
Typical Coyote: scrawny little puppy. |
Coyotes (Canis
latrans)
are medium sized dogs with a long snout and a tail that is
bushier
than most domestic dogs. In the western deserts, they are usually tan
or reddish with some black above and white below. Coyotes run with
their tail held low behind their legs, which is in contrast to foxes
that runs with the tail held straight out. Coyote eyeshine is
greenish-gold. |

A well-fed Coyote in winter coat (Yucca
Mountain). |
Coyotes eat anything that doesn't run faster than they
do, but their diet mainly consists of ground
squirrels, rabbits, carrion (the meat of dead animals), and plant
matter. Their scats usually
contain a few bone fragments, hair, and berries, seeds, or grass. |

|
Coyotes are social creatures, usually living in packs.
They
often hunt socially, with members of the pack spreading out to scare up
a rabbit, and then individuals taking turns running the rabbit until it
is exhausted and caught. |
 |
Coyotes are subject to much legend and lore, but the
fierce nature
attributed to these little dogs is all hype (unless you are a ground
squirrel or rabbit). Coyotes do not attack people. While the singing of
a pack of coyotes brings
shutters to some people, I think the sound of a pack singing is one of
the most amazing wonders of
the desert. |

|
Photo at left (Desert
National Wildlife Range): Two
coyote scats on a dirt road. The actual size is about 4-inches long.
Coyotes eat as much meat as they can, so you can usually find fur and
bits of bone in the scat. Coyotes also eat lots of berries, so it is
not uncommon to find a scat full of juniper
berries or mesquite
beans. |
 |
Photo at left: Coyote and Kit
Fox tracks in a dusty dirt road. Coyote tracks are large
and oval,
while Kit Fox tracks are small and round. |

|
Photo at left (Red Rocks NCA):
Coyote den. Coyotes dig dens in the dirt. The entrance tunnel usually
is straight for a few feet, then curves to one side of the other. The
entrance always seems too small for a coyote, but they can fit in
amazingly small holes. |