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The coyote is a member of the canidae (dog family), class of Mammalia and the order of carnivora. The genus is Canis and species is latrans. He is usually the same size as a medium dog and can pant as other members of the dog family. He often can not find or even dig a burrow large enough for him and during time of severe heat he must just endure. The ability to move air in and out of his lungs causes the evaporation to occur. Moisture forms on his tongue and mouth making him cooler. The body temperature lowers through this process of panting as the evaporation causes reduction.
The coyote will weigh almost fifty pounds, and has a height of almost twenty inches. The weight of the individual coyote will vary according to the food supply. His tail is bushy and he holds it downward. Coyotes living in very cold climates the fur becomes very long and thick. Coyotes can live well over ten years. Their diet consists of fruit, reptiles, small animals and other prey.
Studies have shown that it is not certain if the coyote remains with one mate for life. He does spend to keep the same mate for years. He will fight for the female of his choice, but the final decision is for the female as she does not always follow the strongest male. The partners will mate in the early months of the year with the gestation period being almost two months and births are usually in June. The female does not allow the male in her liar. She may give birth to ten pups, sometimes less. She builds a lair and burrows it at least thirty feet long but perhaps only a little over a foot wide.
The expectant mother will use the burrow of another animal if available. The mother will keep this burrow very clean and will make sure there are two exits in case she has a predator near at one end. Her puppies are born blind just as baby puppies are born. She will not stay in the lair until they are weeks old as she accompanies the male to find food. The parents keep a close watch on them even while hunting to avoid harm. She will move them to a better location if necessary. They nurse for about six weeks accompanied by supplements of regurgitated meals from their mother. When they are old enough she teaches them to catch various insects and as they grow she will teach them to hunt. The young learn to mark their own territory with the scent of their own urine. They eventually move further out to hunt, make a home and to find a mate. By the time the winter comes the young will know the area and be able to hunt on their own. Coyotes will stay in the same area if they can obtain enough food and preserve this territory for many years.
Coyotes will hunt alone at times and then in pairs. The coyote has excellent hearing so can easily tell when predators are approaching. He also has a very good sense of smell enabling him to detect predators and his prey. When the coyote is trying to capture prey one will get the attention of the prey and the other will come in for the kill so they have a joint operation in killing. Sometimes because of two hunting one coyote can get the attention of the larger animal such as the mother and then the other will take off the young. The coyote will also watch another smaller animal kill prey then when the work is over he will take the prey from him. For an example a smaller animal will be trying to kill a prairie dog and can not run fast but the coyote has the speed to get the animal. They will follow a herd of cattle in the hopes of finding small rodents that scurry from liars when cattle approach. They do much searching in bushes and area where small rodents, rabbits or other animals might dwell in the hopes of finding a meal. The coyote will kill with his bite and by pouncing on the prey.
Sometimes he just chases a prey until it can not run anymore and then pounces and bites to kill. The coyote will bite the throat on larger animals and drag them to the ground.
If you live in an area with woods nearby, at night you will hear the howl, cries, and yelps of the coyote. This animal can be very dangerous when hungry so use extreme caution. They will come in yards around homes looking for food and will kill family pets such as cats or dogs to obtain it. I would recommend not leaving your pet food out at night and to pick up any food from bowls that is not consumed during feeding time. He fears humans and is very afraid of them. If you visit a national park or an area where there are coyotes do not leave out food as they could harm you.
The coyote has many enemies. The eagle swoops down on the coyote as he can fly to high altitudes and then fly fast and kill quickly with his talons. Wolves, bears, and lynxes are also potential enemies of the coyote. A large animal can kick a coyote and injure it so bad that it dies. The coyote can roll in high grass until his fur looks greenish making a camouflage for himself when necessary. Man has been the worst enemy of the coyote with slaughter of those approaching cattle or farms. Sometimes this is protection for their animals but still some die from the sport of killing.
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