What to Do if You Encounter a Coyote, by Situation
By CoyoteBytes Editorial TeamChecked by CoyoteBytes Editorial TeamReview date First published Filed under Encounters & Reporting
Match your steps to the situation. If a coyote approaches, AZGFD says never to approach it, not to run, to keep eye contact, make loud noise, act large and move toward people or a building. Pick up small pets. If a coyote looks sick or disoriented, do not approach or touch it: keep your distance and report it to AZGFD.
Part of our guide: What to Do If You See a Coyote
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 holds no wildlife-biology, veterinary or medical credential; see our editorial policy.
What to do if you encounter a coyote depends on what the coyote is doing. This guide splits the advice by situation and builds on our main guide, what to do if you see a coyote. For a printable version, use the printable checklist.
When Is a Coyote Encounter an Emergency?
Call 911 if a coyote is approaching a person or has bitten someone. AZGFD lists 623-236-7201 as its 24-hour line for wildlife acting aggressively toward people. For any bite or scratch, see the bite section below.
At a Distance
Do not approach it. Keep pets leashed and small children near you, and leave calmly or wait for the coyote to move off. AZGFD says coyotes are usually timid and run if challenged, and that the risk comes mostly when coyotes become comfortable around people through feeding or indifference.
Following or Approaching You
AZGFD’s steps for a coyote that approaches:
- Never approach it, and do not run. Running can stimulate a chase instinct.
- Keep eye contact.
- Yell, use a whistle, play loud music or bang pots and pans.
- Act as large and threatening as possible, with your arms and legs or by waving an object.
- Move toward an area with other people or a building.
- Pick up small pets and protect small children so they will not panic and run.
Near Your Dog
AZGFD says to let the coyote know you are there, then gather your dog in your arms or keep it as close to you as possible, using the noise and gestures above and moving toward human activity. Pets most at risk are off-leash or under 25 pounds. More in walking your dog where coyotes live and keeping small dogs safe.
In Your Yard or at Your Door
Bring pets and children inside and make noise from a safe spot so the coyote knows it is not welcome. AZGFD says an indifferent attitude toward a coyote in your yard has the same effect as feeding it. Then remove what drew it: pet food, garbage, fallen fruit. Use the yard attractant audit and read removing food and water attractants. Feeding wildlife is unlawful in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties under A.R.S. 13-2927 (AZGFD); confirm the rule for your county.
Sick, Cornered or Near Pups
Keep your distance. AZGFD’s August 2025 bulletin lists signs of illness including a lack of fear toward humans, stumbling, seizures and discharge from the eyes and nose, and says distemper cannot be distinguished from rabies by clinical symptoms. It advises avoiding approaching or touching wildlife and reporting sick animals to AZGFD on 623-236-7201; keep pets and children away. Florida’s wildlife agency also advises avoiding areas where coyotes may be denning. Dens and pups are covered in coyote breeding and pup season.
After a Bite, Scratch or Pet Contact
For a person, the CDC says to wash the wound right away with soap and water and seek medical care urgently. For a pet that touched wildlife, Pima Animal Care Center says to see your vet for a rabies booster and then call Animal Protection; in Pima County that is 520-724-5900, option 4. How and where to report an encounter explains who to tell.
What Not to Do
- Do not feed or ignore coyotes near your home.
- Do not run or turn and run, and never approach it.
- Do not approach or touch a sick or disoriented coyote.
- Do not trap, poison or relocate it. This site gives no instructions for those; AZGFD says coyotes can only be captured or killed by someone with a proper license or in defense of a person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I run from a coyote?
No. AZGFD’s brochure says not to stimulate a coyote’s chase instinct by running. Keep eye contact, make loud noise, act large and move toward people or a building. Pick up small pets and protect small children so they do not panic and run. If the coyote keeps approaching, call 911.
What do I do if a coyote follows me?
AZGFD says to show you are not prey: never approach it, keep eye contact, yell, use a whistle or loud music, and make aggressive gestures with your arms and legs or by waving an object. Move toward an area with other people or a building. Call 911 if it keeps approaching or has bitten someone.
What if a coyote is near my dog?
AZGFD says to let the coyote know you are there and either gather your dog in your arms or keep it as close to you as possible, while using noise and large gestures and moving toward human activity. AZGFD says pets most at risk are off-leash or smaller than 25 pounds. If your pet touched wildlife, Pima Animal Care Center says to take it to the vet and ask about a rabies booster.
Is it safe to scare a coyote in my yard?
Yes, for a coyote that looks healthy. AZGFD says an indifferent attitude toward a coyote in your yard has the same effect as feeding it, so make noise from a safe spot and remove food sources. If a coyote shows no fear of people, stumbles or has seizures, AZGFD says to avoid approaching or touching it and to report it on 623-236-7201.
