What happened in the North Dakota garage?

A coyote was cornered by a homeowner's three dogs in his garage, highlighting the increasing conflict between humans and wildlife.

How are experts predicting the future of human-wildlife encounters?

Studies show that human population growth, not climate change, is the primary driver behind more frequent clashes as animals seek food and shelter in shrinking habitats.

What is the World Wildlife Fund doing to address human-wildlife conflict?

The WWF's Climate Crowd initiative is working with communities to find solutions that address the root causes of these conflicts, such as through rainwater harvesting projects in Kenya.

Home / Environment / Coyote Cornered in North Dakota Garage Highlights Human-Wildlife Clash

Coyote Cornered in North Dakota Garage Highlights Human-Wildlife Clash

16 Nov

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Summary

Homeowner returns home to find coyote cornered by dogs in garage
Incident captures growing overlap between human and wildlife spaces
Study predicts more frequent human-wildlife encounters due to habitat loss

Coyote Cornered in North Dakota Garage Highlights Human-Wildlife Clash

On the night of November 15, 2025, a quiet evening in rural North Dakota took an unexpected turn for one homeowner. Steve Ost arrived home just after midnight to find a "holy commotion" in his garage - his three dogs had cornered a coyote that had sought refuge on top of a freezer.

Ost quickly recorded the scene on his phone, capturing the tense moment that showcases the growing overlap between human and wildlife spaces. As human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, more animals are being forced to venture into residential areas in search of food and shelter.

According to a recent study published in Science Advances, this trend of increased human-wildlife conflict is projected to continue. The researchers note that the primary driver is not rising global temperatures, but rather human population growth, which is causing animals to relocate their habitats.