Expert veterinary care for every stage of your pet’s life.
Emergency: 617-522-7282
Poison Control: 888-426-4435
Bringing pets and people together—for life.
Advocate for animals, volunteer, or get help for your pet with our compassionate community services.
Coyotes can be found in every municipality in Massachusetts.
No. Coyotes are territorial animals who actively defend their territory from transient coyotes, traveling between two to thirty square miles while on patrol. A single coyote traveling through their territory may be reported several times, which may lead people to believe that there are more coyotes then there really are. The coyote population in Massachusetts is stable; it is neither growing nor shrinking.
No. Being out and about during the day is normal coyote behavior.
No. Coyotes howl to “talk” to each other. Members of a family unit may travel long distances during the day and howling helps them communicate, including finding each other when it’s time to return to the den. Also, in the spring you may hear a lot of yipping—this is coyote pups learning and practicing their “language.” Keep in mind also that just a few coyotes vocalizing tends to sound like many more than are actually there.
Each territory has a resident family unit that consists of an alpha male and female who mate for life, possibly one or two coyotes born in the previous year’s litter (sometimes called associates or helpers). Coyotes breed between February and March and give birth during the spring and summer. The litters usually have four to eight pups. Pups are weaned at two months old and fully independent at nine months old. Some will disperse the year they are born and others will wait until the next year.
Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state in the country. Coyotes are drawn to neighborhoods due to human encroachment of coyote habitat and for food and water, which is generally easily available in urban and suburban areas.
If an animal is posing a threat, state and local officials have the authority to kill the animal. However, it is important to keep in mind that coyotes rarely bite or attack humans.
Coyotes can be hunted from October through March and trapped during the month of November.
No. The Wildlife Protection Act, passed in 1996, restricts the recreational use of cruel and indiscriminate traps, but has no effect on the coyote population. Trapping has never been in Massachusetts as a method to manage the coyote population. Additionally, MassWildlife has made clear that the coyote population cannot be managed by any means. If some animals are removed, they are replaced within a year. The coyote population in Massachusetts is stable; it is neither growing nor decreasing.
Follow these tips:
Coyotes are usually afraid of humans. If you encounter one while hiking, in your yard, on the street, or anywhere, you should haze the animal. It is crucial that we all help to keep coyotes wild. If a coyote frequents your yard, have tennis balls, small pebbles, a noisemaker or a hose at the ready. You can also yell and wave your arms. Do not hurt the animal, but however you can, let the coyote know that they are not welcome around humans. The coyote will not become aggressive toward you. See this infographic for helpful tips on hazing and why it’s important.
Read more about coyotes on our website and order flyers to share information about preventing conflicts with coyotes See Project Coyote for a wealth of information. Also see MassWildlife’s resources on coyotes.
