Understanding Coyotes: Barking Behavior and Coexistence
Coyotes, the adaptable canids of North America, often evoke curiosity and sometimes concern, especially when their barking behavior is observed. Understanding the nuances of coyote behavior, particularly their vocalizations, is crucial for fostering coexistence between humans, their pets, and these wild animals. This article delves into the world of coyotes, shedding light on their daily lives, communication methods, and how to navigate encounters with them, particularly focusing on their barking behavior.
The Daily Lives of Coyotes
Coyotes, like any other animal, are engrossed in their daily routines. These routines consist of sleeping, waking, finding food, playing, raising their young, avoiding dangers, healing from injuries, finding a mate, and finding shelter. They are as invested in these activities as humans are in their own lives.
Coyotes are generally shy animals with a natural wariness of humans. Their initial reaction upon encountering humans or dogs is often to flee to a safe distance. However, some coyotes may exhibit more individualistic behavior, displaying curiosity or even boldness. Just like people, each individual coyote has its own individual character and personality.
Coyote Communication: Beyond the Howl
While howling is a well-known coyote vocalization, barking is another important form of communication, often used as a warning signal.
Howling
The sound of coyotes howling and yipping at night sometimes causes people concern and alarm. Some mistakenly believe howling indicates that a group of coyotes has made a kill. While coyotes howl for a variety of reasons, it is not likely because they have downed prey. Doing so would draw attention and might attract competing coyotes or other predators to their location, which is not something a hungry coyote would want to do. Coyotes howl and yip primarily to communicate with each other and establish territory. People typically overestimate the number of coyotes they hear.
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Barking as a Warning
Barking, unlike howling or yipping, is often an expression of anger or a warning. It's a way for coyotes to communicate their discomfort or to establish their territorial boundaries. When a coyote barks, it's often signaling that it feels threatened or that its space has been invaded.
The Nuances of Coyote Vocalizations
Coyote communication occurs mostly via eye contact, facial expressions and body language and it can be very subtle. Coyotes are not forever vocal as humans are; they tend to be on the quiet side - except when they aren’t!
Understanding Coyote Barking Behavior
Coyote barking is an angry response - a warning. When coyotes bark, it's often in response to dogs, particularly when they feel their territory is threatened or when their pups are nearby. This behavior is not necessarily an indication of aggression but rather a way of setting boundaries and communicating discomfort.
Barking as a Response to Dogs
Coyotes often perceive dogs as a territorial threat, especially during pupping season. When a dog enters a coyote's territory, the coyote may engage in a barking episode to warn the dog to move on. This behavior is particularly common when pups are present, as the coyote is fiercely protective of its young.
The "Charge-and-Retreat" Sequence
In some cases, a barking episode may be accompanied by a "charge-and-retreat" sequence, where the coyote charges towards the dog and then retreats. This is a messaging system that could involve a nip to your dog’s haunches. This is a way for the coyote to reinforce its message and to drive the dog away from its territory.
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Individual Differences in Barking Behavior
It's important to note that not all coyotes exhibit the same barking behavior. Some coyotes may be more vocal than others, and their barking may vary in intensity depending on the situation.
Case Studies of Coyote-Dog Interactions
Several real-life examples illustrate the complexities of coyote-dog interactions and the role of barking in these encounters.
The Case of the Territorial Mother
One example involves a mother coyote who would consistently bark at a specific dog that entered her territory. The barking sessions would often last for several minutes, with the coyote expressing her anger and asserting her claim to the area. The dog, however, would typically ignore the coyote's vocalizations, and the situation would eventually de-escalate as the dog and its owner moved out of the coyote's territory.
The Case of the Harassed Coyotes
In another instance, a group of off-leash dogs were allowed to chase and harass coyotes in a park. In response, the coyotes would watch for these dogs and follow them until they left the coyote's territory. This behavior highlights how coyotes may use barking to "push back" against perceived threats and to protect their space.
