Coyote Awareness Week: March 16th to 22nd
Each March, wildlife advocates across the country recognize Coyote Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to increasing appreciation and understanding of one of North America’s most misunderstood animals.
Observed this year from March 16–22, 2026, the week encourages communities to replace fear and misinformation with knowledge, compassion, and science-based wildlife stewardship.
Coyotes—often called America’s “Song Dog” for their distinctive howls and vocalizations—are highly adaptable animals that live across North America. Today they can be found in rural landscapes, suburbs, and even major cities.
Despite their resilience, coyotes remain one of the most persecuted wildlife species in the United States.
Why Coyotes Matter
Coyotes play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They help:
Control rodent populations
Remove carrion from the environment
Limit populations of smaller predators like raccoons and skunks
Support greater biodiversity, including bird populations
In many ways, coyotes help keep ecosystems balanced.
Why Killing Coyotes Doesn’t Work
Although lethal control is often used to manage coyotes, research shows it is largely ineffective.
When coyotes are heavily killed, their social structures are disrupted and remaining animals often reproduce more quickly or produce larger litters. This can actually increase populations and lead to more conflict with humans. For this reason, many wildlife scientists support coexistence-based approaches instead of lethal control.
Living Alongside Coyotes
Coyotes are generally shy animals that prefer to avoid people. Most conflicts occur when they become used to human food sources. Communities can reduce conflict by:
Securing trash and removing outdoor food sources
Keeping cats indoors and supervising small pets
Using humane hazing (loud noises, waving arms) if a coyote approaches too closely
Avoiding intentional feeding of wildlife
These steps help keep coyotes wild and reduce the chance of negative encounters.
A Week to Learn and Take Action
Coyote Awareness Week was created by wildlife advocacy organization Project Coyote to promote greater understanding of coyotes and encourage compassionate coexistence. Throughout the week, advocates share educational resources, stories, and photography that highlight the ecological importance and complex social lives of coyotes. One event this year includes the webinar:
Wild Kinship: A Look Into Coyote Lives Through Two Lenses
March 18, 2026 | 2 PM ET
Wildlife photographers Karin Saucedo and Mark Surls will share insights from the field, offering a closer look at the lives of these remarkable animals.
Building a More Compassionate Future for Wildlife
Coyotes have survived extraordinary challenges, including decades of extermination campaigns. Their persistence is a reminder of nature’s resilience.
Coyote Awareness Week invites us to rethink our relationship with wildlife and recognize that coexistence is not only possible—it’s essential for healthy ecosystems and thriving communities.
Get Involved
1. Register for the Wild Kinship: A Look Into Coyote Lives Through Two Lenses webinar, hosted by Project Coyote
2. Submit an action alert to Oppose The "Right to Hunt" Amendment to speak out against the proposed “Right to Hunt” Amendment to the Ohio Constitution.
3. Check out our Wildlife Protection advocacy page to see how else OAA is promoting protective policies at the state and local level and supporting conservation efforts.
4. Sign up for our newsletter to receive OAA alerts and updates delivered straight to your inbox.
