Did you know that Native Americans considered coyotes to be tricksters and skinwalkers? Well, regardless of whether you believe in these stories or not, you need to be prepared for coyote attacks. In general, coyote attacks on humans are rare, and they also rarely end up being deadly for humans.
Yet, these encounters are becoming increasingly common due to the rapid urbanization of coyote habitats. Coyotes are slowly stopping to fear humans, which leads to more interaction and, as a result, to more coyote attack cases. So, if you want to protect yourself against these attacks, keep reading this article:
Coyote Behaviour Basics
Coyotes are distant, much smaller cousins of grey wolves, and they are also known as American jackals. They are intelligent and highly adaptable animals. Contrary to popular belief, coyotes aren’t commonly aggressive or predatory toward us humans and our pets, but there have been some cases of such coyote attacks that require us to be cautious.
Some people even feed coyotes, believing that they will be able to domesticate them. However, this is a dangerous misconception and can only lead to more frequent coyote attacks. Instead of trying to tame a wild and unpredictable coyote, keep a safe distance and learn to recognize these signs of aggression:
- Hackl raising
- Unprovoked barking or growling
- Snarling
- Lunging
- Showing teeth
- Staring directly at you
- Trying to approach you
Avoid Coyote Encounters To Prevent Attacks
Of course, the best protection against coyote attacks is to avoid these encounters completely. When you are spending time outdoors in areas known for coyote presence, stay vigilant and be aware of your surroundings. Try to travel in a group, and if your pets are with you, keep them on a leash and close to you.
Keep your food wrapped and in a backpack so that its scent doesn’t attract coyotes. Don’t throw away your trash carelessly, and use wildlife-proof trash containers. Also, try to avoid coyote areas during dusk and dawn because that’s when coyotes are the most active.
If your vigilance wasn’t enough to keep you unnoticed, you might encounter a coyote. If that happens, try to make loud noises to scare off that coyote. There are even whistles and other devices that you can buy for this purpose.
Try to make yourself look as big as possible by raising your hands or some objects above your head. Stand your ground, and don’t try to run. If there are children or pets with you, keep them close to you and pick them up. Start backing away slowly, but don’t turn your back on coyote, and keep eye contact.
Coyote Attacked You – What To Do?
So, the worst-case scenario happened – and despite your efforts, you couldn’t intimidate the coyote enough to leave you alone. In just a few seconds, it attacked you, and now you have to defend yourself. Fortunately for you, you have a good chance of defending yourself successfully.
First of all, don’t panic and don’t try to run. This is your time to fight as aggressively as you can. Use sticks, stones, and your bare hands to hit the coyote. Try to aim for its sensitive areas, such as the eyes and nose. At the same time, protect your sensitive areas – neck, face, and groins.
Pepper or bear repellent spray would be nice to have in this situation. If you have it, don’t hesitate to spray it in the coyote’s direction as soon as it starts to approach and attack you. Try to retreat to a safe place, such as your car, any nearby building, or even a tree. Coyotes can climb trees, but they aren’t good at it and don’t do it often.
Keep shouting and making noise to intimidate the coyote. Thump your feet against the ground and try to assert dominance. Coyotes are relatively easy to scare away, so try to use that to your advantage.
After the Attack
So, the attack passed, and you survived and successfully repelled the coyote. Even if your injuries are minor or there are none, you still need to get medical help. Before you ven go to the nearest doctor, try to wash your wounds with clean water and soap to prevent infections.
Once you get to the doctor, they will examine your wounds and treat them. In many cases, you will need to get a rabies shot, just in case that coyote is rabid. Listen to all instructions and advice that the doctor gives you.
Next, depending on your state, you will need to report the attack to the local law enforcement or wildlife authorities. Don’t neglect to do this because it will help prevent future attacks. Additionally, share your experience with your friends, family, neighbors, and local community. They will be more cautious when out in the wild, as well as more ready to face coyotes.
Finally, take some time to rest and decompress. You just went through a scary and dangerous experience, so allow your body and your mind to recuperate and heal. In case you notice any of the injuries not healing properly, seek medical help.
Conclusion: Stay Safe in the Wild
Overall, coyote attacks aren’t extremely common, and they rarely end up deadly. However, they are becoming more common. Learn how to avoid coyote encounters whenever possible because that’s the best way to avoid coyote attacks. When that’s not possible, learn how to defend yourself, your pets, your children, and other people round you. Finally, don’t hesitate to seek medical help, and give yourself some time to rest and heal.
Make sure to also read our article on surviving a grizzly bear attack. These two articles will improve your survival skills in the wild, teaching you how to interact with potentially dangerous animals. Nature and wildlife are beautiful and fascinating, but we need to know how to stay safe when interacting with them.
Be aware, and stay safe!
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