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| http://www.stpete.org/emergency/living_with_wildlife/coyote.php |
Coyote (Canis latrans)
Native to North America, coyotes are often found roaming through mountains, forests, plains, and deserts. Though, the coyote’s stunning adaptability combined with its loss of wild habitat, has caused this canid to take residence in urban communities across the United States. Coyotes are considered to be mesopredators, though many researchers believe them to be omnivores or generalists. They feed primarily on rodents, small animals such as rabbits, feral cats, and the fawns of various ungulate species. Coyotes also enjoy consuming vegetation, fruit, and insects. Though, as they have continued to move into more urban habitats, coyotes have developed a taste for discarded food and, at times, domestic pets.
Often and unfortunately mistaken for wolves (Canis lupus), Canis latrans typically have light colored coats that can be a mix of tans, greys, and blacks. Coyotes have erect and pointed ears. Their heads are rather long and their snouts are also distinctly pointed. Adult coyotes have a similar build to medium sized domestic dogs with weights ranging from about 25 to 45 lbs (11 to 20kg).
Known as America’s “Song Dogs”, coyotes produce a wide range of vocalizations. From short yips and barks to high pitched howls and calls, the coyote’s method of communication is something of magnificence. These canids are often solitary hunters, but have been known to hunt as small units. Similar to wolves and other canid species, coyotes form powerful family bonds, with both parents fiercely protecting their young and territories.
Coyotes are typically considered to be dangerous and intolerable pests throughout many communities. Unfortunately, they have been long relentlessly misunderstood and feared by humans. In most regions within the United States, it is legal to harvest coyotes year around, and they are often the main trophy in wildlife killing contests.
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