Living With Wildlife in Coyote Country (Page 2 of 2)
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The name "coyote" (Canis latrans) is derived from the Aztec word coyotl. They are found throughout the United States (except Hawaii) and in most of Canada. Prior to 1900, coyotes were restricted to areas west of the Mississippi in the United States and the west of Ontario’s Lake Nipigon in Canada.
The coyote is a member of the Canid family that includes both wolves and domestic dogs.
The coyote’s success is attributed to the decline of wolf populations and the coyote’s own ability to adapt. Coyotes have adjusted very well to human-disturbed environments, and now thrive in close proximity to people.
Coyotes are opportunistic hunters, They prey on small mammals, domestic pets, livestock, and domestic fowl but will readily eat carrion and plants. A coyote will adjust its diet depending on the food that is available.
In Colorado, coyotes are classified as a game species and may be taken year-round with either a small game or a furbearer license. Landowners may kill coyotes, without a license, on their land if the coyotes threaten their property or livestock.
Coyotes range in color from near black to off-white. Coyotes in the southwest deserts are the smallest and the lightest in color, whereas those in the northern forests are the largest and darkest. Colorado coyotes are usually rust colored with white or gray throat and belly.
Like other predators, coyotes vary in size. The males are larger than the females. The average size of a coyote is 37 inches long and 18 inches high. Their weight varies from 20 to 50 pounds.
The coyote is distinguished by its long narrow snout, pointed ears and general dog-like appearance.
Coyote tracks are very similar to other members of the dog family. Imprints show four toes and toe nails; front tracks are larger than the rear. The front tracks are two to three inches long and two inches wide. Rear tracks are two inches long and one and one-half inches wide.
Their scat is variable in size and consistency, depending on diet. It often contains hair, berries, bone fragments and seeds. You are likely to find droppings along trails, atop knolls, near boulders, or prominent tufts of grass.
Coyotes may be the most vocal of all land mammals. Although most people are familiar with the coyotes howl, the animal actually has a language which incorporates a variety of sounds. They have long clear calls in addition to barks and yips. Their vocalizations are designed to bring individuals together or let other coyotes know their location.
The coyotes range has expanded over the last century. They are found in all habitats, ranging from grassland and deserts to urban areas and mountains. Coyotes are common in areas where rabbits, mice and gophers live. These may include lush range-lands or overgrazed pastures.
In order to provide shelter for their pups, coyotes den in a wide variety of places, including brush-covered slopes, steep banks, rock ledges, thickets, and hollow logs. They will also dig their own burrows, or use abandoned dens of other animals.
Coyotes may travel alone, in pairs, or small groups. One factor that seems to affect coyote sociability is prey size. In populations where the major prey items are small rodents, coyotes tend to be solitary. In populations where large animals, like deer, are available, large groups of coyotes are formed. Coyotes tend to be more social during winter, when carrion is a very important food source. (Large groups have better chances of finding food.)
Females generally have a home range of a few square miles; males wander over larger areas.
They are generally nocturnal and sometimes diurnal (active both day and night). When coyotes are in close association with man with no disturbances (trapping or hunting), they are less timid and are frequently seen during the day.
Coyotes have excellent senses of hearing and smell and are very "clever" predators. They have been known to kill porcupines without being "quilled". They will also use teamwork to bring down prey.
- Coyotes typically pair for life. If one dies, the other will look for another mate.
- They are capable of breeding with, and will breed with, domestic dogs. Males are capable of breeding when they are less than one year old.
- Breeding occurs between January and March.
- Pups are born from April to mid May. The litter size is determined by local population density and food availability. More pups are born when there are low coyote densities and when food sources are abundant.
- The female prepares the den. The male assists in the raising of the young and initially supplies most of the food.
The pups are born blind and hairless. They begin eating meat at 8 weeks of age and start hunting between 8-12 weeks. The pups disperse between November and March. The family may hunt together temporarily in mid-winter but do not form true packs.
People should never approach pups or attempt to take them from a denning area. Even if you see pups unattended, their parents are usually just a short distance away. Adults rarely abandon their young.