The cries came from over the hill, past the trees, but it was pointless to determine the exact location. It was nighttime, and the only light was the small campfire we’d made. The sounds were ominous but oddly rhythmic: one long howl, followed by shorter, higher-pitched screams, over and over, for several minutes. Then silence. The coyotes were out, and it was time to bring the dogs in. This scene replayed itself many times throughout my childhood in rural and suburban Massachusetts. Coyotes are a common sight here, though more often than not, you hear rather than see them. Urbanites may associate coyotes with wooded, more rural parts of the state, but over the past few years coyote sightings have increased in the city of Boston and its surrounding areas. This isn’t because the coyote population has grown, but rather because coyotes have become more comfortable in urban environments. Joan, a resident of Jamaica Plain, reported to Sampan her frightening encounter with coyotes:

“I was driving around 11:30 pm and approaching my home when I saw two fast moving shadows running onto my front lawn. Thought they were burglars. Pulled into my driveway and left car lights on to scan my house and driveway. I saw nothing. Finally after 5 minutes I mustered enough courage to run to my house. As I began to open my car door, I saw two coyotes standing right next to my car. I waited in the car for about 5 minutes while they ran around my car and around the house until they disappeared. It felt like an eternity”

There are now around 12,000 coyotes in the state of Massachusetts, but before 1950, there were none. Coyotes were mostly confined to the plains of the western half of the continent until the 1900s, when they began to migrate northeast. The coyotes in Massachusetts are thought to be descended from coyotes that migrated down from the forests of Vermont in the 1950s. Over the last 70 years, they have spread to every area of the state (except Martha’s Vineyard and

Nantucket). They thrive in rural, suburban, and urban environments, but it’s still somewhat strange to see a coyote strolling down the street in the North End. Yet over the past few years, this is precisely what residents in and around Boston have been seeing: coyotes seemingly adapted to city life.

Last summer, NBC10 Boston reported that residents in Jamaica Plain were growing concerned about the number of large coyotes seen in the neighborhood. Multiple coyote sightings were also reported in Brighton, South Boston, and the North End. Susan McCarthy of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife confirmed that there has been an increase in reports of coyotes in suburban and urban environments, but she noted in an interview with WGBH that the coyote population in Massachusetts has stabilized over the past 10 years. Coyotes are simply becoming more visible, rather than increasing in number. Why? McCarthy says that there is usually “a link to artificial or intentional feeding,” meaning that people are accidentally or purposefully leaving out food, scraps, or garbage, which encourages coyotes to enter the environment and later return if a food source has been established. Coyotes may also treat other animals – such as pets – as another food source.

We’re seeing more coyotes because of our own actions – we are attracting coyotes to our neighborhoods whether we know it or not. Given this, there are a number of things people can do and change to reduce the likelihood of encountering coyotes. Leaving food or garbage out and unsecured can attract coyotes and other animals. If you see a coyote, you should not attempt to feed it. In fact, you should be aggressive towards the coyote: shout, wave your arms, or throw something in its direction. You should also be sure not to let your pets run loose. Domestic and outdoor cats may attract coyotes, and you should keep your domestic cats indoors. The Urban Coyote Research Project also recommends bringing food for outdoor cats inside when it is not feeding time. If a coyote is acting aggressively, you should report it immediately to your local animal control department.

In general, coyotes are not a threat to humans. They are more of a threat to humans’ pets, or to local birds. It may be unnerving to see one roaming in an urban environment, but it is more than likely looking for rodents to eat, rather than humans to attack. Seasonal changes may impact coyotes’ behaviors, however. Mating season ranges from January to early March, and coyotes can be more aggressive and active during this period. While we are approaching the end of mating season, it’s still important to remember the above steps if you see coyotes. Protect your pets, remove food sources from around your property, and use loud noises and gestures towards coyotes in your environment to deter them from sticking around. Luckily, Chinatown residents probably don’t need to be worried – from what we could tell through online research, a coyote has not been seen in Chinatown since March of 2012. Given the density of excellent restaurants in Chinatown, the coyotes are missing out. 

Learn more about Coyotes : https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-coyotes