Israeli city coyotes grow bolder as attacks and rabies fears rise

Coyotes have become a fixed part of the urban landscape in Israel’s big cities, especially Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, and experts say their behavior is changing fast. After a nighttime attack near the Sea of Galilee that left nine people injured and raised suspicions of rabies, authorities are warning that these are no longer rare events but part of daily reality. Since the start of the year, 46 Israelis have already been bitten, according to the report.

In Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv resident Tal Shauli said a coyote bit her leg while she was walking and then chased her until she reached a main path with other people. In Ramat Gan, Gal Kabkov discovered through home security cameras that a coyote had entered her yard and eaten from her plate while she briefly went inside. A veterinarian told her bluntly, “Rabies is an incurable disease.”

Wildlife specialists say the animals have adapted to life around people, feeding on cat food, garbage and even pet meals. Dr. Yiriv Malichi of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority said coyotes now see humans less as a threat and more as a food source, while Dr. Nuriel Shuv said trackers on 16 coyotes showed city animals moving far less than wild ones, often traveling only about 300 meters to food and back. He described urban coyotes as “fat and fearless,” unlike the lean, cautious animals in nature.

The debate over how to respond is becoming sharper. Some residents insist the animals can coexist with people, while others cite frightening incidents, including one in Ganei Yehoshua where a coyote reportedly grabbed a toddler before a caregiver forced it to let go. City Hall in Tel Aviv is testing solutions such as coyote-proof feeding stations for cats and a campaign to close garbage bins, while some former enforcement officials argue for widespread shooting. Dr. Shuv warned that firing in city streets would create panic and could be mistaken for a terror attack.