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

Coyotes adapt well to Wyoming's varied landscapes but prefer open habitats like shortgrass prairies, sagebrush steppes, and agricultural fields. They are common in the Bighorn Basin, the Red Desert, and the Thunder Basin National Grassland. Look near water sources such as streams and stock ponds, especially during dry months. For more on their range, visit our coyote species page.

In Wyoming, coyotes 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 and the route guide to narrow your first area, then 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, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.

Coyotes are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. In Wyoming, you might also spot them hunting during midday in winter or on overcast days. Their howling often peaks at sunset and just before sunrise. Seasonal shifts: they may be more diurnal in areas with less human pressure.

Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around time-of-day or seasonal behavior, keep one backup area in mind, and use the animal facts page plus tour planning ideas to compare what a realistic outing looks like in Wyoming. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, 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.

Coyotes are medium-sized canids, smaller than wolves but larger than foxes. They have a slender build, pointed ears, a narrow muzzle, and a bushy tail carried low. Their coat is typically grayish-brown with a white belly. Key difference from a wolf: coyotes are about half the weight and have a more dog-like face. Compared to red foxes, coyotes are much larger with longer legs.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Start with tracks: coyote footprints are oval, about 2.5 inches long, with four toes and visible claw marks. Look for a straight line of tracks in mud or snow. Scat is another clue it is often rope-like and filled with hair or seeds. Listen for their distinctive howls, yips, and barks, especially at dawn. Finding deer carcasses can also indicate coyote activity.

While coyotes are widespread, some areas offer better odds. Try the sagebrush flats of the Red Desert, the grasslands of the Thunder Basin, or the outskirts of Yellowstone where wolves keep coyotes more wary. Agricultural valleys like the Bighorn Basin also hold good numbers. For a broader look at Wyoming's wildlife, check our Wyoming wildlife guide.