Most coyotes are naturally wary of people and prefer to avoid direct contact, but in some areas they are losing that fear and can act boldly, especially where they are being fed by humans.

Natural behavior

Coyotes are generally reclusive animals that avoid human contact when they have not been fed or closely conditioned by people. Wildlife guidance notes that simply seeing a coyote is not usually a cause for concern, because under normal conditions they are naturally afraid of people and will move away if hazed or given space.

When they lose fear

Coyotes that spend a lot of time around neighborhoods and have access to garbage, pet food, or intentional handouts can become “habituated,” meaning they lose much of their instinctive fear of humans. In places like Southern California and other urban edges, such habituated coyotes have shown aggressive behaviors such as following joggers, confronting people walking dogs, or rarely stalking small children.

How common are attacks?

Documented coyote attacks on humans remain rare compared with encounters with pets or livestock, even in cities. Far more common are incidents where coyotes prey on small pets, especially off-leash or unattended cats and small dogs, which can make them seem less afraid of people even if they are mainly targeting the animals.

Safety tips around coyotes

Experts recommend “hazing” bold coyotes (yelling, waving arms, using noisemakers) to reinforce a healthy fear of humans, as long as the animal is not cornered and you have a safe escape route. To keep coyotes wary and reduce conflicts, guidance consistently stresses: never feed them, secure trash, remove outdoor pet food, supervise pets, and report any unusually bold or aggressive individuals to local authorities.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.