Coyote

NPS/ Jane Gamble

Scientific Name

Canis latrans

Identification

• 25-35 lbs
• Have long, coarse fur that is a grizzled gray color.
• Also identifiable by their large, bushy tails and long, tall ears

Range and Habitat

Historically, coyotes only ranged from west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean and from central Canada to central America. From 1900 to today, coyotes have expanded their range and colonized new regions. Now, they exist in every state in the United States except Hawaii and are found as far north as the Arctic.

In the Great Plains, coyotes can thrive in many different habitats. Almost any place with a good supply of small prey can support coyotes, so the Missouri River corridor certainly provides this for these predators.

 

NE Game and Parks Commission

Diet

Their diet consists of small mammals such as rabbits and rodents. Coyotes also eat fish, frogs, insects, snakes, deer, and will even eat fruit and grass.

Fun Facts

• Coyotes are social animal and form "family groups"
• They are known by several other names such as prairie wolf, brush wolf, and American jackal. In many western states, they are referred to simply as "dogs."
• Coyotes are fast and can hit speeds up to 40 miles per hour.
• Coyotes are the state mammal of South Dakota.

 

Learn About More Mammals!