Coyotes are cunning creatures that have adapted to live in close proximity to human settlements. As urban areas expand into their natural habitats, encounters between coyotes, pets and people are becoming more frequent.
This leads many dog owners to wonder: will a hungry coyote eat the food I leave out for my dog?
If you’re short on time, the quick answer is: Yes, coyotes will eat dog food if given the opportunity. They are opportunistic omnivores and will consume almost anything edible. Leaving pet food outdoors is an open invitation that few coyotes can resist.
Coyote Diet and Feeding Habits
Coyotes Are Opportunistic Omnivores
Coyotes are highly adaptable omnivores that will eat almost anything they can find or catch. Their diverse diet allows them to thrive in a wide variety of habitats across North America.
As opportunistic hunters, coyotes will prey on small mammals like mice, voles, rabbits, and squirrels. They also eat fruits, berries, insects, reptiles, and birds. Coyotes have even been known to eat pet food, livestock feed, and garbage when it’s available.
Unlike wolves that often hunt in packs, coyotes typically hunt alone. They use their speed, senses, and smarts to capture prey. A coyote’s extremely keen sense of smell helps it locate small animals hidden in vegetation.
A Varied Diet Helps Coyotes Thrive
Coyotes are successful as a species in large part because of their varied diet. They can quickly adapt and shift their food sources based on availability. For example, during warm months coyotes eat more insects, rodents and fruits. In winter they may rely more on large prey like deer.
Their ability to quickly change with their surroundings gives coyotes a key survival advantage. Even if one food source disappears, they can switch to another.
A study of coyote scat in Illinois found rodents made up as much as 62% of their diet. Carrion, fruits, deer, birds, insects and even fish were also identified as food sources (source).
Coyotes Can Adapt to Human Food Sources
As coyotes have expanded into urban and suburban areas, more are eating human garbage and pet food as part of their diet.
A study of urban coyotes in Albany, New York found that garbage and cat food accounted for almost 25% of their diet. This was a higher proportion than deer or rodents (source).
However, coyotes do not typically eat dog food. Dogs are often seen as potential competitors, so coyotes tend to avoid areas and food sources frequented by dogs.
While coyotes may eat dog or cat food left out at night, they generally avoid direct interactions with dogs. Their natural wariness of dogs usually deters them from approaching areas where dogs are present.
Why Coyotes Are Attracted to Dog Food
Dog Food is an Easy Meal
Coyotes are opportunistic predators and are attracted to easily accessible sources of food, and the food in dog bowls fits this description perfectly (1). Dog food has a strong, appealing smell that draws coyotes in from far away.
Unlike hunting prey, which requires substantial energy expenditure, stealing dog food requires little effort for a big caloric reward.
Coyotes Associate Bowls With Food
Coyotes have learned to associate the presence of dog bowls with an abundant food source (2). Bowls are a clear indicator that there is food to be had without much work. This connection is likely strengthened when coyotes manage to obtain leftover dog food, reinforcing the behavior of checking bowls for scraps.
Domestic Pet Food Has High Nutritional Value
The balanced diets we feed pets today are nutritionally rich compared to the inconsistent diets of wild coyotes (3). Commercial dog and cat foods contain optimal levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for domesticated animals.
These formulations did not exist throughout most of coyote evolutionary history, making dog food something of an exotic superfood.
One analysis found that pet food contains 4-5 times the protein and fat content compared to the coyotes’ natural prey sources like rabbits. With such high calorie and nutrition density, it’s no wonder coyotes can’t resist dog food whenever given the opportunity.
Preventing Coyotes From Eating Dog Food
Never Feed Pets Outdoors
One of the best ways to stop coyotes from eating dog food is to never feed your pets outside. Coyotes have an incredibly strong sense of smell, so any food left outdoors will quickly attract them. It’s safest to keep all pet feeding indoors.
This removes the temptation for coyotes and prevents them from associating your yard with an easy meal.
Clean Up After Feeding Pets
If you do feed your dog or cat outside, be sure to clean up promptly after they finish eating. Don’t leave any leftover food or empty cans sitting around. The smallest scraps or traces of food can draw coyotes to your yard.
Immediately remove all dishes and thoroughly clean any area where you fed your pets.
Secure Trash Containing Food Scraps
Coyotes are resourceful, so don’t let your garbage become an all-you-can-eat buffet for them. Make sure all trash cans have secure lids. Bag all food scraps, especially meat and dairy items. Ask neighbors to be diligent as well, since coyotes can roam the neighborhood looking for any unsecured trash.
Install Motion-Activated Lighting and Sprinklers
One of the best deterrents against coyotes is removing the cover of darkness they depend on. Install bright motion-activated lighting around your yard and garden. This will startle and scare off coyotes. Motion-activated sprinkler systems are also highly effective.
