Coyotes By:Lucas Adler Adapted by: Sam Behrends

The Coyote  Grayish brown to grayish yellow on upper parts  Throat and belly are whitish.  The forelegs, sides of head, muzzle and feet are reddish brown  The tail, which is half the body length, is bottle shaped with a black tip  Is in the same family as fox’s and wolf’s  Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Species: latrans

Origin  Coyotes originated from southwest America.  Coyote means barking dog in Spanish.  Was only found West of the Mississippi until about 100 years ago.

Nutrition  Coyotes are versatile in their eating habits and eat just about anything  They prefer fresh meat, but they consume large amounts of carrion  Plants eaten include leaves of balsam fir and white cedar, sarsparilla, strawberry and apple.  Coyotes may take turns pursuing the deer until it tires, or they may drive it towards a hidden member of the pack.

Habitat  Coyotes are very adaptable and utilize a wide range of habitats including forests, clearcuts, farms and woodlots. They prefer habitats which do not contain wolves. Coyotes, because of their tolerance for human activities, can occasionally be seen near farm buildings and at the edge of towns.

History  In the 1900s they were generally found west of the Mississippi but small pockets lived in the east it wasn’t until 1919 that they were found in ohio and now fill all 88 counties. This is true for many states including Wisconsin which have coyotes in almost if not every county.

Behavior  Coyotes are less likely to form packs than are wolves. Hunting, which takes place around the den, is done individually, in pairs, or in family units depending on prey availability. Coyote ranges, which are usually defended only during denning season, may be as much as 19 km in diameter around the den and travel occurs along fixed routes or trails. Coyotes are essentially nocturnal but can occasionally be seen during daylight hours. Although the coyote is capable of digging its own burrow, it will often enlarge the burrow of a woodchuck or badger and use this as its den. Dens are used year after year.

Hunting  The sport harvest of coyotes has been relatively stable during the past 10 years, about 13,000 hunters taking an average of between 30,000 and 40,000 coyotes a year. Most of these animals are taken while "varmint calling," while hunting other game, or simply as opportunities arise. Formerly, trappers rivaled sport hunters in the number of coyotes taken, but the reported take of trapped coyotes during the past 10 years has averaged only a little more than 1,000 a year-a far cry from the yearly harvests of 10,000 or more coyotes reported in the late 1970s. Although some of this decline may be due to coyote population vagaries, the principal reason for this reduced take is undoubtedly a decline in trapping effort.

Reproduction  Coyotes have one breeding cycle every year.  Coyotes can breed at 20 months old.  Coyotes breed in late winter; following a 63- day gestation period, an average of 6 pups are born. Both parents, and occasionally nonbreeding offspring from previous years, help rear the young.

Health  Some of the diseases coyotes can get are Rabies, AHD or (Alveolar Hydatid Disease). Limes Disease from ticks and many others. These diseases can be cured but unless the coyote is in a zoo they are not given to them.

Relatives of the Coyote  Grey Wolf  Red Wolf  Jackals  Domestic Dogs  Dingoes

Coyote Facts  Also called the “desert wolf”  Ancient coyote was found in Nevada that was estimated to weigh over 1000 pounds and was 14 feet in length.

Work Cited  ro.org/coyotes.jpg ro.org/coyotes.jpg  ther_latrans.html ther_latrans.html  q=diseases+coyotes&qsrc =2&o=0&l=dir  /~r_lake/coyote.html /~r_lake/coyote.html  nessmag.com/issues/winte r2001/eat.html nessmag.com/issues/winte r2001/eat.html  _f/game_coyote.shtml