Coyote attacks against people have been known to happen but they are rare. In those instances where a coyote has attacked a human being, there have been only 2 deaths confirmed from this in Canada and the United States. The coyote is wary of humans; it knows humans as strong, big, diurnal hunting creatures and it knows that it is not a good match should it attack a human. The most likely reason for an attack would be if you were to threaten its cubs or its own life. Your pets, on the other hand, are at great risk should a coyote come close to cats or dogs.