L.A. Coyotes Dodge Wealthy Zones, Study Finds

A recent study reveals that coyotes in Los Angeles are less likely to hang out in the city’s wealthier neighborhoods, despite the lush greenery and abundant wildlife that might seem appealing to these adaptable predators. Published in Ecology Letters, the research from UC Berkeley and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources tracked 20 coyotes in L.A. County and uncovered some unexpected patterns about how these animals navigate urban life.

The study suggests that coyotes steer clear of affluent areas, possibly because residents there tend to have more negative attitudes toward them. Wealthier neighborhoods often support aggressive measures like hazing or hiring trappers to deal with coyotes, which could make these spots less welcoming. In contrast, the canids seem to prefer lower-income parts of their home ranges, even though those areas might offer fewer natural resources.

Researchers were surprised by this behavior, given that upscale ZIP codes often boast more wild prey and hiding spots—things coyotes would typically seek out. But prior studies, including one from 2023 in San Francisco and another analyzing L.A. Nextdoor posts, back up the idea that wealthier folks view coyotes less favorably, sometimes leading to real-world actions like trapping or killing them.

The coyotes in this study, fitted with satellite collars, also showed bigger home ranges in polluted, densely populated, and less affluent areas. Scientists think they’re roaming farther to find food and shelter, possibly burning more energy in the process. These coyotes were also more likely to visit urban parks, risking run-ins with humans for a chance at trash or rats. Interestingly, they avoided cemeteries and golf courses—places often touted as wildlife havens—perhaps because those spots are too tidy, with less cover and food.

Lead author Christine Wilkinson, now with the California Academy of Sciences, sees coyotes as a window into urban inequities. “They’re incredibly adaptable, but their movements highlight the same challenges people face in cities,” she said. The findings could help city planners and conservationists create spaces that work better for both humans and wildlife.

The study didn’t just track where coyotes went—it also looked at how fast they moved and how they zigzagged through their turf. Home ranges varied wildly: one female stuck to less than a square kilometer, while another roamed 114 square kilometers across L.A. and San Bernardino counties.

Co-author Niamh Quinn emphasized that this research flips the script on typical wildlife studies, which often focus only on nature-related factors. “People and animals deal with the same tough conditions,” she said, suggesting that polluted, struggling neighborhoods might hit coyotes just as hard as residents. For locals, this could mean taking extra steps to protect pets like cats, a favorite coyote snack.

Though coyotes are everywhere in L.A. County, wealthier areas report more sightings—not because there are more coyotes, but because residents there are more likely to notice and complain. In less affluent spots, people might be too busy with other concerns to care. Either way, encounters are inevitable, and opinions about coyotes remain split: some adore them, others despise them. Managing that tension is tricky, and it doesn’t help that humans sometimes turn on each other over it—like last year, when activists pushed for a probe into a coyote trapper hired by Torrance and other cities.

In short, L.A.’s coyotes are dodging the rich and navigating a messy urban jungle, reflecting the city’s divides in their pawprints.