Page 46 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

The Coyote, (Canis latrans = ‘barking dog’), is a medium sized New World carnivorous
mammal belonging to the genus Canis. There are a recognised 19 subspecies of Coyote. It shares
the genus with the wolf, jackal, and the wolves descendent, the domestic dog. The genus is a mem-
ber of the canid or dog family: Canidae. The coyote is found in Alaska, throughout Canada and
across the United States, with recent reports put-
ting it far south and beyond the Panama Canal
into Central America. Due to the vast and differ-
ent areas it resides its size can only be measured
as an average, which is around 50cm tall at the
shoulders, around 1.3 metres in length and
weighs about 20kg.

Although smaller, physically the Coyote
looks a lot like its close cousin the Grey Wolf.
There are of course differences; the ears of the
Coyote are tall and pointed and its snout is much
thinner, it also has a tendency always to carry its
tail pointing downward. The Grey Wolf when
running or hunting tends to carry its tail high and
erect. It’s the colour and texture of their fur coats
however, that truly sets them apart, with the Grey
Wolf having a more uniformed fur coat. The col-
our and texture of the Coyotes coat seems to be
dictated by its environment. For instance, the
Coyotes fur in the north is longer and denser than
those in the south, while those in Central America
can be quite bristly. Those living in mountainous
terrain have more black and grey coats, while those in desert terrains are whitish-grey. In general,
the Coyotes fur is long and coarse with dull yellow hairs mixed with grey and brown on the top and
surface and off white underneath. Its legs are a mat reddish colour and it
has a bushy black-tipped tail.

Coyotes are very sociable animals, they like to mix with others
and play. They spend a lot of time out in the open with other coyotes and
at night bed down in whatever cover is availa-
ble. They are also territorial, which they mark
with urine and feces. If no cubs are involved,
their defence of the territory is very loose, al-
lowing others to come and go as they please.
However, if the female becomes pregnant, they
construct a den, in any hole or crevice they can
find and both the male and female (Coyotes are monogamous) will vig-
orously defend their territory against interlopers. It’s believed, by some,
the loud howling they often resort to, is to warn off other coyotes.

Coyotes are omnivores, feeding primarily on meat but eating wild
berries and fruits when meat is scarce. They are solitary opportunistic
feeders, preying on any small animal that happens to come its way. They
will however, gather in a group or pack to hunt large ungulates, like
deer. Although they are often seen during the day, Coyotes are primarily
nocturnal, coming out only in the dark or twilight hours. This offers
them a certain amount of protection from predators, like pumas, but
most of all from humans who hunt them down ruthlessly. This public
dislike for Coyotes, is one of misunderstanding and fuelled by its nightly
hunting forays into built-up urban areas and preying on pets, left out
overnight by their owners. Coyotes will also prey on farm animals, which
motivate farmers to hunt them down and shoot them.