Fun Facts:
Coyote population numbers will stabilize at a certain level and adjust to produce offspring in higher or lower numbers to keep a stable population.
They can live up to 10 years in the wild.
Coyote can run up to 40 miles per hour, and jump up to 6 feet in the air!
Their territory sizes can range from 2-30 square miles depending on the habitat and location of other coyote nearby.
They are more vocal than any other North American mammal, with numerous calls, and some people affectionately refer to them as 'song dogs.'
They howl to share location and announce their territory to others.
Coyote are amazing swimmers but terrible at climbing.
They are omnivores. Coyote mostly eat small mammals, such as mice, squirrels, rats and rabbits. They will sometimes also consume birds, snakes, plants, fruit and insects. They prefer fresh meat but will eat a lot of carrion because it is more available to them regularly.
They are very intelligent and social, are devoted parents and form strong family bonds.
They can live up to 10 years in the wild.
Coyote can run up to 40 miles per hour, and jump up to 6 feet in the air!
Their territory sizes can range from 2-30 square miles depending on the habitat and location of other coyote nearby.
They are more vocal than any other North American mammal, with numerous calls, and some people affectionately refer to them as 'song dogs.'
They howl to share location and announce their territory to others.
Coyote are amazing swimmers but terrible at climbing.
They are omnivores. Coyote mostly eat small mammals, such as mice, squirrels, rats and rabbits. They will sometimes also consume birds, snakes, plants, fruit and insects. They prefer fresh meat but will eat a lot of carrion because it is more available to them regularly.
They are very intelligent and social, are devoted parents and form strong family bonds.
Benefits:
Coyotes keep small mammal populations in balance, such as mice and rabbits.
This is especially helpful in agriculture communities.
They also help keep disease transmission in check because of rodent control! They assist with lowering the spread of zoonotic diseases that are spread from rodents such as hantavirus.
Coyotes increase biodiversity due to being the top carnivore remaining in many areas, because they keep the "mesocarnivore" numbers in balance. (Mesocarnivores can be skunks, raccoons and foxes.)
This is especially helpful in agriculture communities.
They also help keep disease transmission in check because of rodent control! They assist with lowering the spread of zoonotic diseases that are spread from rodents such as hantavirus.
Coyotes increase biodiversity due to being the top carnivore remaining in many areas, because they keep the "mesocarnivore" numbers in balance. (Mesocarnivores can be skunks, raccoons and foxes.)
Challenges:
They can be a threat to poultry and some livestock.
Coyotes with young can feel threatening to humans because they might appear to "stalk" people when they are walking. However, they are most likely just keeping an eye on you, especially if you happen to be near their young.
They may kill small dogs that roam into their territory unleashed.
Coyotes with young can feel threatening to humans because they might appear to "stalk" people when they are walking. However, they are most likely just keeping an eye on you, especially if you happen to be near their young.
They may kill small dogs that roam into their territory unleashed.
Tips for living alongside them:
Coyotes are usually very afraid of people.
Keep garbage secure.
Haze coyotes in your yard by making loud noises and/or spraying them with a water hose.
Close off any crawl spaces that could provide a den for coyotes.
Keep pets on a leash outside.
Keep pet food inaccessible to coyotes.
Never feed coyote. A fed coyote is a dead coyote.
Do not run from a coyote. Stay calm and simply leave the area.
Install tall fencing in yards with known coyote activity nearby. (Check out the CoyoteRoller!)
Keep garbage secure.
Haze coyotes in your yard by making loud noises and/or spraying them with a water hose.
Close off any crawl spaces that could provide a den for coyotes.
Keep pets on a leash outside.
Keep pet food inaccessible to coyotes.
Never feed coyote. A fed coyote is a dead coyote.
Do not run from a coyote. Stay calm and simply leave the area.
Install tall fencing in yards with known coyote activity nearby. (Check out the CoyoteRoller!)
range and habitat
Coyotes live throughout North and Central America in forests, grasslands, deserts, and swamps.
sources
Fedriani, J. M., Fuller, T. K., Sauvajot, R. M. 2001. “Does Anthropogenic Food Enhance Densities of Omnivorous Mammals? An Example with Coyotes in Southern California”. Ecography. 24(3): 325-331.
Flores, D. (2016). Coyote America. Basic Books.
Learn about North America’s “Song Dog”: Empower yourself with science-based information. Project Coyote. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://projectcoyote.org/carnivores/coyote/
Watts, A., V.M. Lukasik, S.M. Alexander, and M.J. Fortin. 2015. “Urbanization, grassland, and diet influence coyote (Canis latrans) parasitism structure.” EcoHealth DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1040-5
Flores, D. (2016). Coyote America. Basic Books.
Learn about North America’s “Song Dog”: Empower yourself with science-based information. Project Coyote. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://projectcoyote.org/carnivores/coyote/
Watts, A., V.M. Lukasik, S.M. Alexander, and M.J. Fortin. 2015. “Urbanization, grassland, and diet influence coyote (Canis latrans) parasitism structure.” EcoHealth DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1040-5
