Coyotes make their dens in rocky crevices, dense thickets and sometimes the dens of other animals. Both parents care for their young, frequently with the help of older offspring. Litter size depends on a variety of factors but typically ranges from 4 to 7.

The female coyote gestation period lasts 60 – 63 daysand pups are born in the early spring. The breeding season runs from late December through March. It uses a long howl to report its location, short barks to warn of danger, yips when reuniting with pack members, growls when establishing dominance, whines and whimpers when bonding, and high-pitched barks to summon pups.Ĭoyotes are generally monogamous and maintain pair bonds that can last for several years. The coyote is a very vocal animal with a varied repertoire of calls. Main predators of coyotes are bears, cougars, wolves and humans (coyotes are treated as pests and humans often kill them to protect livestock).

They move silently by walking on the tips of their toes. Their sense of smell is remarkable, and their senses of sight and hearing are exceptionally well developed.Ĭoyotes have special tactic to avoid predators and potential danger. They are able to escape predators through the water and have even been able to colonize islands thanks to their ability to swim.Ĭoyotes are extremely wary. They can run up to 65 kilometers (40 miles) an hour and can jump a distance of over 4 meters (13 feet). If the prey of choice is larger animal, such as deer, group of coyotes will join their forces to kill the prey.Ĭoyotes are excellent runners. If coyote hunt a small prey, it will hunt alone. Hunting strategy depends on the type of prey they are chasing.

They also happily dine on insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion. They hunt rabbits, rodents, birds, fish, frogs, and even deer. Just like dogs, they use urine to mark their territory.Ĭoyotes are semi-social animals they can be solitary, or form traveling pairs or packs.Ĭoyote behavior and social interactions vary greatly with season and geographic region.įor the most part coyotes are diurnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), but have more nocturnal habits where they reside in close proximity to humans.Īlthough they are classified as carnivores, their food habits are quite omnivorous.

Coyotes typically weigh about 9 to 23 kilograms (20 to 50 lbs.). Their tail adds another 41 centimeters (16 inches) to their length. They are 81 to 94 centimeters (32 to 37 inches) from head to rump. The average lifespan of a coyote in the wild is 10 to 14 years, while coyotes in captivity can live up to 20 years.Ĭoyotes are about as big as medium-size dogs, though they are smaller than wolves. In addition to occurring in natural areas, coyotes are also found in a range of human-populated areas, including rural farms, suburbs, and cities. They are characterized by a narrow, pointed snout, grayish brown to yellowish gray fur on the upper parts and buff or white colored fur below, reddish brown forelegs, and a bushy, black-tipped, tail.Ĭoyote is native to western North America, but now extends throughout North and Central America, ranging in the north from Alaska and all but the northernmost parts of Canada, south through the continental United States and Mexico, and throughout Central America to Panama.Ĭoyotes once lived primarily in open prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent’s forests and mountains. Coyote ( Canis latrans), also called prairie wolf or brush wolf, is a member of the canine (dog) family.Īlthough it resembles wolf, these two are completely different species.

Coyote skat