Coyote

Canis latrans

Population, Conservation Status, Threats:

Coyotes are considered least concern by the IUCN. Their primary threats are conflict with humans - death from collisions, hunting, and poaching. Coyotes can pose a threat to livestock, motivating farmers and ranchers to kill them.

Physical Description:

Coyotes are medium-sized canines, with large ears, long bushy tails, and long legs. Their coloration ranges from gray to reddish tan. They can be distinguished from other North American canids by the way they hold their tails while running - down, instead of up like wolves and dogs or out like foxes.

Overall coyote range from canids.org. Coyotes are widespread across North America, ranging from Mexico into Canada and spanning the entire width of the United States from coast to coast.

Habitat:

Coyotes are capable of living in a wide variety of habitats, including urban and suburban landscapes. They can primarily be found in open plains and grassland.

Behavior:

Coyotes generally form small family groups consisting of the father, mother, and pups. Unrelated groups will occasionally band together in larger packs in order to hunt prey that they would not be able to take down on their own, such as deer or elk. Coyotes have also been observed "teaming up" with American badgers in order to hunt burrowing animals. The badger flushes out the prey and the coyote, waiting aboveground, catches it.

Diet:

Coyotes are opportunistic animals, and while primarily carnivorous, will eat fruits, nuts, and even grasses when necessary. Scavenging is not uncommon, nor is eating human garbage. Fresh prey is preferred - individual coyotes will hunt small birds and mammals, while packs target larger prey like deer.

Reproduction:

Female coyotes mate with only one male each breeding season, and will often stay with him for multiple years and raise multiple litters with him, though they do not necessarily mate for life. An average of six pups are born per litter. Male pups leave their family pack at around 6 to 9 months, but female pups are more likely to stay with their pack and help raise next year's young.

Associated Species:

Rabbits and other small rodents are common prey for coyotes. American badgers are present across much of their range and sometimes engage in a mutualistic group hunting strategy with individual coyotes. Where coyote range overlaps with that of gray wolves, wolves pose a threat to coyotes and may predate upon them.

Illustration by Willow Sedam

Sources: https://www.canids.org/species/view/PREKJA587951, https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/coyote.htm, https://www.wtamu.edu/~rmatlack/Mammalogy/Species_accounts_2003/Canis_latrans_account.htm

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