Science

Coyote sightings often cause

neighborhood chatter, but animals have
long been nearby
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A coyote pup, about 4-6 weeks old. Adult coyotes can be very defensive if people or animals get near the dens while
pups are around. Photo: National Park Service
By The Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff
Published:03/20/2022
Word Count:656
Ashton Umanzor recently saw an unusual animal in his neighborhood. Ashton, who is 8 years old,
lives near Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Ashton said this animal was different from a fox. "It had a gray color, and its tail was pointed down
as it ran into the woods," he said. Foxes hold their tails out behind them when running.

The animal Ashton saw was a coyote.

Coyotes are wild relatives of dogs. They originally lived in the Western United States, but they
traveled east decades ago. Today they live throughout North America, even in and around large
cities.

Coyote Behavior

The areas around Washington, D.C., such as Huntley Meadows Park near Ashton's home, are
attractive to coyotes for many reasons. First, these areas don't have any of their natural predators,
which are animals that eat coyotes. These animals include bears, cougars and wolves. These areas
also have plenty of water and food available for the coyotes to drink and eat.

There have been coyotes seen in Huntley Meadows Park and Washington, D.C.'s Rock Creek Park
since 2004. Scott Bates is a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service. A wildlife biologist is a
scientist who studies animals and their behavior.

"Coyotes use forest cover and other natural areas for shelter," Bates said. This includes areas like
parks. They use open spaces to find food, like rabbits and rodents.

Coyotes often stay away from people. They are usually more active after sunset and at night. But
seeing one during the day doesn't mean that it's sick or will become aggressive.

People are seeing coyotes because they're home more. They're spending more time outdoors or
looking out their windows, said Megan Draheim, who is the president of the District Coyote Project.
This is an organization that provides information about coyotes to the public.
Food And Pets

Coyote sightings typically increase during January and February. That is when coyotes look for mates
so they can have babies. At this time, they may be more active during the day. Baby coyotes, or pups,
are usually born in April or May and often spend a year with their parents, creating packs of coyotes,
which are family groups.

In the summer, when pups leave the den, they hide under shrubs and bushes while their parents
hunt. Adult coyotes can be very defensive in the area around their dens. They may consider large
dogs as threats. But the chances of any coyote becoming aggressive are small. The only human death
from a coyote attack in the United States happened 41 years ago in California.

"Generally, people and coyotes run into problems over food and pets," said Draheim. They'll go after
food that people leave outside. Coyotes also see cats and small dogs as food. "Coyotes don't
understand the difference between our pets and wildlife," she said.

A coyote sighting is not a cause for alarm, Bates said. If you see one, just enjoy it from a safe distance.

How To React If You See A Coyote

1. Don't run. Just like with a dog, running encourages coyotes to chase you.
2. Wave your arms in the air and yell at the coyote. Throw things such as sticks toward them,
but don't hit them. This is hazing. Important: Unless a coyote is approaching very closely or
otherwise acting aggressively, don't haze them in parks — that's where they belong! If they're
close to someplace they shouldn't be, like your house, then hazing is OK.
3. Don't turn your back to a coyote. Walk backward away from the coyote and toward an adult.
4. Never feed coyotes. Associating people with food makes coyotes more aggressive.
5. Keep cats indoors and keep dogs on a short leash.
6. Be very careful if you see a coyote doing any of the following: behaving aggressively,
stumbling, or foaming at the mouth. Report the animal to local police or an animal control
agency.

Reproduced with permission. Copyright © 2022 Washington Post. All rights reserved.
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