Coyote Facts

The coyote is a wild canine found in North America that’s typically about the size of a medium-sized dog. There are many things you’ll want to know about this wily species that’s famous for its intelligence. So here are some of the most interesting coyote facts.  

The Coyote Is Sometimes Called The American Jackal

The coyote is often compared to the golden jackal of south-central Eurasia. Because the two play similar roles in their respective ecosystems, many zoologists, therefore, refer to the coyote as the American jackal. In the past, it was also sometimes called the prairie wolf or the brush wolf.

Male Coyotes Help Take Care Of The Young

Unlike domestic dogs, after pups are born both parents take an active role in their care. The male coyote will help to groom, guard and feed the pups. However, if something happens to the female and she goes missing before the pups have been fully weaned, he will abandon them.

There Are Nineteen Coyote Subspecies

One of the most surprising fun facts about coyotes is that there are actually nineteen recognized subspecies. These sixteen which are found in the United States, Mexico, and Canada include the: San Pedro Martir coyote, Mexican coyote, southeastern coyote, Durango coyote, northern coyote,  plains coyote, Tiburon Island coyote, mountain coyote, Lower Rio Grande Coyote, Mearns coyote, California valley coyote, peninsula coyote, Texas plains coyote, Colima coyote, northwest coast coyote, and northeastern coyote.

The Eastern Coyote Has Wolf DNA

One coyote sub-species, the eastern coyote, has been proven to be the result of coyotes inter-breeding with various wolf species. While the eastern coyote is larger than other coyote sub-species, it is smaller in size than the wolf.

Coyotes Can Live In A Wide Range Of Habitats

Among the most interesting facts about coyotes is simply how adaptable they are when it comes to habitat. They can live in just about any habitat in North America from forests, mountains, plains, and deserts, to areas with tropical climates. Surprisingly many even survive in urban areas as well.

Coyotes Can Interbreed With Other Species

While it’s not common, coyotes are known to mate and produce fertile offspring with wolves and feral dogs. However, when interbreeding with feral dogs the resulting pups (known as coydogs) have a low survival rate as male feral dogs do not help to take care of the litter.

Coyotes Are Fast

Coyotes have been clocked running at speeds of around forty miles per hour. Not only are they fast but they also have excellent endurance. This helps them to catch prey that might start out running faster than them but that tire out quickly such as jackrabbits.

Their Latin Name Means, “Barking Dog”

Canis latrans, which is the Latin name for the coyote translates to, “barking dog.” The reason for this is that coyotes are known for making a range of vocalizations, many of which are quite loud. These vocalizations are categorized into three groups: greeting, contact, and agonistic and alarm. They include bark howls, growls, whines, and yelps.

Coyotes Are Carnivores

The majority of the coyote diet consists of animal matter (mostly small mammals) however they are highly opportunistic and will eat a wide variety of foods including vegetables and berries. In areas where they live close to humans, they may eat trash and even pets such as cats and small dogs.

Coyotes Are Intelligent

Love them or hate them, one of the coyote facts that just about everyone that has encountered them can agree on is that these animals are smart. It’s for this reason that they’re often portrayed as a trickster in the folktales of many Native American tribes.