The Wily Coyote: American Predator, Varmint, Survivor
Posted: Friday, January 28, 2011
by Jack H. Schick
Eastern Coyote
I was surprised he hadn’t seen me. I was right out in the open, looking down over his left shoulder. I’d never seen a sitting coyote before. They are very alert and elusive. I usually saw them at a full run, them having seen me first. Raising my rifle I peered through the scope. Maybe he saw a movement, maybe he sensed the danger, but, almost magically, as soon as I trained my eye on him, he turned and looked straight at me. He seemed inquisitive, but not frightened. He obviously didn’t recognize me as one of his his mortal enemies, a man.
Coyotes are disdained varmints in Wyoming. They are fair game anytime. Hunters are encouraged to kill them. But, I was antelope hunting. There was a big buck over the next hill that would be spooked if I shot. I lowered my rifle and continued to watch him watching me. I’d gotten plenty of antelope over the years, but I'd never gotten a coyote--shot at a few, but never killed one. This might be my best chance, ever. I raised my rifle again. He’d pivoted slightly and was facing me now, still just sitting there. I put my cross hairs on his throat just below his chin, took a breath and slowly exhaled. My finger tightened on the trigger . . .
Canis latrans (Latin for “barking dog”), the prairie wolf, the American jackal, the coyote is the most wide spread predator/varmint in North America. There are nineteen coyote subspecies whose ranges extends from Panama to the most northern reaches of Canada. They are native to all forty-nine of the continental United States. They live in the most remote desert regions, in forested mountains, and in urban neighborhoods. They have been seen in the Alaskan tundra and in New York’s Central Park. Their familiar calling can be heard from the depths of Death Valley to the heart of the Everglades to the Pennsylvania woods.
Western Coyote
The name coyote is a Mexican/Spanish prostitution of the Nahuatl (Aztecan) language word, coyotl and is pronounced either “kai-oaty” or “kai-oat.” It is an exclusively American animal, which is thought to have ‘evolved’ in the New World during the Pleistocene epoch, about 1.81 million years ago. They were originally found only on the western half of the continent. When early humans began to exterminate the more dangerous wolves, the coyote--which does not co-inhabit well with wolves--moved in to fill the biological niches vacated by their larger cousins. The coyote responded unexpectedly to the pressure put on the species by modern humans. They flourished. They adapted their habits and expanded their native range.
Many coyote subspecies are only 85% to 90% pure. Their genes have been diluted by cross breeding with domestic dogs, and to some extent, with wolves, leading some biologists to, humorously, call the species “Canis soupus”-- a DNA mixed can of soup. “Coydogs,” combine the coyote’s predatory nature with a reduced fear of humans. They, consequently, have become a much more serious threat to livestock and pets and live comfortably in populated areas. There is less inter-breeding with wolves, but the “coywolf,” found most commonly in the eastern regions, is a larger and more aggressive animal.
A Coydog
The coyote has a great range in size, coloring and habits. They are fast animals, timed at up to 43 mph on a chase, and can jump over 13 feet. Averaging 32-34 inches long with a foot long, or more, tail, a fully grown coyote stands about two feet tall. Usually 45 pounds or less, the largest coyote on record weighed 74 ¾ pounds and was five feet long. Northern subspecies are larger than those in the south. Mountain animals are darker in color than those found in the desert areas. Originally a diurnal animal (sleeping at night), the species is now, most commonly, nocturnal, having been driven to the change by human persecution.
An opportunistic carnivore, the coyote feeds mostly on small mammals. Using their acute sense of smell they will locate rodents or rabbits, stalk them, and then pounce on them like a cat. Coyotes will also eat birds, snakes, lizards and large insects. They sometimes are able to kill larger game. They will feed on carrion, but prefer fresh meat. The coyote will resort to eating fruits and vegetables during the winter months or other times of scarcity. In more urban areas they will feed on human rubbish and pets. Some coyotes have been known to become, specifically, domestic cat hunters. In one instance coyotes killed off a feral cat population that “neighbors” were feeding then returned regularly to eat the cat food that was left out.
Desert Coyote
Coyotes do not form large packs like wolves. Though, they may be observed running in groups of half a dozen or more. The pack members are immediate family including yearlings and young. They usually hunt alone or in pairs. One animal will often chase the quarry toward where a partner lies in ambush. Coyotes are very persistent hunters. Observations show that the average deer hunt lasts about eight hours before the quarry is finally subdued. One recorded hunt lasted 21 hours. A pack of coyotes has been witnessed bringing down a weakened, but full grown elk, though this is rare.
