Coyotes are a controversial subject, some people love them,
many people hate them, and a few people have no opinion on the animal what so
ever. I personally think that coyotes are beautiful and intelligent creatures,
but they can pose a potential hazard.
If you have pets and you live in a place where there are
coyotes, it’s best to keep them inside or keep them on a leash. I’ve seen a dog
get chased and bit by two coyotes while the dog owner was completely unaware
that their dog had wandered off and was being chased. My husband and I alerted
the owner who finally realized what was happening and called the dog to her,
and the dog was thankfully unharmed.
Coyotes can absolutely be a threat, they can bite joggers
and eat your pet cat, and can even carry rabies. However, if you play it smart
while living in coyote territory you may find you can appreciate coyotes for
what they are, and not for the hazard that they are so commonly perceived to
be.
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| The highly adaptable coyote! This photo was taken in February, during the mating season. Coyotes are mostly nocturnal, but can also be seen during the day. This is especially true during the breeding season, from February to March. People living in these houses should probably not let their cats outdoors. |
COYOTE FUN FACTS:
- Coyotes are members of the Canidae family, just like wolves, jackals and dogs
- Coyotes that live in the desert have lighter colored coats then coyotes who live in the mountains
- Coyotes are 32 to 37 inches from head to rump (not including tail) their tails are typically 16 inches long.
- Coyotes are highly adaptable, and can be found almost anywhere, to urban outskirts, plains, mountains, deserts and forests.
- They can be found from Canada to Central America and nearly everywhere in between.
- Coyotes often hunt by themselves rather than in packs. The saying ought to be “Lone Coyote” not “Lone wolf”
- It is becoming more common to see Coyotes closer and closer to humans, even in big cities like New York City or Los Angeles.
- Coyotes are omnivores, and they are NOT picky eaters. They eat everything from meat, such as small rodents, rabbit, fish, or even large game like deer, to insects, fruit and even grass. In urban areas or cities, they will eat pet food or garbage. Not picky eaters.
- In the winter, coyotes will form packs to become more efficient hunters.
- Coyotes are considered pests because they eat livestock and pets.
- Coyotes breed in the late winter/early spring, usually February to March. Females will build dens in preparation for their young, and have a gestation period of 63 days. They give birth in groups of three pups and can have up to 15 at a time. The average liter size however is 6 pups.
- Both parents take turns taking care of the pups. The male will also bring the female food and guard the den.
- Sometimes siblings from a previous liter will help care for the new pups. The male siblings help provide food for the mother and the young.
- The pups eyes remain closed for about 12 days, and begin to eat solid food at three weeks.
- The adolescent coyote will leave home alone or in small groups at six to nine months of age, from October to February. In some cases coyotes do not leave home their first year, instead staying with their parents to help raise the next liter.
- There are 19 subspecies of Coyote, three of which are in Colorado. This includes the plains coyote, which is found East of the Rockies, the mountain coyote which is found everywhere but the South Eastern corner, and the Mearns coyote which is found in the South western part of Colorado.
- Golf balls and flying cork tops hurt more people each year then coyotes.
- Most coyotes attacks occur by coyotes that have been fed by people, and very rarely are people bit by rabid coyotes.
- There are only two recorded instances of coyotes killing people in North America. One was a child in South California in the 1980’s, and the other was a 19-year old woman in Nova Scotia in 2009.
- n areas where coyotes are hunted, they are less likely to be active during the day
- Coyotes are vocal during dawn and dusk, and will sometimes respond to sirens during the day or night.
- If you see what looks like dog poop in the middle of a trail, it’s likely not from a dog with an inattentive owner, but from a coyote who is leaving its scat in a visible place for other coyotes to find. Using urination and scat are some weird ways that coyotes communicate with each other.
- A coyote can run as fast as 40 miles an hour, and hear a hunter approaching from a mile away.
- The main enemies of coyotes are bears, wolves and without a doubt, humans.
- Coyotes often mate for life.
STAY COYOTE SAFE
Arm yourself with knowledge! Coyotes are typically
nocturnal, but have been known to be active during the day as well. They tend
to be more active during the day during breeding season, which is from February
to March. That means that this time of year it’s best to keep a close eye on
your dogs when you walk them. It should be common sense, but if your dog
doesn’t immediately come when called, they probably shouldn’t be off leash. An
undisciplined dog off leash can lead to it harassing wildlife, which in certain
cases your dog will be shot on sight for, no questions asked. So, if you care
about your dog, especially during coyote breeding season, keep it on a leash.