Who do I call about a coyote?
Call 911 if a coyote is approaching a person or has bitten someone. AZGFD lists a 24-hour line, 623-236-7201, for wildlife acting aggressively toward people, and in Pima County, if your pet had contact with wildlife, Pima Animal Care Center says to see your vet and then call 520-724-5900, option 4. Confirm numbers before you need them.
| Situation | Do | Do not |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote at a distance | Leash pets, keep children near, leave calmly | Approach it or feed it |
| Coyote following or approaching you | Keep eye contact, make noise, act large, move toward people or a building | Run or turn and run |
| Coyote near your dog | Gather your dog in your arms or keep it close, use noise, move toward activity | Let the dog approach it |
| Coyote in your yard | Make noise from a safe spot, bring pets in, remove food | Ignore it |
| Sick or disoriented, or near a den | Keep your distance, keep pets and children away, report it | Approach, touch or try to capture it |
Scaring a coyote off is for a healthy one in your yard or path. When the animal looks sick or disoriented, AZGFD says to avoid approaching or touching it and to report it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I run from a coyote?
No. AZGFD's brochure says not to stimulate a coyote's chase instinct by running. Keep eye contact, make loud noise, act large and move toward people or a building. Pick up small pets and protect small children so they do not panic and run. If the coyote keeps approaching, call 911.
What do I do if a coyote follows me?
AZGFD says to show you are not prey: never approach it, keep eye contact, yell, use a whistle or loud music, and make aggressive gestures with your arms and legs or by waving an object. Move toward an area with other people or a building. Call 911 if it keeps approaching or has bitten someone.
What if a coyote is near my dog?
AZGFD says to let the coyote know you are there and either gather your dog in your arms or keep it as close to you as possible, while using noise and large gestures and moving toward human activity. AZGFD says pets most at risk are off-leash or smaller than 25 pounds. If your pet touched wildlife, Pima Animal Care Center says to take it to the vet and ask about a rabies booster.
Is it safe to scare a coyote in my yard?
Yes, for a coyote that looks healthy. AZGFD says an indifferent attitude toward a coyote in your yard has the same effect as feeding it, so make noise from a safe spot and remove food sources. If a coyote shows no fear of people, stumbles or has seizures, AZGFD says to avoid approaching or touching it and to report it on 623-236-7201.
Who do I call about a coyote?
Call 911 if a coyote is approaching a person or has bitten someone. AZGFD lists a 24-hour line, 623-236-7201, for wildlife acting aggressively toward people, and in Pima County, if your pet had contact with wildlife, Pima Animal Care Center says to see your vet and then call 520-724-5900, option 4. Confirm numbers before you need them.
Sources
- Arizona Game and Fish Department, Living with Coyotes brochure (2015) (s3.amazonaws.com)
- Arizona Game and Fish Department, TIPS to avoid conflicts with coyotes (7 Apr 2023) (azgfd.com)
- Arizona Game and Fish Department, Living with Coyotes (azgfd.com) (azgfd.com)
- CDC, About Rabies (cdc.gov)
- CDC, Rabies Prevention and Control (cdc.gov)
- Arizona Game and Fish Department, AZGFD urges vigilance during canine distemper outbreak (12 Aug 2025) (content.govdelivery.com)
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Understanding Coyote Behavior (avoid areas where coyotes may be denning) (myfwc.com)
- Pima Animal Care Center, Wildlife making appearances around Pima County (11 Mar 2021) (oldcms.pima.gov)
Related guides
- What to Do If You See a Coyote
What agencies and extension sources say to do when you see a coyote: hazing basics, when to keep your distance and call, and what to do after a bite.
- Coyote Aggressive Behavior: Warning Signs
Warning signs of bold or aggressive coyote behavior in Arizona, what the agencies say causes it, and the calm steps to take and who to call.
- Coyote Encounter Checklist
A coyote encounter checklist for Arizona residents: steps for a coyote nearby, following you, near your pet, at your door or sick, plus who to call.
- Coyote Hazing Methods Agencies Recommend
How AZGFD describes scaring a coyote: noise, looking large, eye contact, backing toward people. Plus when NOT to haze: sick, cornered or denning coyotes.
- Mange and Sick-Looking Coyotes: Who to Call
A coyote that looks sick or mangy in Arizona: keep your distance, do not feed or approach it, and know when to call AZGFD, animal control or a doctor.
- Rabies and Coyotes: What the CDC Says
Rabies and coyotes in Arizona, using CDC and Arizona DHS wording: how it spreads, warning signs, and what to do after any bite, scratch or pet contact.