Cagey Coyotes

I really enjoy my drive to work because I never know what I'm going to see.  I've encountered hawks, herons, Canadian geese, and wild turkeys on my commute through mainly residential neighborhoods.  Wednesday morning I had yet another surprise - a coyote sighting.  It was right before I turn onto a major highway.  I saw a coyote by the side of the road and it had just picked up something in its mouth.  Don't know if it was a mouse or rodent it had chased and killed or whether it was something in the road that was already dead.  But I got a clear view of it right before it turned around and went back into the trees.

Coyotes along with raccoons are one of the most adaptable species when it comes to surviving well in urban areas.  As wolves are driven out by human populations, the coyotes move in.  Researchers estimate that there are up to 2,000 coyotes living in the greater Chicago area and have determined that 'city' coyotes actually live longer than their wilder counterparts probably because their natural enemies aren't around!  More diurnal in less populated areas, urban coyotes are mostly nocturnal.  While small mammals such as mice, rabbits, squirrels, prairie dogs and birds are their natural prey, urban coyotes add cats and small dogs to the menu.  Even in more remote areas, fruit and vegetables are also part of their diet.  Coyotes will also eat carrion, but prefer fresh meat - who wouldn't!  Coyotes will also hunt sheep, goats, and cattle, if available. Coyote packs can also bring down larger prey such as deer and pack hunting is usually more prevalent in winter when other food is scarcer.  When hunting smaller prey, coyotes hunt alone.

Photo by Rebecca Richardson  Source:  Wikipedia

Coyotes have also been known to hunt cooperatively with badgers.  Badgers are good at digging burrows and getting at prey that is underground, while the coyote can run down faster prey that the badger isn't able to catch.  With this tag team hunting style, prey has little chance of escaping.

While it takes wolves two years to become fully grown, coyotes are adults and sexually mature in just one.  There is usually only one lactating female in a wolf pack, coyotes are a little more tolerant.  The average coyote litter size is six, but can be up to nineteen!

Source:  Wikipedia

Coyotes are very vocal and their communication consists of howls, yips, barks, whines and growls.  A long howl lets other members of the pack know where it is, short barks warn of danger.

Known as a 'trickster' in Native American lore, they are often featured in stories because of their cleverness.  Indeed, they are very good observational learners and their adaptability has increased their range from open prairies and deserts to every state in the union, as well as Canada and Central America.

 Photo by Michael S. Quinton  Source:  National Geographic

For a  video clip, click here.

Even though coyotes are becoming a 'pest' species, seeing one is still a thrill.  I wish I'd had a little bit longer look.