Unlike the hapless Wile E. Coyote of Looney Tunes fame, the real-life version is an intelligent and highly successful animal. Once associated with North America’s prairies and deserts, the coyote now turns up almost everywhere, even city streets, thanks to its remarkable ability to thrive alongside people.
Its appetite for rubbish and even pets can provoke a hostile response from its human neighbours, but this highly adaptable canid has more in common with us than we may like to admit.
What is a coyote?
The coyote (Canis latrans) is a medium-sized member of the family Canidae, which also includes wolves, foxes and domestic dogs. It is sometimes known as the prairie wolf or brush wolf, though it is not a wolf. Its scientific name is translated as ‘barking dog’, a fitting description for an animal famous for its barks, yips and wavering howls.
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Where does the coyote live?
The coyote lives throughout North America, from Alaska into Central America. Historically, it was found in open country, especially prairies and arid landscapes, but today it occupies a range of habitats, including forest, mountain, swamp, farmland, suburb and city. This expansion has been helped by human changes to the landscape, including forest clearance for agriculture and the removal of larger predators from some areas.
How big are coyotes
It is smaller than a wolf but larger than a fox. Size varies across the range but adults generally stand about 60cm at the shoulder and weigh somewhere between 10-20kg.
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What does the coyote look like?
Its coat colour also varies, but is often buff on top, with paler fur on the throat and belly, reddish tones on the legs and face, and black-tipped guard hairs along the back and tail. A slender muzzle, pointed ears and yellow eyes give the face an alert, watchful appearance.
What does the coyote eat?
The coyote is an opportunistic omnivore, though much of its diet is made up of mammals. It eats rodents, rabbits, hares, carrion and occasionally young deer or livestock, as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. It will also take fruit, berries and other plant material, especially when these are seasonally abundant.
In cities and suburbs, the coyote may exploit human-made food sources, including rubbish, pet food and, occasionally, pets. This ability to make a meal out of almost anything is one reason it thrives in so many different places.
Does it really hunt with badgers?
Surprisingly, yes. Coyotes and American badgers are sometimes seen hunting ground squirrels or prairie dogs together. The partnership works because each animal brings a different skill: the coyote can chase prey above ground, while the badger can dig after it below ground.
Is the coyote a pack animal?
Yes, though it doesn’t form the large packs commonly associated with wolves. The coyote tends to live in smaller family groups, consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring from current and sometimes previous years. Breeding pairs form long-term monogamous bonds and both parents help raise the young. Hunting, however, usually takes place alone or occasionally in loose pairs.
Packs can defend territories as large as 10 to 20km2, depending on the habitat and prey availability. It is thought that howling is used to signal their occupation of a territory, along with scent-marking prominent objects such as rocks, bushes and posts.
How does the coyote breed?
Coyotes usually breed once a year, between January and March. After a gestation of 58-65 days, the female gives birth in a den, often to about six cubs, though litter size can vary widely.
The young are born blind, with their eyes opening after about ten days. They begin to emerge from the den at two to three weeks old and are fed by both parents. Some young disperse later in the year, while others may remain with the family group for longer.
Can coyotes breed with wolves?
Yes. Ccoyote-wolf hybrids are now widespread in North America, having emerged in the last century. While they are very similar genetically, there are some key differences between coyotes and wolves, which are combined in this hybrid species.
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Is the coyote dangerous?
The coyote is naturally wary, and attacks on people are rare. Problems are more likely where coyotes lose their fear of humans, often because they have been fed intentionally or have learned to associate people with food. They can also pose a risk to domestic cats, small dogs, poultry and some livestock.
How fast are coyotes?
They can achieve speeds up to 65kph
How long do they live
Their average lifespan is up to 10 years in the wild
Is the coyote under threat?
No. The coyote is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and its population trend is increasing. There are no major range-wide threats to the species, and it occurs in many protected areas.
That does not mean its relationship with people is simple. Coyotes are trapped, hunted and controlled across much of their range, particularly where they are considered a threat to livestock or pets. Even so, few wild mammals have shown a greater ability to endure, adapt and move into the spaces we create.
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