Coyote : North Carolina wildlife profiles

Coyote North Carolina Wildlife Profiles Coyote (Corn's latrans) The coyote is named from the Aztec word, coyotl, which means “barking dog,” and is a familiar figure in many Native American stories. The coyote is native only in North America and has the widest range of all wild canines in this country. It is one of the most adaptable mammal on this continent. Description Coyotes in North Carolina resemble red wolves, but coyotes are smaller, have pointed and erect ears, and long slender snouts. Their long, bushy, black-tipped tail is usually carried pointing down. Color is typically dark gray but can range from blonde, red, to black. Coyotes may be mistaken for dogs or red wolves, and the exis¬ tence of hybrids, though uncommon, makes identification more confusing. The coyote has five toes on its front feet (including the dew claw that does not appear in tracks) and four toes on its hind feet. Its feet are smaller and narrower than an average dog with the same body size. History and Status Originally, coyotes inhabited the prairies and grasslands of the Great Plains. But as Europeans settled across North America, the subsequent landscape changes and elimination of wolves allowed coyotes to expand their range eastward. Despite extensive control attempts, coyotes have survived and expanded their range. When populations are reduced, the remaining coyotes respond by breeding at a younger age and producing larger Utter sizes with high pup survivorship, making their populations resiUent. For more information on this species, including status and any apphcable regulations, visit www.ncwildlife.org/coyote. Habitats & Habits Coyotes survive anywhere with food sources. Their habitat can range from agri¬ cultural fields to forests, to suburban and urban environments. They are adaptable in behavior and diet. Coyotes are ecologically valuable in keeping prey species, such as ro¬ dents and groundhogs, in check. Coyotes birth their young in dens. Although coyotes usually dig their own den, they some¬ times modify another animal’s den or a natural hole, such as under a rocky ledge, to suit their own needs. Photo by Allen Cameron The coyote is one of the most adaptable species on this continent. Range and Distribution At the time of European settlement, coyotes were found only in the Great Plains, but they have since expanded their range to most of North America and parts of Central America. Prior to the 1980s, coyotes in North Carolina were illegally imported for hunting. However, by the 1980s, coyotes started to move into western North Carolina from Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. Coyotes are now established statewide in North Carolina. A coyote’s home range varies from 2 to 25 miles, depending on season, habitat and food availability. A coyote's territory is usually 2 to 3 square miles. Coyotes actively defend their territory through howling, scent marking with urine, body displays, and confrontation. Coyotes have high dispersal rates and can travel over 100 miles. When a coyote or family group leaves or is removed, new coyotes usually move into the vacant terri¬ tory. This makes population estimation and control difficult. Range Map