Coyote (Canis latrans) is in the Canids family (Canidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 104,597 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Coyote: observations by month (U.S.)
About Coyote
The coyote (Canis latrans); from Nahuatl pronunciation (help·info)) is a canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia, though it is larger and more predatory, and is sometimes called the American jackal by zoologists.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Coyote by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 42,270 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Texas | 12,461 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Arizona | 4,991 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 3,117 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Oregon | 3,097 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Colorado | 2,956 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Washington | 2,698 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Illinois | 2,436 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Wyoming | 2,117 | June | May–Oct |
| New Mexico | 2,073 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Minnesota | 1,980 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Wisconsin | 1,836 | February | Jan–Dec |
| New York | 1,665 | March | Feb–Jan |
| North Carolina | 1,483 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Florida | 1,460 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Ohio | 1,287 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Connecticut | 1,130 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Utah | 1,023 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Vermont | 1,017 | March | Jul–May |
| Nevada | 996 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Tennessee | 929 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Virginia | 845 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Michigan | 771 | March | Feb–Jan |
| New Hampshire | 741 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Missouri | 665 | October | Sep–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 636 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Nebraska | 575 | November | Oct–Sep |
| Alabama | 534 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Georgia | 534 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Maryland | 520 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Idaho | 481 | July | Mar–Nov |
| Kentucky | 421 | February | Jan–Dec |
| South Dakota | 406 | May | Feb–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 405 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Indiana | 397 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Louisiana | 380 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Montana | 380 | May | Apr–Mar |
| New Jersey | 355 | July | Jun–May |
| Maine | 341 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 302 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Kansas | 278 | January | Dec–Nov |
| South Carolina | 273 | January | Jul–Apr |
| Arkansas | 239 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Alaska | 229 | February | Feb–Dec |
| West Virginia | 217 | September | Aug–May |
| North Dakota | 213 | July | Apr–Nov |
| Mississippi | 195 | November | Aug–Mar |
| Iowa | 160 | January | Oct–May |
| Delaware | 55 | March | Mar–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 27 | May | Oct–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Canids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Coyote?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is Coyote most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Arizona.