Arizona Coyote Rules: What Residents May and May Not Do

This is general information, not veterinary, medical or legal advice. For an injured or aggressive animal, a bite, a pet attack or a suspected rabies exposure, call your doctor, your vet, local animal control, or the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).

Reviewed by the editorial desk against the cited sources. The desk claims no wildlife-biology, veterinary or medical credential; see our editorial policy.

Checked on 2026-11-14. Laws and rules change, so this is a summary of what the cited sources say, not legal advice. Confirm with AZGFD before acting. The statute is at azleg.gov, and AZGFD’s coyote guidance is at azgfd.com.

This page supports our who to call in Pima County and Arizona hub. If you are in an encounter right now, go to what to do if you see a coyote.

Feeding coyotes and other wildlife

Arizona law makes unlawful feeding of wildlife a petty offense. A.R.S. 13-2927 says a person commits it by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding, attracting or otherwise enticing wildlife into an area. The statute lists exceptions, including people lawfully taking or holding wildlife under title 17 or Commission rules, public employees acting within their authority for public safety or wildlife management, normal agricultural or livestock operations, and feeding tree squirrels or birds. It applies in counties with a population above 280,000 (A.R.S. 13-2927).

AZGFD says it is unlawful to feed wildlife, except birds and tree squirrels, in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties under A.R.S. 13-2927, and that some cities and counties have their own ordinances, so check local rules (AZGFD news release, April 7, 2023). AZGFD says feeding makes animals such as coyotes, javelina, bobcats, bears and mountain lions lose their fear of people, which leads to conflict. The statute page classes the offense as a petty offense and does not state a fine.

Feeding includes indirect feeding. AZGFD says all potential food sources must be removed, and that an indifferent attitude toward a coyote in your yard has the same effect as feeding it (AZGFD, Living with Coyotes). See remove food and water attractants.

Capturing, trapping or killing coyotes

AZGFD says it does not provide nuisance-wildlife removal or capture; it offers self-help guidance, and a homeowner may hire a qualified wildlife-control business. AZGFD responds to immediate public-safety threats, and a predator that has attacked people or shows predatory or aggressive behavior toward people is lethally removed only as a last resort, because it cannot be relocated for public-safety reasons (AZGFD, April 7, 2023). Removal does not help if attractants remain.

University of Arizona Extension says it is legal to hunt coyotes provided the hunter is licensed and following current hunting regulations set out by AZGFD (UA Extension, Coyotes).

We do not give trapping, poisoning, shooting or other lethal instructions on this site. Methods can be unlawful, can injure pets and people, and depend on licenses and local ordinances we cannot check for you. If a coyote is a public safety risk, call the agencies instead.

Relocating coyotes

AZGFD says it does not respond to calls to relocate or remove coyotes unless they are a public safety concern, and that people who need help relocating wildlife should contact a licensed wildlife removal business (AZGFD, Living with Coyotes). AZGFD also says removal does not help if attractants stay in place. We do not recommend moving an animal yourself.

What residents may do

The sources we cite describe these as the lawful, recommended actions:

• Remove attractants and do not feed wildlife (AZGFD, A.R.S. 13-2927).
• Keep small pets indoors or in a roofed enclosure, supervise them at dawn and night, and leash them; domestic birds belong in a sturdy, roofed enclosure (AZGFD, Living with Coyotes).
• Make noise and act large and threatening when a coyote approaches you, as described by AZGFD; see coyote hazing methods. Do not do this to a sick-looking, cornered, denning or pup-protecting animal; keep away and call.
• Call local animal control or AZGFD about aggressive, sick or injured animals, and your doctor or vet after any bite or scratch. AZGFD’s 24-hour Communications Center for wildlife acting aggressively toward people is 623-236-7201. If a coyote is approaching or has bitten a person, call 911 and seek medical care immediately.

Poultry and livestock

Zoning and homeowners association rules apply to whether you can keep poultry, per University of Arizona Extension. Livestock owners can also contact USDA Wildlife Services at 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297). See coyotes and backyard poultry or livestock.

Local ordinances and HOA rules

AZGFD says to check local ordinances. We have not opened your city’s, Pima County’s or your HOA’s rules, so check them with the local government. See Pima County animal control and wildlife calls.

Related pages

Aggressive behavior warning signs, what urban coyotes eat, protect pets and children from coyotes, submit a sighting report.

What we could not source

We did not open AZGFD’s current hunting regulations, the statutes on predatory animals or any discharge or trapping rules, and no current AZGFD page we have states a fine amount for unlawful feeding. The rules for capturing or killing coyotes are not covered here; ask AZGFD. The fact-check pass should verify these items.