Sought-afterLarge carnivores

Yellowstone Coyote

Dawn meadow hunter — reshaped by wolves since 1995.

Dawn/dusk

Most active

Pairs

Mated pairs (post-wolf)

~30 lb

Weight

25 yd

Min distance

Overview

Coyotes (Canis latrans) were the top canid in Yellowstone before wolf reintroduction, living in large loose packs. After 1995, wolves killed coyotes on sight and outcompeted them — coyote numbers fell, pack size shrank to mated pairs, and territories contracted. It's one of the clearest demonstrations of a top predator reshaping a mesopredator.

The coyotes that remain are still everywhere, hunting rodents in open meadows at dawn and dusk with the classic stiff-legged 'mousing pounce.'

Where to find them

Lamar & Hayden valleys: Open meadow hunting.
Mammoth & Gardiner: Year-round residents.
Any open meadow, dawn/dusk: Scan for a trotting gray shape.

When to look

Dawn and dusk year-round. Winter can be excellent — their coats stand out against snow.

⚠️Stay at least 100 yd away

25 yards (23 m) minimum. Never feed them — a fed coyote becomes a problem animal that's likely to be removed. Keep pets leashed.

Want the full interactive data? Open the Wildlife Explorer to see Coyote's viewing areas on the map, and explore all 17 animals with their field guidance.

Planning when to go? See weather, daylight, and what else is active in our month-by-month wildlife guide — best for Dawn/dusk most active in coyote.

Frequently asked questions

How did wolves affect coyotes?+

Profoundly. After 1995, wolves killed coyotes and outcompeted them; coyote numbers dropped, packs shrank to pairs, and territories contracted. The survivors live under wolves by staying nimble.

How do I tell a coyote from a wolf?+

Size and build. A wolf is much larger with a broad head and blocky snout. A coyote is small and delicate — medium-dog-sized — with a narrow pointed snout, big ears, and a bushier tail carried low when running.

Do coyotes hunt in packs?+

Not usually in Yellowstone. They live in mated pairs (sometimes with a few offspring) and hunt alone or in pairs, mostly rodents. Wolves are the cooperative pack hunters.

Sources & data notes

Coyote data is drawn from official NPS, USGS, and NOAA sources catalogued in our source registry. Observer-submitted sightings are not published on this public guide.
Coyote is documented via NPS reference pages; no dedicated population time-series is in the public dataset.

NPS Yellowstone mammals overview — National Park Service (Official mammal checklist/context page with current park-level population notes; not point data.)
NPS Yellowstone wildlife overview — National Park Service (Official wildlife viewing and habitat context; not observation records.)

Spotted something off, or want a deeper dive? Every claim above links to its original source — look for the ↗ markers and the Sources section.