Coyote, (Canis latrans), also known as coyote or comb wolf, New World member of the canine family (Canidae) smaller and lighter than wolves. The coyote, whose name derives from the Aztec prairie wolf, is found from Alaska south into Central America, but especially in the Great Plains. Historically, the eastern border of its range was the Appalachians, but coyotes have expanded their range and can now be found throughout the United States and Canada.
Source: BBC Earth
Noted for their nightly calls and howls, coyotes are primarily nocturnal, running with their tails down and sometimes reaching speeds of 64 kilometers per hour (40 mph). Coyotes are extremely effective predators, and their senses are keen. They are visual predators in open areas, but they mainly use their sense of smell and hearing to locate prey in thick vegetation or forests. In the northern parts of its range, coyotes mainly rely on hares and white-tailed deer for prey. A single coyote can capture an adult deer, especially in deep snow. Coyotes take down deer by biting repeatedly on the hind and hind legs, eventually killing is accomplished with a suffocating bite to the throat. In the fall and early winter, coyotes often hunt in pairs or in packs, and the success of a pack increases with its size. Larger packs usually hunt larger animals, though they will catch and eat whatever prey they encounter. Grasslands also eat meat. Wherever or whenever prey is unavailable or difficult to find, coyotes eat large amounts of wild berries and berries. In doing so, they can become much thinner. In the northeast, coyotes are fatter in winter, while deer are easier to catch in late summer.
Coyotes compete with a number of other carnivores, especially in the northeast, where coyotes were previously absent. The lynx and lynx compete for the same food (hare and rabbit), and the success of each of these predators depends on the context. The lynx is better at catching hares in white snow, while coyotes hunt in areas with less snow accumulation, where travel is easier. The coyote also competes with the red fox, which it kills on encounter. For this reason, areas with a high concentration of coyotes tend to have fewer red foxes. Occasionally, larger animals such as wolves or cougars prey on coyotes.
Coyotes mate from January to March, and the females usually give birth to four to seven pups after 58–65 days of gestation. Births take place in an underground burrow, usually a hole dug by honey badgers or by parent coyotes. Most nests are located on a hillside with good drainage (to prevent flooding during storms) and a view that allows parents to look around for danger. The young are born blind and helpless, but, after two to three weeks, the pups begin to come out of their burrows to play. Weaning occurs at five to seven weeks, and both parents feed and care for the pups until they are fully grown and independent, usually at six to nine months of age. The babies usually disperse in the fall, but some older siblings will help raise the smaller cubs, and family groups can stay together and form flocks throughout the winter.
Coyotes are territorial and both members of a breeding pair defend their territory against other coyotes. Territories are marked with urine and feces, and it is believed that howls can be used to signify the occupation of a territory. The size of coyote territory varies between habitats and also depends on prey abundance. However, most territories are between 10 and 40 square kilometers (4 to 15 square miles).
Coyotes can live up to 21 years or more in captivity, but in the wild, some animals live longer than 6 to 8 years. Most deaths today are caused by humans, whether from animal fur, from managing domestic or game animals, or from collisions with vehicles. In the wild, infectious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, dog bites, and rabies are perhaps the most common causes of death. Mange is easily detected, as infected coyotes begin shedding hair on parts of their bodies, usually starting on the tail and flanks. They can eventually die from exposure when the weather turns cold.
An intelligent animal known for its cunning and agility, coyotes have long been persecuted because they feed on domesticated or wild animals. Until the mid-20th century, many states paid coyote bonuses. Coyotes near farms often raise livestock, especially sheep. They can also cause damage to ripe watermelon fields, mold and other marketable fruits. Coyotes near cities have been known to kill and eat livestock left outside overnight. There are several reported cases of attacks on humans, including at least one death. However, such events are extremely rare and often occur when coyotes are no longer afraid of humans, such as near suburban areas. Coyotes are generally afraid and avoid humans, but they have a good habit of human presence in parks and cities and are found frequently in urban areas such as Chicago and Los Angeles.
The wolf population in the early 21st century was larger than ever in North America, a powerful testament to the canine’s ability to adapt and thrive in man-made landscapes. Despite constant hunting, poisoning and other control measures in some localities, the coyote persists and its future seems assured. Indeed, biologists’ management of coyotes is more concerned with their abundance than their rarity. Coyotes cross easily with domestic dogs (Canis lupus Familris); females are called coydogs.
