The Coyote

There's just one species of coyote, but they vary in size, coloration and behavior depending on where they live. Coyotes in the Southwest tend to be smaller and lighter in color than in the Northeast. Their lighter coloration may help them blend in better with their surroundings and help them stay cool by reflecting more sunlight. Their smaller size- due partly to the fact that there's less food available in arid southwestern habitats- also helps them stay cooler.

Coyotes that live in the Southwest average from 20 to 25 pounds. They are under two feet tall at the shoulder and measures from 48 to 70 inches from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail. Males are generally larger and heavier than females.

For a short distance a Coyote can run 40 miles per hour, one of the fastest mammals in the U.S.

The average lifespan is about six years , many die as pups, research shows that only one in five survives past the first year.

Coyotes are opportunists, eating whatever is most abundant and easiest to get at the moment. Rabbits and rodents , small birds. They eat larger animals as well. In some places, deer make up an important part of their diet, especially in winter when other food is scarce. At those times, they often scavenge the remains of deer, moose, bison and elk that died from other causes. Other items on their menu fruits and vegetables. Berries like wild blueberries are summer favorites. For coyotes living where junipers grow, juniper berries can make up as much as 90 percent of their diet in late fall through early winter.

The scientific name for coyote, canis latrans means ,, barking dog" but one of their common names ,, song dog" might be more appropriate. Coyotes make more than a dozen different sounds, and often combine them to crate a symphony that sounds like howls, yelps, yips, screams, gurgles and laughs. In addition to all those calls, they also bark, usually as a warning when another animal threatens a den with pups.