Coyotes

Coyotes are common throughout the Sonoran Desert and the Phoenix area and have adapted well to living near people. You are most likely to see or hear them at dawn, dusk, and night. They are opportunistic and generally avoid humans, but they will take advantage of easy food and can view small pets as prey.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's guidance centers on removing attractants and not letting coyotes get comfortable around homes. Feed pets indoors and remove uneaten food promptly, pick up fallen fruit, secure garbage, and remove standing water and anything that draws the rodents and birds coyotes hunt. Never feed a coyote, even by accident.

Protect small pets by not leaving them outside unattended, especially at dawn and dusk, and use a sturdy, roofed enclosure if they must be outside alone. If a coyote is near your home, haze it right away: yell, clap, blow a whistle, bang pots, spray it with a hose from a safe distance, throw pebbles in its direction, or light up the area at night. If you must report severe property damage or a confined animal, AZGFD lists an after-hours dispatch line; confirm the current number before relying on it.

Safety and coexistence

• Never leave small pets outside unattended, especially at dawn and dusk
• Feed pets indoors; remove uneaten food, fallen fruit, birdseed, and open water
• Haze coyotes off with noise, a hose, thrown pebbles, or lights; never feed them
• Use a sturdy, roofed enclosure for poultry, rabbits, or pets kept outside
• Report severe conflicts or a confined animal to AZGFD (confirm the current dispatch number)