The Life of a Coyote

Many people confuse coyotes with wolves especially the gray wolf. However, these are different animals in terms of appearance and traits though they belong to the same family- Canidae. They are slightly smaller than the gray wolf and have long, slender snouts, a bushy tail, and yellow eyes. An average male can weigh between 8 and 20 kg while the female is between 7 and 18 kg. The coyote has a great sense of smell and sight that comes in handy while sensing predators and hunting.



Biology and Lifecycle of the Coyote
Coyotes usually have their breeding season around February and March. Their gestation period is around three months, so the females are often found creating dens for their pups around April. An adult female can have between three and a dozen pups at a go. However, this number depends on where the animals live. For example, areas that have fewer coyotes are likely to have a higher number of pups than in areas with more coyotes.

When the pups are born, the female will stay with them for up to two weeks till they all open their eyes, while the male will be involved in hunting and bringing back the food. Usually, by around autumn, the pups are ready to start hunting and will begin mating at around two years old. The lifespan of a coyote is about 10 years in the wild, but they may go up to 18 years while in captivity such as zoos and parks.

They at times mate with dogs and have offspring called coydogs. These animals are not very common since their survival rate is low due to being born around winter and the fact that the males don’t assist in caring for the offspring.

Behavior and Diet
Coyotes by nature do not live in packs. They mark their territories so as to make other coyotes aware of their presence so that they may not approach.

Coyotes may form temporary packs when hunting so as to increase their chances of getting a kill. They are very fast animals going at about 63km/h. on full speed, so hunting is even easier when they are many. Since they are nocturnal animals, they hunt at night which is why you will hear a lot of howling and other distress calls at that time.

Although they are thought to be carnivorous animals, they are actually omnivores. They mostly feed on smaller mammals especially when they’re alone, but hunt bigger ones such as deer in packs. They also feed on reptiles, insects and wild fruits.

Habitat
Coyotes are found majorly in North America but also some southern parts such as Mexico. They live in the mountains, plains, and deserts but have also adapted to living close to human beings due to their encroachment in their natural habitat.

Although coyotes are not listed among the endangered animals, it is important to conserve them and prevent more encroachment in their habitat as this may lead to conflict. They are fascinating animals, and it would be great to have them for many years in the future.

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