A coyote advisory is in effect as sightings increase across Bay Area trails and neighborhoods this summer. Native to the region, coyotes are generally not dangerous to humans but can pose a threat to pets, prompting reminders from park officials to stay alert. (Courtesy of The Presidio Trust)
On Monday, the East Bay Regional Parks District issued a coyote advisory, reminding hikers and dog walkers to be aware of potential encounters — and to prioritize their safety.
While “coyotes are part of the landscape,” said Dave Mason, a spokesperson for East Bay Regional Parks, and aren’t inherently dangerous to humans, these animals can pose a threat to dogs in particular.
While the reemergence of coyotes in the city has some residents divided, their presence across the entire Bay Area has become a reality, both for the coyotes themselves and the people that interact with them in parks, neighborhoods and their backyards. And during the summer months, known as “pupping season,” human-coyote interactions can increase.
But even though a coyote that’s protecting its young may seem threatening, the animals are unlikely to actually get aggressive.
“They are part of our native ecosystem,” said Phoebe Parker-Shames, wildlife ecologist for The Presidio Trust.
Coyotes naturally control pests, like rats, mice and gophers, and studies have shown that they also contribute to bird biodiversity by keeping feral cats and other small predator populations in check, Parker-Shames said. Plus, they don’t need much to survive: all they really need is a small burrow or opening to raise their infants, called a “den,” and food, which also comes in the form of human trash. And with few natural predators in populated areas, they can actually thrive.
Coyotes aren’t taking over the city anytime soon, said Phoebe Parker-Shames, a wildlife ecologist for The Presidio Trust. “We did see an increase when they first reestablished themselves into the city. But at this point in time, it will be and it has been stable.” (Courtesy of The Presidio Trust)
She said that due to their reemergence in San Francisco in particular, there’s a common misconception that coyote populations are out of control or going to “take over the city.”
But once juvenile coyotes learn to fend for themselves as early as 10 months old, they tend to separate from their families and find their own territory, so there’s never a huge number of animals occupying the same space at once.
“The reality is because coyotes are very territorial animals, it keeps the population stable year over year,” Parker-Shames said. “We did see an increase when they first reestablished themselves into the city. But at this point in time, it will be and it has been stable.”
In the Presidio, Parker-Shames said, coyotes are denning in the center of the park right now, near the golf course, “which is pretty usual for us,” she said. “That’s an area that has much less dog activity.”
Are coyotes dangerous to me or my pets?
Another point of confusion is the personal risk a coyote poses, Parker-Shames said. The biggest coyotes are only around 30 pounds, so “there’s a pretty good overlap between the largest raccoons and the smaller coyotes,” she said. “These are not fundamentally dangerous animals.”
That’s because a coyote’s instinct is to see other canines, usually other coyotes or wolves, as dangerous to them, their pups and their territory. So when a coyote meets a dog, “it’s seeing: ‘This is a threat to myself and to my baby,’” Parker-Shames said.
That’s why coyotes will often go after dogs, even if they’re afraid of the humans nearby. It’s also why keeping your dog on a leash can be so effective in preventing interactions that could put your dog in danger, both because your presence may deter the coyote and also prevent your dog from checking out den sites or engaging with coyotes, which may be more defensive around their young.
“Our data indicates that if you’ve got a leash on your dog, you are far, far less likely to have a negative encounter with a coyote,” Parker-Shames said.
What should I know during coyote pupping season?
Pup-rearing season, when the coyote pups are born and eventually start to get big enough to go out on their own, stretches from springtime to fall, and this is when lots of activity occurs, Parker-Shames said.
“Coyotes are creating dens, having pups, and then the pup is getting bigger and starting to get a little bit more independent and curious and exploring the spaces around them,” Parker-Shames said. “And then eventually, [the pups are] starting to be fully independent and dispersing and trying to find their own territories.”
Near the main denning area in the Presidio, a few trails are currently closed preemptively during the height of pupping season. (Courtesy of The Presidio Trust)
What hikers and dog walkers should know: Pupping season is also when coyote parents can be more protective of their pups, Mason said. Plus, with kids out of school, more people are out on trails, so sightings can be common.
If you notice a coyote trailing you, that’s a behavior known as “escorting,” when the animal “follows at a closer distance than usual to encourage departure from the area,” Mason said. And while the parent may bare its teeth or growl, escorting isn’t typically aggressive — the coyote is usually just making sure you’re heading out of the vicinity of its pups. “The best course of action is to leave the area calmly and without running,” Mason advised.
Near the main denning area in the Presidio, a few trails are currently closed preemptively during the height of pupping season, with some closed only to dogs. On other trails throughout the Bay Area, signage will typically alert visitors to coyote activity in the area.
What do I do if I see a coyote?
“The most important thing is just keep a distance,” Mason said. “It’s best to walk calmly away and leave the area immediately,” — but don’t run.
Coyotes are more active at dawn or dusk, but they usually observe you from afar, Mason said. So if you want to avoid an interaction, keep your dog leashed and any kids close by — and don’t go off-trail into their natural hiding spots, like brush. Do not ever feed a coyote.
Coyotes are more active at dawn or dusk and will usually observe people from afar, East Bay Regional Parks spokesperson Dave Mason said. He advises staying on trails, keeping dogs leashed and children close — and avoiding off-trail areas where coyotes may be hiding, such as dense brush. (Courtesy of The Presidio Trust)
If you’re with a dog, your best bet is to immediately get your dog under control on a leash or by picking it up without turning your back on the coyote.
“Then make eye contact with a coyote, be big and loud, and then back away with your dog,” Parker-Shames said. This is called “hazing,” and should scare the coyote away. Never let your dog play or chase a coyote.
Cats are also at risk of being killed by coyotes, so keeping them indoors can prevent any encounters. Keeping your trash, pet food and fruit from trees contained can help minimize coyote activity in your neighborhood.
If an aggressive encounter with a coyote does happen in the Presidio, you can report it to the Presidio Trust at 415-561-4270 or coyote@presidiotrust.gov.
