Coyotes are keystone species and have an important role in the ecosystem. They roam most of the United States of America, and seeing them may be a sign that you have a balanced ecosystem.
They are apex predators in their environment and help regulate the population of other animals like raccoons, rats, and rabbits. They naturally cull the local wildlife and help reduce disease by hunting rodents known to have Lyme disease. Here are the states with the most coyotes.
1. Texas
It’s no surprise that coyotes are most prevalent in Texas, where there are plenty of favorable conditions for them. More than 850,000 coyotes are estimated to live in Texas. They like to hang around rural areas and are sometimes bold enough to approach city outskirts, where they control the local pest population.
2. California
Coyotes have become bolder in the last decade, moving closer to urban cities in California from their habitats in Central Valley and other wild areas. At least 250,000 coyotes live in California. The species adapts, gets more comfortable with humans, and plays an important role in the ecosystem.
3. Arizona
The environment in Arizona creates the perfect conditions for coyotes to thrive. They can be seen commonly in the Sonoran Desert and even in built-up areas like Tucson and Phoenix, where they often get closer to humans looking for food. The population in Arizona is estimated to be at least 200,000.
4. Kansas
Kansas has a thriving coyote population of at least 150,000 individuals. It’s no surprise that the vast prairies create the perfect biome for them and their prey, primarily rabbits. Just like other states, coyotes are being closer to built-up areas, but they can hardly be blamed when it’s their habitat that is being encroached upon.
5. New Mexico
New Mexico shows how adaptable the species is, as it thrives in both the state’s deserts and rocky, mountainous areas. The population is, at minimum, 125,000, and it coexists with locals with few incidents.
6. Arkansas
In Arkansas, coyotes prefer to live on the edge of forests near farmlands. Like many other states, they do have conflicts with local farmers and their livestock, but for the most part, they hunt natural prey. There are more than 105,000 coyotes in Arkansas.
7. Pennsylvania
Coyotes are a common sight in Pennsylvania, although they inhabit the northern region more. They grew in numbers in the state when they followed their prey in the 1930s. The coyote population in Pennsylvania is at least 100,000.
8. Wyoming
Wyoming has a lot of wilderness for coyotes to breed and hunt. They thrive with more than 86,000 individuals in the state. Since they live mostly in nature and aren’t as encroached on as other states, they can play a vital role in managing the ecosystem.
9. Oregon
Oregon’s coyote population is on the rise, thanks to the rich diversity afforded by the state’s vast forests. They number 83,000 strong and have been sighted in Portland, where they coexist with the locals surprisingly well.
10. Colorado
The coyotes in Colorado’s national parks have plenty of natural prey to survive on. Their population is on the rise, and there are at least 78,000 individuals in the state.
Source:
Coyote Population by State 2024
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