Coyotes live an average of 10 years in the wild and about 18 years in captivity. Pups reach sexual maturity at about 12 months. Females go into heat between January and March. They mate once and remain monogamous for a couple of years with that mate. Gestation is between 60 and 63 days. Litters are between 1 and 19 pups. This large number makes up for the 50% to 70% mortality rate the species suffers. Pups average 250 grams at birth and remain blind and limp eared for about ten days. They leave the den for the first time at 2 to 3 weeks old. They are usually weaned by 35 days. Males ‘leave home’ at 6-9 months old while the females remain and form the nucleus of the pack. Unlike wolves, coyote alpha females will tolerate other lactating pack members.
Newborn Pup Coyote Litter
Despite being extensively hunted for sport and as a varmint by ranchers and farm owners, the coyote is one of a very few medium sized animals that has flourished and extended their range since human encroachment began. They are in the 'Least Concern' category on the wildlife conservation list. Coyotes take advantage of almost every niche in the ecosystem. Wildlife ecologists from Ohio State University did a study of coyotes in the Chicago metropolitan area between 2000 and 2007. They found that the urban animals live longer than their rural counterparts, eat rodents and small pets, and live anywhere from parks to industrial complexes. They have become very adept at avoiding human contact. There are an estimated 2,000 coyotes living in the greater Chicago area.
In April, 2007, a coyote nicknamed “Adrian” wandered into a Quizno’s restaurant at lunch time in the downtown Chicago Loop District. In 2006, “Hal” was captured after roaming around NYC Central Park for a few days. The Parks Commissioner called “Hal,” very adventurous and curious, and wondered which bridge or tunnel he’d used to get into the city. In February, 2010, three coyotes were seen on the Columbia University campus, and one was spotted in Central Park again.
Coyote livestock predation is perceived as an expensive threat. The U.S. Government shoots, poisons, or traps and kills about 90,000 coyotes each year, in addition to those killed by hunters and ranchers. It is estimated that 60.5% of the 224,000 U. S. sheep kills in 2004, were the responsibility of coyotes. Evidence that points to the varmint is the fact that dogs just kill the animals; coyotes consume at least part of the carcass. Coyote tracks are smaller and rounder than dogs' with the claws less prominent, and dog and coyote scat usually is not confused. Since the total sheep kills represent only 2.22% of the overall U.S. population, the loss to coyotes (~135,500 animals a year) is actually a very small percentage.
Coyote Killing a Sheep
Coyotes can be a problem in urban areas, too. There are 3-5 pets brought into the Animal Urgent Care hospital in south Orange County, California, each week wounded in a coyote attack. Most are dogs, since cats rarely survive the experience. Coyote attacks on humans are uncommon and rarely cause serious injury due to the relatively small size of the animal. There has been an increase in recent decades, however, as contact between the two species increases. Living in urban areas the coyotes lose fear of humans. In many places people intentionally feed them, considering them more like feral dogs than wild predators. In southern California there were 41 reported coyote attacks between 1988 and 1997, but 48 attacks between 1998 and 2003. There were two separate reported coyote attacks in Rye, NY, a NYC suburb, in June, 2010. The six and three year old girls were not seriously hurt, but were required to have rabies treatments, though there was no indication the animals were ill. There have been only two reported deaths from a coyote attack in North America. In 1981, toddler Kelly Keen of Glendale, CA, died at the hospital from blood loss and a broken neck. Ninteen year old Taylor Mitchell died in Nova Scotia from injuries he received in an attack by two coyotes while hiking the Skyline Trail in October, 2009.
Throughout American history, both in the aboriginal and European eras, the coyote has been considered a wily, elusive scoundrel who displays inventiveness, mischievousness and evasiveness. His eerie, haunting calls have raised hairs on the back of the neck of 'cavemen', cowboys, campers, Apaches and dudes. Our native North American canine is here to stay, chooses to not associate with us too closely, but appreciates everything we have done to encourage the survival of his species.
. . . I couldn’t believe the coyote had not yet moved. I held the cross hairs on his throat for a good ten seconds. He sort of reminded me of a dog I once had. I thought of that big antelope over the next ridge line, again. I’d be eating him for half the winter if I got him. A coyote kill would be just for bragging rights, and maybe a pelt on the wall. I hesitated for a few more seconds then, instead of pulling the trigger, I said in a loud, clear voice, “Bang! You’re dead!” In less than a second, he spun, darted and was gone, a bit wiser and more wily, I'd guess.
Wile E. Coyote
"Thanks for nothing, pal!"
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I was dreading the end, Jack! I'm so glad you didn't pull the trigger. Your article is fascinating, your photos are beautiful.Thanks for reading and commenting. I know how you feel, but I am an American hunter. I eat everything I kill. I do not violate game laws. I am a conservationist. I am not a trophy hunter. I have no heads on my wall. I would like to say I got a coyote, though. I cannot. I gave up my best chance. By the way, I didn't get the antelope, either. I missed him at about 500 yards.
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