When triggered, they give coyotes an unpleasant surprise blast of water.
By following these tips, you can take proactive steps to prevent coyotes from eating pet food in your yard. Securing all food sources and using deterrents will encourage coyotes to move along in their nightly patrols. With smart prevention, you can peacefully coexist with these wild neighbors.
What to Do if a Coyote Eats Your Dog’s Food
Remove the Food Immediately
If you spot a coyote nibbling your dog’s kibble, take swift action. Bold coyotes may return to areas where they’ve found food, so eliminating the reward is important. As the Humane Society recommends, “Remove whatever attracted the coyote in the first place, whether it’s pet food, water or shelter.”
This removes the impetus for it to visit. Take your dog’s food bowls inside and do not leave pet food outdoors.
Thoroughly Clean Food Bowls and Area
Coyotes have a strong sense of smell, so you’ll need to thoroughly scrub any bowls or the ground area around where the food was sitting. As noted by the Humane Society, coyotes can detect food or remnants from up to a mile away.
Use hot, soapy water and a scrub brush to eliminate traces which could draw the coyote back.
Reinforce Aversions With Ammonia or Cayenne Pepper
If the coyote persists in entering the yard even after removing the dog food, try repellent tactics. Sprinkling or spraying ammonia around the perimeter or anywhere the coyote accessed can help reinforce a dislike of the area. Cayenne pepper can also irritate their senses.
Be sure any repellents won’t harm plants or grass. Reapply them after rain or irrigation as needed.
Alter Feeding Schedule and Location
Adjust when and where you feed your dog to avoid coyote run-ins. Feed pets indoors whenever possible, and pick up any leftovers if feeding outside. Offer food at dawn or dusk when coyotes are less active. You can also install motion-activated lights and sprinklers in the yard to startle intruders.
With persistence and adaptability, you can discourage coyotes from raiding your dog’s buffet. But their resourcefulness means vigilance is needed to safeguard furry companions and their chow. 🐕 🦊 🥣
When Coyotes Become Dangerous
Warning Signs of Habituated Coyotes
Coyotes that have lost their natural fear of humans and become accustomed to scavenging in neighborhoods can start exhibiting concerning behaviors. Keep an eye out for coyotes that seem very comfortable around people, especially during daylight hours.
This signals they may have become habituated and see humans more as a food source.
Other warning signs include coyotes that approach people for food, follow or stalk pets or people out walking, or exhibit aggressive behaviors like growling, lunging, or baring teeth. These emboldened behaviors mean the coyotes have lost their fear entirely and now see neighborhoods as prime feeding territory.
Hazing Techniques to Deter Coyotes
If coyotes in your area show signs of habituation, wildlife officials recommend implementing hazing techniques. These scare tactics aim to reinstill the coyote’s natural fear of people and deter them from neighborhoods.
Effective hazing strategies include shouting aggressively and waving your arms while approaching the coyote, throwing small stones or sticks in their direction, spraying them with a hose or squirt gun filled with vinegar, and making loud noises with whistles, air horns, pots and pans banged together, or shake cans filled with pennies or pebbles.
Reporting Aggressive Coyotes to Wildlife Officials
If you spot coyotes acting aggressively in your neighborhood, immediately contact your local animal control department or wildlife management agency. Provide details on the coyotes’ specific behaviors, when and where the encounters occurred, if the coyotes seemed sick or injured, etc.
Wildlife officials can then track and monitor problem coyotes, implement hazing initiatives community-wide, and remove extremely aggressive coyotes if necessary. Tracking sightings also helps them gauge when coyote populations are growing too large and intervention is needed to maintain balance.
Securing Pets and Children from Coyote Attacks
As predators, coyotes will opportunistically prey on cats, small dogs, poultry, and other pets if given the chance. Protect pets by keeping them leashed when outside, especially at dawn and dusk when coyotes hunt. Enclose outdoor pets like chickens in reinforced coops and runs.
Supervise young children whenever they play outside and educate them on what to do if they spot a coyote – raise their arms to appear bigger, make loud noises, and back away slowly without turning their back or running.
Fencing yards can also deter coyotes. Tall fences with an L-shaped outward extension at the bottom prevent coyotes from digging underneath. Electric fencing and motion-activated lights/sounds offer additional protection.
Conclusion
Coyotes are wild animals that will take advantage of any easily accessible human food source. Dog food left outdoors is a tempting treat that few coyotes can pass up. While occasional dog food theft likely poses little harm, a pattern of food conditioning can lead coyotes to associate yards and neighborhoods with an easy meal.
This in turn can result in dangerous coyote habituation. Following sensible precautions, removing attractants, and reinforcing coyote wariness of people are the best practices for safe coexistence.
