Coyote attack

Coyote attacks are events where coyotes attack humans.

While these attacks are uncommon and rarely cause serious injuries, they have been increasing in frequency, especially in California.

Although media reports generally identify the animals as simply "coyotes", some attackers in northeast North America may be hybrids known as coywolves.

Description

Coyote attacks on humans are uncommon events and rarely cause serious injuries. In such events where a human is targeted, coyotes usually see children as prey as opposed to adults. Coyotes (in general) are losing their fear of humans, which is further worsened by people intentionally or unintentionally feeding them. In such situations, some coyotes have begun to act aggressively toward humansÃ¢ÂÂchasing joggers and bicyclists, confronting people walking their dogs, and stalking small children. However, others appear to have initially targeted a person's pet, which provoked sequential counter-attacks. Although media reports of such attacks generally identify the animals in question as simply "coyotes", research into the genetics of the eastern coyote indicates those involved in attacks in northeast North America, including Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and Eastern Canada, may have actually been coywolves, hybrids of Canis latrans and wolves.

According to Smithsonian magazine, at least 160 attacks occurred in the United States in the 30 years leading up to March 2006. Most of these attacks occurred in the Los Angeles County, California area. Another data collection specifically focused on that state was also conducted by the University of California, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services. When fully compiled, the list named 89 verified coyote attacks that were recorded in California between May 1978 and November 2003. The criteria included "when one or more coyotes made physical contact with a child or adult or [the coyote] attacked a pet while in close proximity to its owner." Another study published in 2004 documented 35 incidents in which a minor likely would have "serious or fatal injury" if they had not been rescued.

List of attacks with human injuries

Fatal attacks

Two fatal coyote attacks on humans have been confirmed by experts:

On August 26, 1981, a coyote grabbed three-year-old Kelly Keen in the driveway of her father's home in Glendale, California, and dragged her across the road. Her father rescued her by chasing the coyote away and rushed her to a medical center, but she died in surgery due to blood loss and a broken neck.
On October 27, 2009, two eastern coyotes (coywolves) mauled 19-year-old singer-songwriter Taylor Mitchell at Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada. She was on a hiking break from her concert tour when they stalked and chased her down the Skyline Trail. An air ambulance airlifted her to a medical center, but she died a few hours later from severe injuries and blood loss. A 2022 study by Stan Gehrt, wildlife ecologist at Ohio State University, revealed the coyotes had expanded their diet to include moose rather than their typical diet of smaller animals. It was concluded that the relative unavailability of smaller prey in the area due to the unique ecological characteristics of the Highlands led the coyotes to become accustomed to large targets, leading them to see the young woman as a potential food source.

Non-fatal attacks

The following table includes non-fatal attacks on humans which are subject to a list criterion. Included events only involve attacks by the same coyote or group of coyotes on notable individuals and 2 or more victims. Pets involved in a human attack are not included under "victims".

Notes

References