Coyote Canis latrans Latrans means “barker”

Coyote General Description Often confused with the wolf SMALLER Usually weight: 20-40 lbs but record is 75 lbs Color Dull Yellow to gray Different han wolves because smaller. Skull is also different… narrower.. Molars are slightly different because coyote eat more vegetation than wolves. Coyote can’t open its moutha s wide as a wolf so cannot attack large animals.

Distribution HUGE DISTRIBUTION Arctic ocean to Mexico California to New York Arrived in AK in early 1900s Spread to NY by 1912 Southern alaska by 1899, moved into the interior a few years later… followed people

Coyote Range When food is available: 2-3 miles Hard times: 100 mile range

Habits/Behavior Team hunting Like to play Omnivore Tend to be monogamous Nocturnal Active at night Sometimes Diurnal Active during the day

Enemies Wolves Eat wolf leftovers Lynx Large, Domesticated Dogs Humans

Why are coyotes doing so well? Wolves killed off…. A new niche for coyote Highly adaptable Start producing more offspring if population is less. Can produce over 7 pups per couple.

But…. People don’t like the coyote Eats sheep Eats poultry Occasionally attacks people Attacks pets In 2008 killed 89,710 coyotes. Kill off the “dumb ones” so they keep getting better at avoiding death

Interesting facts Coy-dog coyote dog hybrid Wolf-coyote