Potential for conflict between urban coyotes and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness

Across North America, both unsheltered homelessness and human–coyote ( Canis latrans ) conflict are increasing, but the relationship between these phenomena has not been thoroughly explored. We synthesize literature‐based evidence with anecdotal observations that occurred during a 15‐year study of coyotes in Edmonton, Canada, to describe three likely types of conflict in the context of unsheltered homelessness. First, people and coyotes often seek similar habitat, increasing opportunities for habituation and competition. Second, food conditioning, which strongly predicts conflict, may occur when coyotes access food in human encampments. Third, use of human‐dominated areas caused by habituation and food conditioning may increase human exposure to zoonoses, including the priority disease alveolar echinococcosis. These sources of conflict with coyotes and other wildlife species might be limited by reductions in homelessness and the factors that cause it, wider adoption of interdisciplinary research, improved support for people experiencing homelessness, and education for professionals who engage with the homeless community.