The Ubiquitous Coyote

     There is a large woods behind our house that is home to all kinds of wildlife, but the other day while driving down a street that runs through the middle of the woods I saw a critter that at first I thought was just a scraggly dog. Upon reflection, I realized it could have been a coyote (pronounced either kai-yo-tee or kai-yote, depending on where you live). 

     I always thought these critters lived out west, but they are found all across continent, from Alaska down to Costa Rica, from California to Nova Scotia! So, we DO have at least one coyote living in the woods. That would explain the sudden disappearance of Elvis...a feral cat that I befriended. 

     The first question is, are they dangerous to humans? Attacks on humans are very rare, but they do happen and encounters with one should be taken seriously. If you encounter a coyote, make and keep eye contact and make some noise. Yell, wave your arms and throw something at it to get it to move away. If it doesn't, never turn and run; instead calmly back away. 

     Coyotes can run at speeds of 35-43 miles per hour and leap up to 12 feet. By comparison, Usain Bolt was clocked at 23.35 miles per hour and the average dog can only reach speeds of 15-20 miles per hour. 

     Coyotes are one of the most adaptable canines on the planet and their habitat includes sagebrush, woodlands, prairies, deserts, oak savannahs, subalpine forests, alpine meadows, open ponderosa pine forests, and temperate rain forests. 

     Given the right conditions coyotes can survive in proximity to areas that have been heavily impacted by humans and they can even survive among densely populated areas. They live anywhere there is abundant prey and areas of good cover such as woodlands and shrub lands...anywhere that provides cover for both them and their prey. 

     Coyotes are especially fond of hunting in what are known a ecotones...along edges where two different habitat types come together. 

     They like areas that include a wide variety of food sources that area available throughout the year. They are carnivores, meaning meat-eaters, but they are very flexible and will eat rabbits, small rodents, ground birds, fish, frogs, snakes, lizards, invertebrates, although not a preference it will eat the decaying flesh of dead animals, fruit and nuts. 

     City dwelling coyotes will scavenge garbage as well as eat small pets such as cats and small dogs. 

     Packs of coyotes have also been known to hunt and eat deer and moose. In other words, coyotes are willing to eat just about anything and their extremely keen senses of smell, hearing and eye sight enables them to find food. 

     Coyotes are elusive animals and even though there might be one living very near to you it can remain undetected. They make their dens in rocky crevices, logs, caves or the den of another animal. It usually doesn't dig its own den; it finds an abandoned den of a badger or a fox and enlarges it. 

     Coyotes are very vocal animal and they bark, growl, yip, whine and howl. It uses a long howl to let other members of the pack know where it is. Short barks warn of danger. Yips are their way of welcoming a member into the pack. Growls establish dominance, whining and whimpering when males and females are establishing bonds and high-pitched barks summon puppies.  

     The town of Nahant, Massachusetts has hired sharpshooters to get rid of these nuisance critter. Article