Yes, coyotes are established residents in San Francisco. These highly adaptable predators returned to the area in the early 2000s and are now a fixture in the urban landscape. Their presence is a natural phenomenon, with the animals leveraging the city’s mix of green spaces and human resources to survive and thrive. Understanding the distribution and habits of these urban canids is important for fostering peaceful coexistence.
Confirmed Presence and Urban Territories
Coyotes are distributed across San Francisco, with their presence centered around the city’s largest greenbelts and open spaces. The 1,000-acre Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, a national park site, are recognized as primary habitats where they establish dens and hunt. These expansive parks provide the necessary cover and food sources for them to sustain family groups.
The animals use urban corridors, such as natural greenways, undeveloped lots, and drainage systems, to navigate the dense urban core. While green spaces are their stronghold, sightings are reported in neighborhoods across the city. Areas like Bernal Hill, Telegraph Hill, and Potrero Hill are frequent sighting hotspots, indicating successful adaptation to paved environments. Monitoring nearly 4,000 community reports over a decade has helped wildlife managers track their movements.
The Coyote Diet and Survival in San Francisco
The survival of coyotes in San Francisco is due to their ecological adaptability, allowing them to subsist on an opportunistic urban diet. A study analyzing scat samples revealed that the highest contributor to their diet was human-sourced food, detected in 78% of samples. This includes items like chicken (72% of samples) and pig products, likely sourced from unsecured garbage or discarded restaurant waste.
Consumption of human-sourced food is highest in heavily paved parts of the city with high restaurant density. The second most common food group is small mammals, found in 73.8% of samples, including rats, mice, and pocket gophers. Coyotes in areas with more restaurants, such as around Coit Tower, consume higher rates of these pest species, suggesting a role in rodent control. While they are naturally active at night, abundant city food resources can lead to daytime activity.
Guidelines for Safe Urban Coexistence
Successful coexistence with coyotes depends on residents removing attractants and reinforcing the animals’ natural fear of humans. This involves securing all outdoor food sources, including trash, compost, and pet food. Coyotes lose their natural wariness if they learn easy meals are available, increasing the likelihood of conflict. All garbage bins should have secure, latching lids, and pet food bowls must be brought indoors immediately after feeding.
Pet owners must be especially vigilant, as coyotes may view small domestic animals as potential prey. Keep all cats indoors, especially at night, and never leave small dogs unattended in yards. When walking dogs, maintain a short leash and be aware of your surroundings, particularly during the coyote’s most active periods at dawn and dusk. Consistent use of hazing techniques is necessary to maintain the distance between people and coyotes.
Hazing involves making yourself appear dominant and intimidating to an approaching coyote. This should be done by acting “big, bad, and loud” until the animal retreats. Techniques include shouting, waving your arms, and making loud noises with objects like pots and pans. Never turn away or run from a coyote, as this might trigger a chase response. If a small dog is approached, quickly pick it up and continue to haze the coyote.