Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Educational Field Guide

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COYOTES What are coyotes? Coyotes are North American canids that are closely related to but smaller than gray wolves. They live in all 48 lower U.S. states, north across most of Canada and Alaska, and south through Central America as far as Panama. Coyotes’ former range only included the U.S. states west of Mississippi and east of the Rocky Mountains, north to Southern Canada and south to Northern Mexico. Both western settlers and wolf depletion (wolves are coyotes natural predators) have helped expand the coyotes’ range to where it is today. Jasa by Crystal Castellanos Coyote Quick Facts Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Species: C. latrans Group Name: Packs Diet: Omnivore Average Size (Adult Male): Stands under 2 feet tall at shoulders and measures 48-70 inches from nose to tail. Males are generally larger than females. Average Weight (Adult Male): 20-35 lbs. The largest coyote ever found was 75 pounds. Average Life Span: 5-6 years in the wild (but up to 11), and up to 15 years or longer in captivity. IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern Habitat & Territory: Where do coyotes live? Coyotes inhabit diverse landscapes including desert scrub, prairies, grasslands, foothills, woodlands, oak savannahs, subalpine forests, alpine meadows, open ponderosa pine forests, and temperate rainforests. They have adapted to living in suburban neighborhoods and even urban parks. A coyote’s natural territory ranges from half a mile to nearly 40 miles. Coyote Packs Coyotes live in pairs or small packs. Coyote packs are typically smaller and less permanent than wolf packs, with average pack size being around 6 coyotes. Pack Structure Like wolves, an alpha male and alpha female will lead a coyote pack. Posturing to show dominance and submission is similar to wolves. Reproduction Coyote litters average 4-6 pups, but can be as large as 9-12 pups or more if food is plentiful. Litter size depends on the local coyote population, and tends to be smaller where coyote populations are higher. Fig. 2: The coyote’s habitat range is in red. Fun Fact: Coyotes can reach speeds of 40 MPH. They amble at 13 MPH and trot at 16 MPH. They can roam anywhere from 3-7 miles per day. WSWS 7. Field Guide
COYOTES What is the coyote’s role in the ecosystem? Coyotes have a very important role in their ecosystem as predators. They help keep populations of mice, rabbits and other small animals in balance. They also prey on other predators such as raccoons and skunks, which benefits animals like birds, rodents, and other small animals. Gray wolves are the coyote’s main predator. Mountain lions and bears also prey on coyotes from time to time. Coyote pups are more vulnerable than adults, and can be preyed on by hawks, eagles, badgers, and even domestic dogs. Typically, only 1 in 5 coyotes live past their first year. Common Physical Characteristics EARS are broad and pointed. EYES are typically yellow. FACE Coyotes have narrow pointed faces and long, tapered muzzles. CHEST is narrow. TORSO Coyotes are smaller than wolves and tend to be more slender than dogs. LEGS are slender. FEET are relatively small, measuring 1.5 inches wide by 2.5 inches long. TAIL is long, bushy, and straight, usually black tipped with a black spot at the base of the tail. FUR ranges from grizzled gray to reddish gray, blonde or dark gray with a white or cream underside. Southwestern coyotes tend to be lighter colored than those in the Northeast. Common Behavioral Characteristics - Coyotes communicate through facial expressions, body language and sounds. They display dominance and submission much like other canids. Dominant postures include standing with stiff legs, an arched back, bared teeth, and hackles and tails raised. Submissive postures include looking away from dominant pack members, tucking the tail between the legs, and rolling over to expose their underside. - Coyotes solicit for play by bowing to the ground with their front legs outstretched like wolves and dogs. - Coyotes’ scientific name means “barking dog.” They make over a dozen unique sounds, including howls, yelps, yips, yodels, yaps, screams, wails, laughs, gurgles, growls, huffs and chuffs. - The coyote’s ability to make this cacophony of sounds allows one coyote to sound like three in the wild. What do coyotes eat? Coyotes are omnivores, which means they eat a varied diet of meat and vegetables. Like wolves, they are opportunists. They are known to eat rodents, cats, foxes, and other small predators. Coyotes sometimes prey on livestock including chickens, cattle and sheep on open pastures. However, when coyotes are left to themselves they rarely attack livestock. Biologists and environmentalists site evidence that campaigns to kill coyotes cause pack dynamic changes that lead to increased attacks on livestock, as well as increased rodent populations. Coyotes can eat up to almost one third of their body weight in a sitting and will then fast for days. They can also survive on 1 jackrabbit every 4-5 days if necessary. Hunting Coyotes use their keen eyesight and sharp senses of smell and hearing to hunt. When hunting small prey like mice, they typically hunt alone. When hunting jackrabbits or larger prey they hunt in pairs, taking turns chasing and herding the animal toward their partner in an ambush. Coyotes will work together as a pack to take down deer, elk and pronghorn antelope. Fun Fact: Like wolves and other wild canids, coyotes’ hearing is sharp. In the winter, they can hear mice moving through tunnels beneath the snow. WSWS 8. Field Guide
Page 1 and 2: Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary RESCUE,
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS What is Wild Spir
Page 5 and 6: What is Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary?
Page 7 and 8: GRAY WOLVES What is the gray wolf
Page 9: WOLF-DOGS What is the wolf-dog’s
Page 13 and 14: Can you find these words? Apex Pred
Page 15 and 16: AUSTRALIAN DINGOES What is the Aust
Page 17 and 18: NEW GUINEA SINGING DOGS What is the
Page 19 and 20: Red Foxes What is the red fox’s r
Page 21 and 22: wild New Guinea singing dog in 23 y
Page 24: Wild spirit wolf sanctuary 378 cand

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Educational Field Guide

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