Best Time to See Coyotes in the US
January, April and May is the best time to see coyotes in the United States. This is a national picture built from 117,342 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where coyotes are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
117,342 verified observations of coyotes in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When coyotes are recorded in the US
Peak month
January
11,999 records (10.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 11,999 | 10.2% |
| February | 10,723 | 9.1% |
| March | 10,754 | 9.2% |
| Aprilpeak | 11,875 | 10.1% |
| Maypeak | 10,768 | 9.2% |
| June | 8,623 | 7.3% |
| July | 7,306 | 6.2% |
| August | 7,198 | 6.1% |
| September | 8,506 | 7.2% |
| October | 9,391 | 8% |
| November | 9,914 | 8.4% |
| December | 10,285 | 8.8% |
Coyotes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Coyote | 117,342 |
Across the country, coyotes sightings peak in January, when 11,999 of the 117,342 annual observations are logged, about 10.2% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through January, April and May.
The best states to see coyotes by recorded sightings are California (45,169), Texas (14,281), Arizona (5,217), Massachusetts (3,563) and Oregon (3,252). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The coyotes you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Coyote, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see coyotes
- coyotes in California45,169 sightings, peak January
- coyotes in Texas14,281 sightings, peak January
- coyotes in Arizona5,217 sightings, peak January
- coyotes in Massachusetts3,563 sightings, peak April
- coyotes in Oregon3,252 sightings, peak April
- coyotes in Washington3,122 sightings, peak May
- coyotes in Colorado3,096 sightings, peak May
- coyotes in Illinois2,690 sightings, peak January
- coyotes in Minnesota2,611 sightings, peak February
- coyotes in New Mexico2,340 sightings, peak April
- coyotes in New York2,118 sightings, peak March
- coyotes in Wyoming2,050 sightings, peak June
- coyotes in Wisconsin2,008 sightings, peak February
- coyotes in Florida1,823 sightings, peak May
- coyotes in North Carolina1,747 sightings, peak April
Most-recorded coyotes species nationwide
- Coyote117,342 records
Plan your coyote trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main coyote viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best coyote viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a coyote tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see coyotes in the US?+
January is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through January, April and May, based on 117,342 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing coyotes?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Arizona. California leads with 45,169 verified observations.
How many coyotes sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 117,342 verified coyotes observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of coyotes live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Coyote, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.