One of the most adaptable mammals in the Western Hemisphere. As wolves were extirpated and forests cleared, coyotes filled the void and now inhabit every U.S. state except Hawaii — including the heart of major cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The coyote is a species of canine also known as the American jackal, prairie wolf, and brush wolf. It is native to North America, and it is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia but the coyote is generally larger.
Source: Wikipedia — Coyote Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Long pointed muzzle, large erect ears, bushy tail held down.
Similar species. Gray Wolf. Red Fox (smaller).
Voice. Group yip-howl chorus.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Omnivorous: small mammals, deer fawns, birds, fruits.
Behavior. Most adaptable canid in North America.
§ Range
Throughout North America; range expanded dramatically into the eastern US since 1900
§ Habitat
Nearly any habitat: deserts, grasslands, forests, suburbs, cities
§ Threats
Persecution (millions killed annually as "varmints"), vehicle strikes, rodenticide secondary poisoning, mange.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the coyote is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Don't feed coyotes — keep food and pet bowls inside. Use bear-proof trash bins. Support coexistence over lethal control.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Coyote
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Canis latrans
- IUCN Red List · taxon 3745
- iNaturalist · taxon 42058
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Canis latrans
§ Sources cited
- Urban Coyote Research Project
- Project Coyote
- National Geographic
- IUCN Red List 2018
