate the hiding spots:

• Trim Hedges: Keep bushes trimmed 6–12 inches off the ground so you can see underneath them.
• Seal Crawlspaces: Use wire mesh to close off areas under decks and sheds where they might try to den and have pups.
• Clear Clutter: Remove brush piles that house the rodents coyotes hunt.

Monitor for disease and parasites

Okay, this is the gross part, but we have to talk about poop. A recent study found that 65% of urban coyotes in Edmonton tested positive for a dangerous tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, which can be fatal to humans. This parasite has now been detected in coyotes in Washington State and New York as of 2024 and 2025.

Protect your family’s health:

• Watch the Scat: Don’t let your dog sniff or eat coyote poop.
• Wash Hands: Always wash up after gardening, as the microscopic eggs live in the soil.
• Report Sick Animals: If a coyote looks mangy (hair loss) or acts lethargic, do not haze it; call animal control.

Rally the neighborhood for consistency

You can do steps 1 through 7 perfectly, but if your neighbor “Bob” leaves kibble out for stray cats, you still have a coyote problem. Coyotes have large territories that span entire neighborhoods, so management must be a community effort.

Get everyone on the same page:

• Share the Plan: Tell neighbors, “I saw a coyote, let’s all agree to haze it so it doesn’t get comfortable.”
• Consistent Hazing: A study showed that inconsistent hazing (or hazing while a dog is present) can be less effective, so everyone needs to commit to being “big and loud” every time.
• Report Aggression: If a coyote approaches people or growls, report it immediately; this is a dangerous habituation.

Key Takeaway

We are living in the era of the “Urban Wolf,” and they aren’t going anywhere. By removing attractants (Step 3), physically blocking them (Step 4), and restoring the “fear of human” in them (Step 1), we can dictate the terms of this coexistence. FYI, don’t believe the myth that they “lure” dogs into the woods; that’s just your dog chasing a coyote back to its family, who then defend it. Keep your dog leashed, keep your trash locked, and keep your shaker can ready. You’ve got this!

Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.

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It’s no surprise that cultures worldwide have their own unique customs and traditions, but some of America’s most beloved habits can seem downright strange to outsiders.

Many American traditions may seem odd or even bizarre to people from other countries. Here are twenty of the strangest American traditions that confuse the rest of the world.

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