Coyotes are often just protecting their territory, and a wandering dog will be
perceived as a threat.
Keep garbage in a tightly sealed container, where coyotes
cannot be tempted. You should also remove pet food and fallen fruit from fruit
trees.
Because coyotes can sometimes lose their fear of humans,
they have been known in certain cases to bite joggers. This one is harder to
avoid, but there are a few things you can do.
- If you normally see coyotes on your run or walk, avoid those areas during breeding season when coyotes are more active.
- Never approach coyotes. It doesn’t matter how cute it’s being, or if it looks like it might be someone’s pet and just wants to be petted. This is a wild animal, not a poodle. Do not pet the coyotes.
- In some areas preemptive measures have been made, called “coyote hazing”. This isn’t like what fraternities do to new members, but more of an attempt to teach coyotes that humans are in fact a threat and that they should avoid us. This is done by shouting at coyotes when you see them, or throwing things at them that won’t actually hurt the animal, just get the point across. Throwing a tennis ball is a good example, especially because coyotes are not trained to retrieve, it won’t think that you’re playing a game with it. If you’re in a pinch, throwing small rocks will be an effective reminder that humans are not harmless.
- If you see any strange behavior, including seeming disoriented or sick, and ESPECIALLY if they coyote is fearless of humans, report your sighting to animal control. A coyote seen in daytime does not automatically mean the coyote has rabies, as coyotes are not strictly nocturnal. You can also call 911 Wildlife if you see strange behaviors.
- NEVER EVER EVER EVER feed coyotes. It’s not cute, and it’s definitely not harmless. A coyote that associates people with food is a dangerous coyote, and if that doesn’t literally come back to bite you in the @$$ it will hurt someone else. Feeding a hungry looking coyote isn’t helping it you are only hurting it.
- Do not turn your back on a coyote, or run away from a coyote. Both of these actions suggest to the coyote that you are prey, and it may react accordingly.
- If you are with small children, keep yourself between them and the coyote.
- Keep in mind that coyotes are curious, and if one is following you it’s not simply being aggressive. Sometimes a coyote follows people simply out of curiosity or to keep you away from its den.
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| It's hard to see the coyote in this picture, but this was my first ever coyote sighting! We had lots of coyotes in Maine, but because of the thick New England forests I had never seen one until I moved to Colorado. This one is at Rabbit Mountain Open Space, and this is also the place where I saw a dog chased and bit by a coyote. Dog owners need to keep their pets on a leash in coyote territory, as the coyotes were only protecting their den from a perceived threat. |
RABIES:
Coyotes can carry rabies, although bites to humans from a
rabid coyote is rare. However, it is very important to get your pets vaccinated
against rabies, as rabies can be more problematic in areas where pets are not vaccinated.
ARE COYOTES ENDANGERED?
Coyotes are not at all endangered. It is thought that their
numbers have never been higher! Part of this may be because we nearly drove
their main competitor for food to near extinction, the wolf. Ranchers and
farmers have used population control methods from trapping to poisoning, but it
seems to have no effect on the growing coyote population.
NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE WILEY COYOTE
Native Americans respected the coyote for its intelligence,
stealth and voracious appetite. The view of the coyote varied from tribe to
tribe, in some cases they were viewed as wise and as a hero who helps and
teaches humans, in other tribes they were seen more as a trickster. In other
tribes the coyote was also seen as the representation of greed and arrogance.
Sometimes the coyote is all three of these things at once.
Coyotes are great adapters, and they are beautiful and
cunning creatures. Like it or not they are our wild neighbors and their numbers
are growing. So play it safe, keep your pets indoors unless under supervision
and report any strange behavior. Coyotes are beautiful but they are wild. They
are not pets and it is never ok to feed or approach them.
Enjoy them from a distance, and appreciate how amazing they
are!
SOURCES:
Animals Zone
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Douglas County Sherriff
The Human Society
Live Science
Native American Coyote Mythology
Smithsonian National Zoo
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/CCEG/news/coyotehybrid.cfm
911 Wildlife
http://www.911wildlife.com/animals/coyote/
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