| Class: | Mammalia |
| ||
| Order: | Carnivora | |||
| Family: | Canidae (dog family) including wolves, foxes | |||
| Genus: | Canis | |||
| Species: | latrans | |||
| Name/ History: |
Long considered by some a pest. Under a predator elimination program, coyotes were trapped in the park in the early days of animal management. Coyote is from the Aztec cord coyotl meaning barking dog. | |||
| Size: |
Male |
Female |
Young | |
| Weight (lbs) | 20-50 |
16-40 |
1-1.5 | |
| Height (ft) | 2 |
2 | ||
| Tail (in) | 5-6 | |||
| Mate: | January/February | |||
| Gestation: | 60-63 days | |||
| Birth: | April/May, eyes open 9-14 days, weaned 5-7 weeks, emerge from den 3 weeks. | |||
| # young: | 5-10 | |||
| Age: | 13-14 years, 18 years in captivity. | |||
| Habitat/ Range: | Prairies, open woodlands, brushy areas. Live in dens. Range from Alaska and Canada through most of the U.S. except for the Southeast and Northeast, into Mexico. Current research. | |||
| Food: | Extremely diverse - rodents, rabbits, berries. | |||
| Enemies: | Man | |||
| Disease: | Rabies, distemper | |||
| Communication: | Yap, howl to call young, socialize. | |||
| Behavior/ Characteristics: | Mostly nocturnal, scavenger, less social than wolves. Because of the coyote's extraordinary ability to adapt, its habitat and range is increasing. | |||
