Coyote Barking dog By: MB

Physical Features Legs are reddish Belly and throat are white Eyes are on front of head A mixture of gray, tan, brown, and black Pointy ears Long, black snout Sharp claws About 5 feet long including tail 15-50 pounds

Species Coyotes are members of the dog family The scientific name for coyote is Canis Latrans Coyotes are also known as “ghost dog”

Lifespan and Endangered They live 18 years in captivity Live up to 14 years (but most live 6 to 8 years) in the wild Not endangered

Habitat Lives in every environment, except under water. They can live in the any climate, even the tundra.

Landforms Mountains Prairies Foot hills Forests

Prey to and Predator of Prey to humans (because they hunt them for their fun) and some other animals, like bears and wolves Predator to small animals that pop out of burrows the animal is digging Predator of big animals like deer

Food Carnivore Will eat just about anything that doesn’t eat them first They eat birds, squirrels, rodents, and lots of other animals. They also eat berries.

Behavior Finds OTHER ANIMALS DENS ABANDONED or not. If not they will make their dens in rocky crevices, logs, or caves Jumps up to 14 feet (4 yards and 2 feet) Howls, barks, and yips They live in packs with other coyotes Nocturnal They can run up to 40 MPH Sometimes coyotes team up with badgers

Babies They can have 2-12 babies 6 is the average The babies stay with family for 2 years

Physical Adaptation Their fur keeps them warm in the winter Sharp teeth help bite into animals Long legs help them travel long distance

Behavioral Adaptation They hunt alone at night so they won’t be heard by their prey Howls and barks at night to let other coyotes know of danger Jumps up to 14 feet to pounce on its prey

Physiological Adaptation A very keen sense of sight, smell, and hearing to help them find their prey. They mostly rely on their hearing to find their prey Strong jaw help bite into animals

Fun Facts Coyotes were around in pre-historic times. Before these animals became extinct, the coyote watched the fearsome saber-toothed tigers, Native Americans, and wooly mammoths from a distance. Coyotes are one of the fastest dogs. The Native Americans thought the coyotes were a spirit that would protect them.