Coyote - Canis latrans
Click picture for more information
NPS Photo by Tom Bean
|
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
Weight (lbs) |
Male
20-50
|
Female
16-40
|
Young
1-1.5
|
| Height (ft) |
2
|
2
|
|
| Tail (ft) |
2-3 |
| 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. |
| Predators |
Humans |
| 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. |
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