Coyotes in Arkansas: where to look and what signs to watch for

Yes. Coyotes are now present in all 75 Arkansas counties. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission confirms they are common statewide. They arrived through natural range expansion from the western United States in the early 1900s, filling the ecological role once held by red wolves. Today, they are among the most successful carnivores in the state, adapting to forests, farmland, deserts, mountains, and even suburban neighborhoods. Their population remains stable and shows no signs of decline.

Coyotes in Arkansas are highly adaptable. They thrive in forest edges, open fields, grasslands, and even suburban fringes. The Ozark and Ouachita Mountains offer excellent habitat with dense cover and abundant prey. Wooded bottomlands along the Mississippi Delta are also prime territory, where drainage ditches, hedgerows, and mixed hardwoods provide shelter and hunting grounds. Look for them in areas where woods meet open fields, along streambanks, and in areas with low human disturbance. Coyotes often use ridge tops, canyon bottoms, and brushy overgrown pastures as travel corridors.

Coyotes are crepuscular, meaning most active at dawn and dusk. Early morning from first light until mid-morning and the hour before sunset through dusk are your best windows for spotting them. During breeding season (January to March) and when pups are being fed (April to July), activity increases and they may move during daylight hours. Hunting pressure and human disturbance can push them more nocturnal, but early morning remains your most reliable opportunity. Listen for high-pitched yips and howls at dusk, which often signal pack gatherings or territorial behavior.

Coyote tracks are distinctive and relatively easy to recognize. Look for oval-shaped prints about 2.5 inches long with four toes and visible claw marks. The front foot is larger than the hind foot. Tracks appear in a straight line pattern when the animal is moving efficiently. Find them on muddy trails, sandy stream banks, dusty roads, and snow in winter. Coyote scat often contains fur, bones, and seeds from berries and vegetation. Listen for high-pitched yips and howls at dusk, a sound unlike any dog. A coyote's silhouette is leaner and taller than a fox, with a bushy tail held down (not up) when running. Their ears are more pointed, and their legs are longer in proportion to their body.

Observe from a distance and do not approach or feed. If the coyote is in a yard or near people, make loud noises, wave your arms, clap, or spray water to scare it away (hazing). Keep pets on a leash, especially at dawn and dusk when coyotes hunt. Never leave food or pet food outdoors. Bring garbage cans inside until pickup day. Trim brush and remove wood piles that provide shelter. Report unusually bold coyotes that do not flee humans to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at 501-223-6300. Attacks on humans are extremely rare and coyotes are usually shy and avoid people.