Coyote Population Surges in Pennsylvania, Posing Risks to Pets and Livestock

Coyote hunters work to control the growing numbers, but experts say the availability of food is the main driver behind the population explosion.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Coyote numbers have been steadily increasing across Pennsylvania, with a particular rise in suburban areas around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The growing coyote population poses a serious threat to small pets, livestock, and even people, as evidenced by a recent attack on a jogger in Warwick Township that resulted in significant injuries. Local coyote hunters like Joe Booker are working to control the coyote population, often at the request of concerned landowners and farmers. However, experts say the main factor driving the coyote boom is the abundant availability of food sources, not the hunting efforts.

Why it matters

The surge in coyote numbers is a growing concern for residents, pet owners, and farmers across Pennsylvania. Coyotes frequently prey on small pets and livestock, and their presence also raises public safety risks, as demonstrated by the recent attack on a jogger. Understanding the factors behind the coyote population explosion and the efforts to manage it is crucial for protecting communities and their animals.

The details

Coyotes are found in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania, with their numbers particularly high in the northern parts of the state. In recent years, their presence has increased in suburban areas around major cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Coyote hunters like Joe Booker are often called upon by landowners and farmers to help control the coyote population, which has been linked to attacks on pets, livestock, and even people. Booker and his fellow hunters use a variety of methods, including night vision and thermal scopes, electronic callers, and high-powered rifles, to lure and hunt the coyotes. However, experts say the main driver behind the coyote population boom is the abundant availability of food sources, not the hunting efforts.

  • In the past few years, coyote numbers in suburban areas around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have increased.
  • On December 28, a man was attacked and injured by a coyote while jogging in Warwick Township.
  • The 35th Annual Mosquito Creek coyote tournament was held from February 20-22, 2026, with the winner taking home $6,870 for a 51-pound male coyote.

The players

Joe Booker

A 54-year-old coyote hunter from West Grove, Pennsylvania, who has been predator hunting for 44 years and has bagged between 50 and 60 coyotes over the past four years.

Rick Cimino

A coyote hunter from Landenberg, Pennsylvania, who hunts with Joe Booker.

Mosquito Creek

A club that sponsors coyote hunting tournaments, including the 35th Annual Mosquito Creek coyote tournament held in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Too many people critical of what we do mistakenly think that our hunting coyotes causes them to have more pups and actually increases the population. The truth is that it's the availability of food that determines how many pups will be born and survive, not how many coyotes are killed by hunters.”

— Joe Booker, Coyote Hunter (thereporteronline.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case of the jogger attacked by a coyote will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the alleged perpetrator, Walker Reed Quinn, out on bail.

The takeaway

The surge in coyote numbers in Pennsylvania, driven by an abundance of food sources, poses a growing threat to pets, livestock, and even people. While coyote hunting efforts can help manage the population, experts say the key to controlling the coyote boom is addressing the underlying factors that are enabling their numbers to explode across the state.