The coyote has grayish-brown to yellowish-brown fur on top and whitish fur on its underparts. It has large triangular ears on the top of its head and a long, narrow muzzle. It has a black nose, yellow eyes and a long, bushy tail. One way to tell the coyote apart from wolves and dogs is to watch its tail when it runs. The coyote runs with its tail down. Dogs run with their tails up and wolves run with their tails straight out.

Distribution

Coyotes are found in all parts of the United States, except for Hawaii. They are also found in Mexico, Central America and most of Canada.

Behavior

The coyote mates between February and April. The female may mate with more than one male. Two months after mating, the female gives birth to between one and nineteen pups. The average litter size is usually around six. The pups are born blind and with floppy ears. They open their eyes in about ten days. The pups begin to come out of their den when they are about three to four weeks old. They are weaned when they are about a month old. Once they are fully weaned, both parents feed the pups regurgitated food. Male pups will leave their mother when they are between six and nine months old. Female pups will stay with their mother's pack. Male and female coyotes pair off and mate together for several years.

Coyotes make their dens in rocky crevices, logs, caves or the dens of other animals. They usually don't dig their own den. They will find an abandoned den of a badger or a fox and enlarge it. <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->The coyote is a very vocal animals. It has a number of vocalizations including barks, growls, yips, whines and howls. It uses a long howl to let other members of the pack know where it is. It uses short barks to warn of danger. When a pack of coyotes is welcoming a member into the pack the coyotes yip. Other vocalizations include growls when establishing dominance, whining and whimpering when males and females are establishing bonds and high-pitched barks to summon puppies.

Diet

The coyote does most of its hunting alone and at night. It is carnivorous. Most of its diet is made up of mammals, but it also will eat birds and snakes. It prefers to eat fresh kill, but it will eat carrion. In the fall and winter, the coyote often eats fruits, vegetables and berries.

When hunting small prey like mice, the coyote will stand still with its legs stiff and then pounce on its prey. When hunting larger prey like deer, coyotes hunt in packs. One or more coyote will chase the deer while the others wait, then the next group will pick up the chase. Working in teams like this, the coyote can tire the deer out, making it easier to kill. Coyotes also often follow badgers and catch prey that pop out of burrows the badger is digging.

Habitat

Coyotes can be found in a variety of habitats including fields, plains and bushy areas.