Coyotes are common throughout Mesa's desert-edge neighborhoods. Arizona Game and Fish manages the species under ARS Title 17, prohibits hazing harassment beyond legal scare techniques, and forbids residents from feeding wildlife. Mesa enforces feeding bans through Title 5 nuisance provisions.
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are non-protected predatory mammals under ARS Title 17, with management vested in the Arizona Game and Fish Department, not Mesa. Residents may use approved hazing methods (loud noise, water hose, throwing objects) to scare coyotes from yards, but cannot poison, trap without an AGFD license, or shoot within Mesa city limits given firearm-discharge restrictions. Mesa City Code Title 5 prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife including coyotes, javelina, and bobcats, treating it as a nuisance. AGFD encourages hardening attractants such as pet food, fallen fruit, water bowls, and unsecured trash.
Feeding coyotes or other wildlife may result in Mesa civil citations of $250-$500 per occurrence under Title 5 nuisance rules, and unlawful discharge of a firearm at coyotes inside city limits is a separate misdemeanor.
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle coyote management.
See how Mesa's coyote management rules stack up against other locations.
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