The Case of the Anxious Coyote
The story through that posting evolved from a dog who repeatedly chased the coyote, to the coyote finally vocalizing her distress at being chased while remaining hidden in the bushes. Soon thereafter, this coyote would follow that dog, which is now kept leashed, screaming out her anguish, now in plain view - no longer hidden in the bushes. One might ask, “Why would a little coyote follow a dog - even a large 100 pound dog - if she were fearful of the dog? The answer appears to be that ‘following’ is used by coyotes both to escort out and to assure themselves that a threatening (or perceived as threatening) animal is leaving an area. It is a territorial behavior. Coyotes’ survival depends on their territoriality: they claim, and exclude other coyotes, from the land which will supply them with, and ensure them a supply of, food and protection from competitors. The screaming, which incorporates deep raspy sounds, is a brave warning, more bluff than anything else, but also a release of the coyote’s distressed feelings. The little coyote’s behavior towards that dog is continuing to evolve. And today, the little coyote didn’t notice the dog - the dog is walked daily in the park - until the dog already was close by. Her evasive strategy this time involved crouching down into the grasses and ducking so as not to be seen. She was not seen by the dog, but she was seen by the owner. The coyote got up and watched them walk away and disappear over the horizon and then took after them, but remaining out of sight. She spotted them at the crest of a hill where she sat and kept an eye on them from the distance until they left. This owner is doing as much as he can to avoid conflict by walking his dog on the leash and always walking away from the coyote.
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Coexisting with Coyotes: Practical Tips
Given that coyotes are here to stay, understanding how to coexist with them is essential.
Respecting Boundaries
The cornerstone of coexistence is respecting the coyote's space and avoiding actions that could be perceived as threatening.
Keeping a Safe Distance
Maintaining a safe distance from coyotes is crucial, especially during pupping season. Avoid approaching coyotes or attempting to interact with them.
Leashing Your Dog
Keeping your dog on a leash is one of the most effective ways to prevent conflicts with coyotes. Leashing your dog not only protects your pet but also prevents it from chasing or harassing coyotes.
Avoiding Known Coyote Areas
If you are fearful of coyotes, instead of walking during twilight hours in a known coyote area, you could easily change your route or hours of walking.
Understanding Denning Season
Coyote pupping season lasts a good part of the year: February through the fall. During this time, coyotes are particularly protective of their denning areas. To avoid conflicts, know WHERE denning areas are and try to keep away from them. If you find yourself within a denning area, stay vigilant, especially if you have a child or dog with you. Be prepared for a coyote suddenly appearing and making a beeline towards your dog or child.
What to Do During an Encounter
If you encounter a coyote, remain calm and avoid running. Pick up small children and pets, and slowly back away while maintaining eye contact. Make yourself appear larger by raising your arms and making noise. If the coyote approaches, throw objects in its direction to deter it.
Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions
It's important to dispel common myths and misconceptions about coyotes to foster a more accurate understanding of their behavior.
Coyotes as a Threat to Humans
Coyotes are generally not a threat to humans. Attacks on humans are rare and typically occur when coyotes have been habituated to humans or when they are defending their young.
Coyotes as Villains
After the European colonization of the Americas, it was seen in Anglo-American culture as a cowardly and untrustworthy animal.
The Myth of the Aggressive Coyote
The behavior, of necessity, is intense, persistent and insistent because that is what gets a response. We humans are actually scared into action by this behavior, whereas we might not respond to anything less. The behavior can occur at very close range to the dog, which of course intensifies the message and its scariness. I want to emphasize that the intensity, persistence and insistence are SCARY to us humans. I’ve been watching this behavior in multiple den areas every single year for the last 17 years: it is absolutely normal denning behavior, even when it involves children, and has nothing to do with a particular coyote “having become aggressive due to feeding”.
The Coyote: A Vital Part of the Ecosystem
Coyotes play an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. As predators, they help control populations of rodents and other small animals, preventing overgrazing and promoting biodiversity.
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