Why am I seeing coyotes in my NC yard? (+ how to tell them apart from foxes)
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Coyotes live across North Carolina, from fields to suburban neighborhoods.
- Doorbell cameras have captured coyotes, which are often seen at dawn or dusk.
- To distinguish coyotes from foxes, you can look at an animal’s size, fur color or tail.
Coyotes are stealthy creatures — but that doesn’t mean they go unnoticed.
Doorbell cameras have recently captured coyotes roaming around North Carolina. But could the animal in your footage actually be a fox?
“We have red foxes and gray foxes, and a lot of people often will mistake a fox for a coyote or vice versa,” Falyn Owens, wildlife extension biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, told The News & Observer in a Wednesday, Feb. 25 phone interview. “Because if you’re not really familiar with these species, it can be easy to get them confused.”
Here’s what to know about spotting coyotes — and how to distinguish them from furry lookalikes.
Coyote sightings in NC
Coyotes live across North Carolina and are known for their ability to adapt to different settings.
“Coyotes survive anywhere there are abundant food sources,” the commission wrote on its website. “Their habitat can range from agricultural fields to forested regions and suburban neighborhoods.”
Though coyotes are prevalent, Raleigh-area data shows February is the least common time of the year for people to report seeing them. That’s because the animals are secretive as they get ready to raise their pups in the spring.
So, what could be behind the recent coyote sightings? Experts say the animals are attracted to food, so they may show up in yards where pet food is left outside. Also, coyotes don’t hibernate during the winter and instead are active throughout the year.
Though coyotes are elusive, lucky North Carolina residents may see them around dawn or dusk. And it’s also possible that you have footage of one on your home security camera.
“Cameras can be a fantastic way for people to understand the wildlife that already live next to them in their neighborhood, or even in their yards, that do run and hide and go away when people are outside,” Owens said. “So it’s almost like a sneak peek into the world of wildlife that’s always been there.”
Is it a coyote or a fox?
Coyotes aren’t the only creatures roaming North Carolina, so you may get one confused with another animal. That includes the two fox species that live in the state, red and gray foxes.
“Foxes and coyotes are very common across North Carolina, including in the Triangle and including even our major urban areas like downtown Raleigh,” Owens said. “There are foxes and coyotes that live in downtown Raleigh. So there’s not really any place where you should assume that these animals wouldn’t be found.”
So, how can you tell the two animals apart? Here’s what we learned from Owens and Roland Kays, a scientist at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh who previously spoke with The N&O:
- Size: Coyotes weigh about 35 pounds, while foxes grow to be 8 to 15 pounds.
- Fur color: Coyotes are often gray all over. Foxes have reddish fur that’s often darker on their legs.
- Face: Both creatures have pointy ears and noses, but a coyote’s face typically looks more similar to a wolf.
- Tail: “Coyote tails are, in proportion to the body size, relatively smaller than a fox’s tail. Kays compares a coyote tail to the tail of a Husky dog,” The N&O previously reported.
If you spot an animal and want help identifying it, the commission encourages you to reach out to the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 and hwi@ncwildlife.gov.
Portions of this story were previously published in The News & Observer.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
