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

Coyotes adapt to almost any habitat in Colorado, making them one of the state's most successful predators. Your best odds are on the eastern plains in shortgrass prairies, around scrub oak and juniper woodlands in the foothills, and even in suburban greenbelts and parks. They thrive in open country and agricultural fields but avoid dense conifer forests. Look for them near water sources like streams, ponds, and irrigation ditches, especially in early morning or late evening.

In Colorado, coyote sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where the animal is most likely in the state. Use the state wildlife hub to identify regions with coyote activity, then narrow your search by habitat type and season. Check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, or neighborhood cover. Target areas near the edge of open and brushy habitat, where coyotes hunt for small mammals.

Coyotes are primarily crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal. Plan your outings for the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, especially during the cooler months. In summer, they shift activity to early morning and late evening to avoid heat. Nighttime howling is common throughout the year, but actually spotting them is easier in the low-light conditions of dawn and dusk.

Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build your outing plan around time-of-day and seasonal behavior, keep one backup area in mind, and use the animal facts page to compare what a realistic outing looks like in Colorado. If movement slows at your first spot, stay longer at one promising location, listen for calls or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.

Coyote tracks are oval, 2 to 2.5 inches long, with four toes and visible claw marks pointing forward. The heel pad is smaller and narrower than a dog's, making it easy to distinguish. Scat is often twisted, full of hair and bone fragments, and left on trails, rocks, or prominent points used to mark territory. Den sites are usually on south-facing slopes, near water, with multiple entrances and often surrounded by scattered scat and hair.

Compare coyote tracks with fox tracks to avoid confusion, and look for these signs on trails after rain or snow when impressions are clearest. See our state animal guide for the next step in identifying and locating coyotes.

Coyote vocalizations are a mix of high-pitched yips, barks, howls, and growls. They often call in groups, creating a chorus that rises and falls in intensity. Listen at dusk or right after dark, when sound travels farthest. Lone howls are rare; group calls are used to reunite pack members, defend territory, or coordinate hunts. A single coyote's call can sound like several animals due to the variety of pitches and the way sound bounces off terrain.

Coyotes are opportunistic feeders with a flexible diet that changes by season. Primary prey includes small mammals like rabbits, ground squirrels, mice, and voles. They also eat birds, insects, berries, and vegetation. In Colorado, they occasionally take fawns when available and may scavenge carrion year-round. This flexible diet overlaps with deer in some areas, but they are not primarily grazers. In suburban areas, coyotes may also feed on unsecured garbage, pet food, and small domestic animals.