Coyote Canis latrans Family: Wolves, Foxes, and Coyote (Canidae) Size: L 3-3.5' (0.9-1.1 m); T 12-15" (30.5-38 cm); H 2' (61 cm) Weight: 20-40 lb. (9-18 kg) Description: Tan fur with black-and-orange highlights. Large, pointed reddish-orange ears with white interior. Long, narrow snout with a white upper lip.
Long legs and bushy black-tipped tail. Origin/Age: native; 5-10 years Compare: Smaller than gray wolf (pg. 255) with larger ears and narrower pointed snout. Red fox (pg. 247) has black legs and a white-tipped tail. Habitat: urban, suburban, and rural areas, forests, fields, farms, highway rights-of-way Home: den, usually in a riverbank, hillside, under a rock or tree root, entrance 1-2' (30-61 cm) high, can be up to 30' (9.1 m) deep and ends in small chamber where female gives birth; female may dig own den or enlarge a fox or badger den Food: omnivore; small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, bird eggs, insects, fruit, carrion Sounds: barks like a dog, calls to others result in a chorus of high-pitched howling and yipping; sounds different from the lower, deeper call of the gray wolf, which rarely yips Breeding: midwinter to late winter mating; 63 days average gestation Young: 4-6 pups once per year in April or May; born with eyes closed Signs: cylindrical scat (shape is similar to that of domestic dog excrement), often containing fur and bones, along well-worn game trails, on prominent rocks, and at trail intersections Activity: nocturnal, crepuscular, diurnal; can be seen for several hours after sunrise as well as before sunset Tracks: forepaw 2.25" (5.
5 cm) long, round to slightly oval, hind paw slightly smaller; straight line of single tracks; hind paws fall near or directly onto fore prints (direct register) when walking, often obliterating the forepaw tracks; 12-15" (30.5-38 cm) stride when walking, 24-30" (61-76 cm) stride when running Stan's Notes: Sometimes called brush wolf or prairie wolf, even though this animal is obviously not a wolf. The genus name Canis is Latin for "dog." The species name latrans is also Latin and means "barking." It is believed that the common name "coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyotl, which means "barking dog." Frequently seen as a gluttonous outlaw, this animal is only guilty of being able to survive a rapidly changing environment and outright slaughter by humans. Intelligent and playful, much like the domestic dog. Hunts alone or in small groups.
Uses its large ears to hear small mammals beneath snow or vegetation. Stands over a spot, cocks its head back and forth to pinpoint prey, and then pounces. Will also chase larger prey such as rabbits. Most coyotes run with their tails down, unlike dogs and wolves, which run with their tails level to upright. A fast runner, it can travel 25-30 miles (40-48 km) per hour. May even reach 40 miles (64 km) per hour for short distances. Some coyotes tracked with radio collars are known to travel more than 400 miles (644 km) over several days. Often courts for 2-3 months before mating.
A monogamous animal, with mated pairs staying together for many years or for life. Pups emerge from the den at 2-3 weeks and are weaned at 5-7 weeks. Mother will move her pups from the den when she feels threatened. Mother often gets help raising young from other group members and her mate. Pups do not return to the den once they are able to survive on their own. Mother abandons the den once the pups leave and will often return year after year in spring to use the same den.