Publicly reported coyote observations are classified as either a sighting (an observation at a distance with no interaction) or an  encounter (an interaction at close range) on our website.  The data provided by “citizen scientists” has been extremely helpful to us, and the figure below summarizes the data from 2015-2018. (Note that the increasing number of reports through time does not necessarily reflect a growing coyote population, but rather an increased awareness of our website.)  Of 1,672 reports received, the vast majority (88%) were benign sightings of coyotes. Human-coyote encounters were rare (196; 12% of observations), but 124 of those reports (63%) occurred when pets were nearby. Coyotes were less likely to be observed in areas of high human population density, farmland, and managed clearing, and more likely to be seen in riparian wetlands and areas of low-density development (e.g., parks, golf courses, large-lot homes). Coyote sightings are now relatively common in Atlanta and their presence is generally benign. However, negative coyote interactions do occur and pets should be kept under close supervision and coyote access to anthropogenic food resources prevented.