I have had many encounters with coyotes over my nearly 20 years of wildlife photography and each time I am always amused and fascinated with this animal. Its familiar dog-like appearance and playful natures always makes me smile. It would be fair to say that the coyote is one of my favorite wild animals. Let me make a case as to way they should be one of your favorite animals too.
The coyote (Canis latrans) is a member of the Canidae family which includes wolves, foxes and yes your family dog. Although everyone that has told me about their own person encounter with a coyote has reported that they are huge animals, the realities are not so. Adult coyotes average between 20 and 40 pounds which is about one third to half the size of the average large domestic dog. They stand about 24 inches tall and about 36 inches long not counting the 12-15 inch tail.
The coyote is usually tan with black and orange highlights. Coyotes have large pointed ears and with white interiors. Their snout is long, narrow and pointed with a white upper lip. Another reliable characteristic is a large bushy tail with a black tip.
Despite hundreds of years of government programs to eliminate the coyote it has thrived and in many places prospered. There is one habitat (if you can call it that) that the coyote has adapted to very well—the urban and suburban environment. This has lead to hundreds of coyote and human encounters, resulting in many questions about the coyote.
One question I am asked about the coyote is if they will attack people. I have never heard of a healthy coyote attacking a person. I would be much more afraid of a wild dog or a dog off a leash than a wild coyote. Another classic question I am asked is whether or not a coyote will attack a family pet like a house cat or small dog. Yes this is well documented and can be a concern. However your pet shouldn’t be left outside unattended anyway and certainly not allowed to run free where it may encounter a coyote.
Coyotes are sometimes called brush wolf or prairie wolf. These are slang names that in my opinion are very misleading because they are not a wolf. In fact most coyote and wolf encounters result in the wolf killing the coyote. The genus name Canis is Latin for “dog”. The species name latrans is also Latin and means “barking.” It is believe that the common name “coyote” comes from the Aztec word coyotl, which means “barking dog.”
Coyotes are intelligent and playful animals, much like the domestic dog. They hunt alone or in small groups. Their main foods are small mice, voles and shrews. Its large ears are used to hear these small mammals beneath snow or vegetation. It stands quietly over a spot, cocks its head back and forth to pinpoint prey and then pounces in one or two quick jumps.
Most coyote run with their tails down unlike dogs and wolves, which run with their tails level or upright. A fast runner, it can achieve 25-30 miles per hour with short spurts up to 40 mph. Some coyotes tracked with radio collars are known to travel more than 400 miles over several days. There are very few regions of this country that don’t have a healthy population of coyote.
Adults will court and mate in winter. They are often monogamous and remain with their mate for many years or for life if they are successful in breeding. Females dig a large underground den in late fall in preparation for the birth of her pups in late winter and early spring. Pups emerge from the den at 2-3 weeks and are weaned at 5-7 weeks. The den is abandoned once the pups leave but a good den can be used for several years in a row.
So don’t be surprised if you happen to see a coyote in your neighborhood. They are good neighbors and a thrill to see this wild dog. Until next time…