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| Medium-sized (40"-54" long, 18-30lb) canid that resembles a German shepherd. Their fur is long and coarse, and coloration is typically light gray on top with outhairs tipped with black. The backs of the ears are often reddish and the muzzle yellowish. The tail is colored like the back above, but is whitish below. The front legs are whitish, the outersides of the hind legs are reddish, the innersides are whitish, and the belly and the throat are white to pale gray. Coyotes are found throughout NA; they have exploited every piece of available habitat, and are very good at living near humans without humans knowing it. They prefer to live in brush country, along the edges of timber and farmlands. During most of the year they simply sleep on open ground, but they do create dens for the young. Home ranges of coyotes can be as much as 25-30miles. They hunt singly, im mated pairs, or as a family, but only occasionally as packs like wolves (they are not as social as wolves). Their distinctive howl is most common during mating season at dusk and dawn. They are mostly nocturnal but occasionally are seen about during the day. Coyotes eat other animals, primarily rabbits and mice, but will occasionally take a small or sickly deer, small birds, fruit or seeds. They commonly play with their food. Coyotes perform an important role in regulating the populations of small mammals. Finally, they are an important furbearer, and their pelt is often used to make coats. |
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