Coyote

Canis latrans

Appearance: Coyotes are smaller than gray wolves but larger than foxes. Their fur ranges in color from reddish to brown and yellowish to gray. They haveprominent ears, rust-colored legs, and a bushy tail with a black tip. Adults are generally three to four feet in length and weigh 20 to 40 pounds. They are often heard more than they are seen. Their high-pitched howls and barks are used to communicate their position, confirm hunting success, or to reinforce social bonds.

Range: Coyotes thrive in areas with a diversity of habitats including brushy country, ravines, thickets, and small woodlots. They are most active at night and can live alone, in pairs, or in loosely knit packs of non-breeding animals. Their only serious predator is humans, who hunt them with dogs and guns; however, they have been able to maintain their population numbers due to their high adaptability.

Diet: Most humans are fearful of predatory animals. Part of the stigma against coyotes is their occasional feeding on domestic poultry and livestock.  However, about three-fourths of their diet consists of rodents, rabbits, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels. They will also eat insects, fruits, berries, seeds, grasses, and dead animal matter.

Beatrice