Species Name: Coyote (Canis latrans meaning Barking dog).

Length: 41" to 52".

Height: 23" to 36".

Weight: 20-40 lbs.

Lifespan: Average lifespan is anywhere from one to six years. Over half of coyote pups die within the first year. The oldest recorded wild coyote was 14½ years old. In captivity, coyotes have lived up to 18 years.

Description:Coyotes have a grizzled gray or reddish gray head, back and tail with lighter under parts. The tail has a black tip. They are easily distinguished from wolves by their size. While a typical male coyote will weigh between 24 and 35 pounds, male wolves weigh between 65 to 100 pounds. Coyotes that live at higher, forrested altitudes are darker in color than those that live in the desert, which tend to be a browner gray.

Diet: The coyote's diet consists mainly of mammals, but it is an opportunist and will feed on whatever food source is available. Rabbits, rodents, birds, amphibians, snails, fish and insects make up the most common food sources, but coyotes will also consume fruits such as berries, peaches, pears, apples, persimmons, watermelons, cantaloupes, and carrots.

Habitat: Coyotes are found in deserts, grasslands, forests and cities.

Range: Common in eastern and southern Alaska, western and southern Canada, all of the western United States and are extending their range into the entire United States.

Facts: Coyotes are fast on the feet with a speeds of 25-30 mph and can reach 40 mph for short distances. They are able to leap up to 14 feet. Tagged Coyotes have been known to travel 400 miles. The coyote is a good swimmer and will chase its prey into water to catch it if needed.

Breeding: Breeding occurs in February and into April. Coyotes often pair for several years and some even for life. Coyotes have from 1 to 19 pups which are born in an underground burrow.

Predators: Coyotes are prey for grizzly and black bears, mountain lions, and wolves. Today, because of declining populations, these predators are no longer a great threat. Man has become the main threat to coyotes since pelts have become increasing valuable. Even with trapping and poisoning, today's coyote population continues to grow and prosper.

References:

• National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals

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