Urban Coyotes as a Source of Conflict with Humans: An Evaluation of Common Management Practices

Wildlife often serves as a catalyst for conflict among stakeholders. Management actions that are intended to address sources of disagreement may initiate additional conflict. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Human–Wildlife Conflict Working Group initiated an effort to identify management actions commonly used to address unwanted coyote (Canis latrans) interactions within urban environments and identify the benefits and challenges associated with each action. Challenges with coyotes in urban environments include aggressive behavior toward humans and pets, attacks, disease exposure, and domestic livestock damage. Although elimination of all attractants would prove preventative in most instances, in practice this can be difficult. Actions evaluated include modifying human behavior, modifying coyote behavior, modifying public expectations, mitigating attractants, modifying urban habitats, exclusion, hazing, trapping (with and without relocation), sterilization, and shooting. Although specific approaches differ in financial cost, human resource investment, public acceptance, and efficacy, management agencies and municipalities must work together to determine what actions are best suited for their individual situations based on environmental, regulatory, and public sideboards.