Cold Weather Will Bring Iowa’s Top Land Predator Closer to Your Home

As the temperatures drop and winter settles in, you may notice a familiar wild visitor getting closer to your home: the coyote. These clever canines are native to Iowa and much of North America, and while they’re often misunderstood and considered a nuisance, they’re an important part of our local ecosystem. So why do we see more coyotes during colder months, and what should you know about them?

Why Humans Will Encounter More Coyotes in the Winter?

Like most animals, coyotes are simply trying to survive, and winter is tough for everyone. As the snow piles up and temperatures drop, their usual food sources—like small mammals, birds, and even some vegetation—become harder to find. This pushes them to roam wider areas, including urban locales like neighborhoods and cities, all in the search for food. With fewer natural resources available, coyotes are more likely to explore these areas where food can be easier to come by, like garbage, pet food, or even small pets if left unattended outdoors.

Coyotes are incredibly adaptable and opportunistic when hunting. That’s one reason why they’ve been spotted consistently in cities and towns across Iowa, even during the harshest winters. Whether it’s Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, or smaller rural areas, these predators are super common and more abundant than you might think.

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Coyotes Are More Than Just Scavengers

You may have heard the myth that coyotes are mainly scavengers, but the truth is they’re skilled hunters too. Their diet in the wild consists of small mammals like rabbits, birds, rodents, and even reptiles. In the colder months, though, they might also eat fruits or vegetables when animal prey becomes scarce. Their adaptability when it comes to food is what helps them thrive in all kinds of environments, from forests and prairies to suburban backyards and beyond.

A typical coyote weighs anywhere from 15 to 44 pounds, with males generally being larger than females. They’re known for their grayish-brown fur, which helps them blend into their surroundings. Fun fact: Their fur color can vary depending on where they live, with some coyotes in different parts of North America showing redder or darker coats. In Iowa, you’ll usually spot those gray or light brown coyotes moving silently through fields or sneaking around the edges of wooded areas, or maybe even rummaging through your trash. At night, these guys become much more vocal, howling and yipping to communicate. Fun fact: Coyotes are known by several names including the American jackal, prairie wolf, songdogs, and brush wolf.

What Makes Coyotes So Successful in Iowa?

One reason you see more coyotes, especially in urban areas, is their ability to adjust to human environments. Coyotes are smart animals. They learn quickly, develop new strategies to hunt or find food, and can even avoid traps. In fact, they’ve become so good at living near people that it’s now normal to see coyotes near homes, schools, or parks—even though they tend to avoid direct human interaction.

Coyotes are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active during dawn and dusk. But in urban areas, they’ve adapted to become more nocturnal to avoid humans. So, while you might not see them during the day, they could very well be exploring your neighborhood at night, especially in the winter.

Did you know that coyotes also have fascinating social structures? They can live alone, in pairs, or even in small family packs, depending on food availability and habitat. When raising pups, both male and female coyotes work together to teach their young important survival skills, like hunting and avoiding dangers. Bonus fact, did you know that coyotes are also capable of hybridization and can breed with common domestic dogs and wolves!

But, Should I Be Worried About Coyotes?

While the idea of a coyote roaming your neighborhood might seem unsettling, they’re not usually a threat to people. Coyotes are naturally shy and would rather steer clear of humans. That being said, small pets, like cats and small dogs, could be at risk if left outdoors. During winter, food is scarcer, and a wandering coyote might see a small animal as an easy meal. Remember, desperation breeds added aggression and risk taking.

So, what can you do if a coyote is spotted near your home this winter?  It’s a good idea to keep your pets indoors or supervise them when they’re outside. Additionally, secure garbage bins and avoid leaving pet food outside, it can help reduce the chances of attracting coyotes to your home.  Also, don’t panic! Coyotes are naturally curious but cautious animals. Most will move on quickly once they realize there’s no easy food around.

If a coyote does get a little too close for your comfort, you can “haze” it by making loud noises, waving your arms, or spraying water to scare it away. This reinforces their natural wariness of humans and discourages them from coming back. Additionally, if you are an avid hunter, coyotes are considered open season, which means you can hunt them year-round, but the best time to target them is during the winter months. On average, about 15,000 Iowa hunters go after coyotes after January 10th. That’s when most of Iowa’s hunting seasons close. By the way, there are no bag limits on how many Coyotes you can take.

Understanding these adaptable predators and taking a few precautions can help us coexist with them peacefully. Plus, you now have some fun facts to share the next time a coyote makes an appearance in your neighborhood.