Discover 6 Meanings and Signs of Seeing a Coyote

Written by Luke Stevens
Updated: July 11, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


Introduction

Although coyotes live all across the United States, they hardly interact with humans. These nocturnal creatures are most active after sunset and are smart predators. Coyotes hunt animals as big as deer for food and have a keen sense of vision and incredibly agile bodies. They can even reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour!

Alert coyote looks to the right with a blurred green background

Coyotes play prominent roles in many ancient cultural stories and teachings and symbolize a number of things to different people groups.

©Paul Tessier/Shutterstock.com

Weighing between 20 and 50 pounds and measuring about three feet in length, coyotes are mid-sized animals. However, this does not mean they are insignificant. Coyotes play prominent roles in many ancient cultural stories and teachings and symbolize a number of things to different people groups. Keep reading to learn all about the six meanings and signs of seeing a coyote!

The coyote signifies a good omen in many cultures, but it can also provide warnings.

1. Good Luck is Coming Your Way

Seeing a coyote in the wild may be a sign of good luck in your life. Because these sightings are rare, an out-of-the-ordinary encounter is often seen as an indicator of good fortune. The coyote is seen by the Navajo tribe as a messenger of the coyote totem animal. This sighting is an encouragement to move forward with your life and continue pursuing your goals, as you know fortune is on your side. Although coyotes are dangerous animals and should not be taunted, seeing them often suggests a positive future. The coyote is believed to be an especially good omen if it is encountered in a dream instead of in real life.

2. You Need to Work on Your Communication Skills

California Psychics also have beliefs about the spiritual meaning of a coyote. One strength that the coyote possesses comes from living in packs. Because coyotes live in packs, they learn to communicate effectively with one another. While human issues are much more complex than coyotes, they still model an efficient communication style. Seeing a coyote in the wild could suggest that your relationships are struggling from poor communication. Coyotes are able to coexist with the world peacefully without interfering with it, following the natural circle of life. An encounter during a rough time in your relationship could be an encouragement to relax and communicate genuinely. While a coyote sighting means different things for every individual, it can never hurt to be more intentional with those you care for.

3. Be More Carefree

Coyotes Playing Around

Native tribes believe that coyotes have a light spirit, one that is not burdened by stress or anxiety.

©Dan J Rozak/Shutterstock.com

Another strength of coyotes is their adaptability. Coyotes constantly encounter new environments and challenges and find ways to overcome them. Their ability to live in every corner of the United States speaks to their incredible flexibility. So, the meaning of seeing a coyote could be a reminder to try to be more laid back. Dwelling on issues in your life leads to overthinking, which is detrimental to success and progress. While it is never a good idea to be reckless, a coyote sighting should encourage you to take more risks and trust in yourself. Native tribes believe that coyotes have a light spirit, one that is not burdened by stress or anxiety. It is because of this that the creature is such a stealthy hunter and intelligent being. Implementing a more carefree attitude in your life could be to achieve the goals you are being held back from.

Several Eastern cultures believe that the coyote showcases a need to practice introspection. This means you should look at your actions and demeanor in order to find an appreciation for yourself and your role in life. While it may seem difficult, introspection will help you understand yourself better and allow you to live more freely.

4. You Need to Focus on Your Goals

While the meaning of seeing a coyote could be a sign to be more carefree, and can also be an indicator of your need to refocus your attention toward your goals. Many Native American teachings characterize the coyote as both a trickster and a teacher. Because of this, the meanings of a coyote sighting can be confusing and unclear. However, it is never a bad idea to pay more attention to your ambitions. Coyotes are at times playful, but they never lose sight of their needs. This duality is an important trait that can be mirrored in your daily life. Allowing time for enjoyment and recreation is vital, but so is focusing on your purpose. The motivation to succeed and achieve in your life can be provided by a coyote sighting, encouraging you to press on and pursue your passions.

5. Something Unexpected is Coming

a male actor in a suit of an Egyptian mythology character, the golden deity Jackal Anubis, twists buugeng in yellow light on a black background

This Egyptian god Anubis symbolizes death and rebirth.

©TanitaKo/Shutterstock.com

In Egyptian cultures, the coyote is represented as the ancient god Anubis. This dog-headed man symbolizes death and rebirth. While seeing a coyote does not indicate a literal resurrection, it could be a sign of a significant change in your life. Often, this change will be something internal. If you begin to focus on your goals, you may have a reborn sense of purpose and a strengthened spirit. An effort to live more freely comes with a death of anxiety and overthinking that is reborn as energy to tackle your goals.

This rebirth will allow you to move forward expecting surprises and good fortune in your future. This expectation of the unexpected will cause you to pay more attention to details in your life and live more fully. By paying attention to your experiences, you will gain wisdom and insight that you can carry with you throughout hardships and times of uncertainty.

6. Pay Attention to Who Your Real Friends Are

The coyote signifies a good omen in many cultures, but it can also provide warnings. In Native American mythology, the coyote often plays the role of a trickster. The cunning creature creates illusions and deceit in order to gain something. When a coyote is seen in real life, it could be a warning to look out for a false friend in your own life. Coyotes serve as a warning that you could be getting tricked by ulterior motives and that you may need to reevaluate your relationships. While coyotes often are a sign of self-improvement and changes you need to make, they can also help you avoid misdirection and bad influences.

Significance of Coyotes in Different Cultures

rock wall with engravings of Aztec gods

Many ancient stories from Aztec culture include a coyote character.

©clicksdemexico/Shutterstock.com

The coyote is a significant figure in many different cultures and belief systems. Here are a few of the different characteristics the animal is associated with in various religions.

Native American Culture

Many Native American tribes believe in the presence of spirit animals. These animals share characteristics with an individual and serve as spiritual guide that offers protection. The coyote is thought of as a joker and also a symbol of magic and creation. For those with coyote spirit animals, the lessons taught to them are often subtle and hard to decipher. Balance and wisdom are believed to be brought by the coyote, always with a sense of humor.

Central American Culture

Similar to the Egyptians, the Aztec people believed in a coyote-man hybrid. This creature is present in many ancient stories and lessons from the culture. He appears in stories to make music, teaching special songs and dances to the Aztec people. However, this coyote also represents duality. In many of the stories, the enjoyment the coyote brought eventually resulted in pain and suffering for those he came into contact with.

Final Thoughts: Meaning of Seeing a Coyote

coyote standing on a rock formation howling with desert, mountains and blue sky in the background

Coyotes represent an array of useful habits and a calm demeanor that humans can learn a lot from.

©Warren Metcalf/Shutterstock.com

While seeing a coyote can have many different meanings, they often inform one another. Any lesson taken from a coyote sighting has the potential to improve your life and lead to a more productive routine. Coyotes represent an array of useful habits and a calm demeanor that humans can learn a lot from. There may be no clear sign of what a coyote encounter means, but being more conscious about yourself and others is always beneficial.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com


Share on:
About the Author

My name is Luke, and I currently a student at the University of Southern California. I love the outdoors, learning, and writing. I am also involved in several groups focusing on the entertainment industry and business administration. My favorite animals are dogs, koala bears, and dolphins.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.