The coyote is the most common and widespread native North American relative of the dog. An animal known for its swiftness and cunning, the coyote has also been called prairie wolf, brush wolf, and little wolf. The name coyote is taken from the word coyotl in the Aztec language. Where coyotes liveBefore the coming of settlers from the Old World, coyotes lived mostly in the grasslands of the western part of North America. The image of the howling coyote with its head upraised, silhouetted against the moon, has come to symbolize the Wild West. In recent times coyotes have moved into all regions of the continental United States, probably because few wolves remain to prey upon them or compete with them for food. Physical characteristicsThe coyote is smaller than the wolf. Most adults weigh 20–40 pounds (9–18 kilograms), stand 24 inches (60 centimeters) at the shoulder, and measure 48–60 inches (122–152 centimeters) nose to tail. Males tend to be larger than females. The coat is typically long and full and may make the animal appear to be larger than it really is. Colors vary, but most animals are grayish brown, with whitish underparts and a bushy tail with a black tip. Captive coyotes have lived 18 years or more, but life expectancy is much shorter in the wild. BehaviorWhen a coyote howls it is usually proclaiming its territory to other coyotes. Coyotes can be active at any time of the day or night, but are most often seen in the hours of dusk or dawn. Coyotes are predators capable of hunting alone, with a mate, or in a pack. Coyotes can hunt by stealth but are also capable of rapid pursuit. With a top speed of 40 miles (64 kilometers) per hour they are one of North America's fastest land animals. The coyote's diet is typically based on rodents, rabbits, and hares, but packs may pursue larger prey, including sheep. In addition to live prey, coyotes also feed on carcasses of dead animals. Sometimes they eat plants as well. Life cycleThe basic social unit of the coyote is the breeding pair. Pairs sometimes stay together for life. Mating takes place in the winter. Two months later a litter of about six pups is born in a den. The den is usually a burrow in the ground. The newborn pups are blind and helpless, just like the puppies of a domestic dog. Their parents feed them and soon teach them to hunt. Sometimes full-grown pups will stay with their parents and help with the care of the next year's litter. An individual leaving home may have to travel a long distance before it can establish its own territory. Other issuesCoyotes have proved that they are adaptable by expanding their range in the face of persistent attacks by humans. Individuals frequently turn up in populated areas, even in the largest cities. Coyotes will mate readily with domestic dogs, producing hybrid offspring called coydogs. |