I often see Coyotes chasing squirrels. I rarely see them catch them. I even accused this almost fully grown pup of being a little dim when it gave up on chasing squirrels and tried eating acorns instead. Maybe fully inhabiting the mind of a squirrel was just what it needed, because it’s had a lot of squirrel hunting success recently.
When Coyotes are being Coyotes, they’re very efficient rodent killers. While it’s sad to see a living being lose its life, western ecosystems with Coyotes are healthier than those without them. Research has shown that California Quail do better in parks populated by Coyotes, who keep populations of nest predators under control. The return of Coyotes to San Francisco are a big part of why the San Francisco Presidio is considering reintroducing California Quail to the city.