Coyote, Canis latrans

Coyote, Canis latrans. Photographs taken within the rocky shoreline of the greater Bahía de los Ángeles area, Baja California, January 2014. Photograph courtesy of George Flicker, Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California. Identification courtesy of Mary & George Flicker, Bahía de los Ángeles.

Coyote, Canis latrans. Photographs taken early morning along the barrier island Isla Magdalena, Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Baja California Sur, August 2018.

Coyote, Canis latrans. Photographed within the confines of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona, February, 2022.

The Coyote, Canis latrans, is a member of the Canidae family of dog-like carnivorans referred to as Canid or Dogs or canid, which has three subfamilies, Caninae and the extinct Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae. The Canidae family consists of thirty-seven members placed in fourteen genera. There are eight global species in the Canis genus. The Coyote is also known as the Prairie Wolf or Brush Wolf and in Mexico as El Coyote.

Coyotes have long, slender legs, a bushy tail with a black tip, and ears that are held erect. Their fur is long and coarse and their color varies between individuals, however, all coats consist of shades of black, brown, gray, yellow, rust, and tan. Their underside is typically whitish in color. Their eyes are yellow with black, round pupils and their muzzles are long and narrow. Unlike their dog cousins, Coyotes have shorter tails that are carried low, almost dragging on the ground, when they walk and run. They stand about 61 cm (2 feet 0 inches) at the shoulder and are 1.0 m (3 feet 3 inches) to 1.3 meters (4 feet 3 inches) in length, including their 30 cm (12 inches) to 40 cm (16 inches) tail. They weigh between 9 kg (20 lbs and 23 kgs (50 lbs), with the males weighing slightly more than the females. 

Coyotes are monogamous and typically mate for life. In addition to monogamy, coyotes have been known to engage in den-sharing, where two females contribute pups to a “double litter”. In den-sharing, two mated pairs may or may not interbreed to produce the double-litter.  Females give birth to 4 to 7 pups after a gestation period of 58 to 65 days. Their young are born in an underground burrow, usually a hole dug by badgers or the parent coyotes. Dens are typically on hillsides with good drainage, to avoid flooding during rainstorms, and where there is clear visibility for the parents to watch their surroundings for danger. Young pups are precocial, being born blind and helpless, and after 2 to 3 weeks they emerge from their den to play. Pups are weaned after 5 to 7 weeks, and both parents feed and care for them until they are fully grown and independent, usually at 6 to 9 months of age. Both male and female Coyotes reach sexual maturity between 9 to 12 months of age. Juveniles typically disperse in the fall, however, some older siblings will help raise younger offspring. Family groups may remain together and form packs during the winter. Coyotes are highly territorial and both members of a breeding pair defend their territory against other Coyotes. Territories are marked with urine and feces, and it is believed that howling may also serve as an indication that a territory is occupied. The size of a territory varies among habitats and depends on the abundance of prey, although most territories range from 10 to 40 square kilometers (4 to 15 square miles). Coyotes may live up to 21 years or more in captivity and 6 to 8 years in the wild. Most deaths are currently caused by humans, whether for their fur, for management of domestic game animals, or because of collisions with vehicles. In the wild, infectious diseases such as mange, canine distemper, and rabies are likely the most common causes of death. 

Coyotes are primarily nocturnal and are known for their nightly serenades of yaps and howls. They are extremely efficient hunters, strong swimmers, and can run up to 64 kilometers (40 miles) per hour. They have keen senses and are visual predators in open areas, while they primarily rely on their smell and hearing to locate prey in dense vegetation or forest. In the northern parts of their range, Coyotes heavily rely on the Snowshoe Hare and White-tailed Deer as prey. A single adult Coyote is able to capture an adult deer, especially in deep snow, by repeatedly biting at the deer’s back legs and hindquarters. The kill is finally made with a choking bite to the throat. In fall and early winter, Coyotes often hunt in pairs or packs, and the success of a pack increases with its size. Larger packs typically hunt larger animals, however, they will capture and consume whatever prey they encounter. When prey is difficult to obtain, Coyotes will eat large quantities of wild berries and fruits. In doing so, they may become much leaner. Coyotes compete with several other carnivore species, especially in the northeast portion of their range. Lynx and Bobcats compete for hares and rabbits, and the success of each predator depends on the environment. Lynx are better at catching prey in powdery snow, while Coyotes hunt in areas with less snow accumulation. Coyotes also compete with the Red Fox, which they will kill upon encountering. Thus, areas with high Coyote densities often have few Red Foxes. Occasionally, larger animals such as Wolves or Cougars prey on Coyotes.

From a conservation perspective, the Coyote is considered to be of Least Concern with wide and and an increasing range, abundance with an ability to exploit human modified environments. No major threats have been identified throughout their range. Hybridization with wolves and dogs have been documented, but likely occurs along the leading edge of expanding populations. Their recent expansion into eastern Panama has been attributed to their use of deforested areas and areas used for cattle ranching. Coyotes in suburban areas are adept at exploiting human-made food resources and will readily consume pet food or other human-related items. Coyote fur is still sought by trappers, and harvest levels depend upon fur prices, local and state regulations, and traditional uses and practices. Some furs are also sold internationally to countries such as Russia and China.