Coyote attack


Coyote attacks on humans are uncommon and rarely cause serious injuries, mainly due to the relatively small size of the coyote, but have been increasingly frequent, especially in the state of California. In the 30 years leading up to March 2006, at least 160 attacks occurred in the United States, mostly in the Los Angeles County area. Data from the USDA's Wildlife Services, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other sources show that while 41 attacks occurred during the period of 1988–1997, 48 attacks were verified from 1998 through 2003. The majority of these incidents occurred in Southern California near the suburban-wildland interface.
Coyotes are losing their fear of humans, which is further worsened by people intentionally or unintentionally feeding coyotes. In such situations, some coyotes have begun to act aggressively toward humans, chasing joggers and bicyclists, confronting people walking their dogs, and stalking small children.
Although media reports of such attacks generally identify the animals in question as simply "coyotes", research into the genetics of the eastern coyote indicates those involved in attacks in northeast North America, including Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and Eastern Canada, may have actually been coywolves, hybrids of Canis latrans not fully coyotes.

Fatal attacks

Reports:
"10 miles from Desert center, a small watering station midway between Mecca and Blythe, and 3-1/2 miles from Boulder Wells, a long abandon claim, the officers found the mute evidences of an unequal struggle against the most horrible of deaths, waged unequally by a woman against a pack of coyotes."
Two fatal coyote attacks have been confirmed by experts:

On children

While their bushy hair can make them look quite large, coyotes rarely weigh more than thirty-five pounds. Also, unlike some other canids, such as wolves and dogs, they are relatively less apt to hunt in packs large enough to take down a full-grown adult human being. Thus, coyote attacks tend to be a greater threat to children than they are to adults.

California (1978–2003)

A study published in 2004 documented 35 incidents in which a child escaped likely "serious or fatal injury" if the child had not been rescued in time. These included:
Coyote attacks on children in other states:
Coyote attacks on teenagers in other states:
Coyote attacks on children in Canada:
Coyote attacks on teenagers in Canada:
Much of the published scholarly research on coyote attacks on adults comes from California, but press reports detail attacks all across the continent.

California (1979–2003)

Not all the coyote attacks on adults in California between 1979 and 2003 reported by Timm, et al. resulted in injury. In some, bitten articles of clothing or backpacks show that injury was narrowly avoided. In others, the attack was immediately broken off by the coyote once it could make off with an item the uninjured victim was carrying. While several victims were hiking, working, or jogging in unpopulated areas, many occurred at the victim's own home. Many appear to have been "test bites" on people who seemed incapacitated, but as soon as the victim reacted, the attack was abandoned. A selection of these attacks are listed below. Some add context to one or more of the attacks on children listed above. Many began as attacks on a person's pet, provoking sequential counter-attacks.
YearTime of yearLocationVictimActivitySurroundingsResultTime of day
1979JunePasadenaMPicking up newspaperYardHeel bittenEarly morning
1979JulyPasadenaMJogging?Both legs bitten, chased up tree?
1988OctoberSan DiegoFTalking on phoneYardBitten?
1990JuneReds Meadow?SleepingCampgroundHand bittenNight
1990JuneReds Meadow?SleepingCampgroundFoot bittenNight
1992MarchSan MarcosFDefending dogYardFace bitten?
1992AprilFallbrookMWorkingGroveBitten?
1994MarchGriffith ParkM??BittenNoon
1994OctoberGriffith ParkM??Bitten5 PM
1995MarchGriffith ParkFPreparing foodYardBittenDay
1995JuneLaguna NiguelMStargazingYardFoot bittenNight
1995JuneLaguna NiguelMPicking up newspaperYardFoot bittenMid-morning
1995JulyGriffith ParkMSleepingLawnFoot bitten2:45 PM
1995JulyGriffith ParkMSleepingLawnFoot bitten4 PM
1997JanuarySan Juan CapistranoTwo F??Ankle bitten twice, pulled to ground?
1997JanuarySan Juan CapistranoF??Lunch pail stolen?
1997JanuarySan Juan CapistranoF??Purse stolen?
1997JanuarySan Juan CapistranoM??Shoe bittenBefore dawn
1997JanuarySan Juan CapistranoM??Backpack successfully defended?
1997FebruarySouth Lake Tahoe areaMFeeding the coyote?Hand that fed it bitten?
1997SeptemberPomonaM??Bitten on ankle?
1998NovemberSan Mateo CountyFHiking in a group?Buttock bitten?
1998NovemberSan Mateo CountyFHiking in a group?Pant leg bitten?
1999SpringSouth Lake Tahoe areaTwo??Bitten?
1999SpringSouth Lake Tahoe areaF?Motel parking lotBitten?
1999MayCanyon CountryMDefending dog?ScratchedNight
1999AugustGreen Valley LakeFDefending dogYard"Attacked", captive in car8:30 AM
1999OctoberVentura CountyMBicycling w/dog, six coyotes?"Attacked"?
2000FebruaryCalimesaMDefending dogYardCuts, scrapes, and bruises9 PM
2001AprilPomona54-year-old FDefending dogYardLeg bitten4:30 PM
2001JulyTustinF??Bitten?
2001AugustHollywood HillsMDefending dog?Bitten 8 times11:50 PM
2001AugustIrvineFDefending dog?Bitten4:30 PM
2001SeptemberAgouraFDefending dog?"Attacked"7:15 AM
2001SeptemberLancasterMWalking?Fought off 4 coyotes with walking stickMorning
2001NovemberLa Habra HeightsFWalkingGolf courseArm bittenDaytime
2002MayLos AngelesMWalking dog?"Attacked"Evening
2002JulyWoodland Hills, Los AngelesF??Arm bitten6 AM
2002JulyWoodland Hills, Los AngelesMWalkingBetween car and garageBoot bitten?
2002JulyCarlsbadFWalking dog, 8-10 coyotes?Bitten10 PM
2002NovemberWoodland Hills, Los AngelesFDefending dog?Fractured elbow, scratched1 PM
2002DecemberEast HighlandMWorkingUtility work areaPants bittenEvening
2002DecemberEast HighlandM??"Attacked"Evening
2003FebruaryLake View Terrace"Jogger"JoggingNear "neighborhood coyote feeding station"Ankle bitten?
2003NovemberClaremontM??Successfully defended self w/ walking stick8 AM

Other coyote attacks on adults in California:
Coyote attacks on adults in other states:
Coyote attacks on adults in Canada:
Coyote attacks on humans in Mexico: