...from desertusa.com...

"Although the coyote has been observed killing sheep, poultry and other livestock, it does not subsist on domestic animals. Food habit studies reveal that its principle diet is composed of mice, rabbits, ground squirrels, other small rodents, insects, even reptiles, and fruits and berries of wild plants."

Since the average coyote is about 20 pounds and is a "loner", he presents much less danger to people, pets and livestock that the hysteria would indicate. Domestic dogs are more dangerous than coyotes, and domestic cats kill lots of birds without the ecological importance of the coyote.