The coyote is abundant in most of the U.S. and Canada. They are one of the most adaptive animals that can be found. They have been heavily pursued and killed in many areas for years, but still a healthy population can be found. They are native to the western States, but have moved steadily eastward. As this move took place they crossed more and more with the domestic dog. This is the reason that, as a general rule, the farther east you go the larger the coyotes are. The coyotes here in Indiana average between 35 and 42 pounds. The coyote has been recorded running at 43 mph. I beleive that they can run faster than this for short distances. They have great endurance and know how to pace themselves when being pursued. I have seen them run for several miles before stopping. The coyote has readily adapted to urban life and to see one within city limits is not uncommon. I once read where someone estimated that there are at least 3,000 within the L.A. city limits. They can be found in all types of habitats ranging from large softwood forests to desert drylands. The coyote is mainly nocturnal in habits. It is not uncommon to see one during the day in the cold months. The coyote is a sociable animal and often travels in groups of two or more. The most that I have seen together is six. The coyote averages a life span of about six to eight years. One living in the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. lived to be 18 1/2 years old.
The coyote is mainly a scavenger, but will kill for food when the opportunity presents itself. Rabbits constitute about 30 percent of the coyote's diet. Other rodents that it feeds on include mice, groundhog, squirrel and moles. They will kill small deer, but this is uncommon. I saw where two coyotes chased an adult deer for quite a distance once and finally killed it on a frozen lake. Coyotes are not the stock and poultry killers that they are assumed to be. They will kill domestic animals from time to time. Usually, it is one problem animal that got up the courage to try it once and never quit. The coyote only kills to eat. The coyote catches smaller prey by pouncing on it and pinning it down with its paws or nose. The larger prey is usually ambushed from the front and bitten on the neck. If the prey runs, the coyote will pursue and bite anything that it can get a hold of. Coyotes breed in February and March and the pups are born 60 to 63 days later. Litters of 4 to 8 young are the norm. Litters of up to 19 have been verified. In areas with a low population coyotes will often mate for life. Once the pups have been born the male will help to find food for the female and pups. The pups are born in a den. Usually the coyote enlarges a groundhog hole or some other cavity in the ground, but will on occasion dig its own. These dens are used year after year. They are often found under old buildings and in bulldozed piles of timber. The family group may stay together for as long as a year.
I have hunted just about everything from ducks to caribou and I believe that the coyote is the most clever of them all. Just when you think that you have figured out all of their tricks and know which dogs to turn loose at what times to do the job, they prove you wrong. One of their favorite tricks is to take to water to mask the scent that they leave behind. We had two Plott Hounds on the trail of one and he ran across a frozen lake. I didn't think he would make it because the ice wasn't very thick. He made it, but the Plotts didn't. They fell through and we had to go out and get them. Another one is to provide the dogs with a diversion. What I mean by this is that they run out of their way to go somewhere that will cause the dogs problems. We have seen them run right through the middle of town and have even caught them on people's back porches. Once, I saw one run almost over the top of a newborn calf. Of course, it startled the old cow and she really gave the hounds a rough time when they came through. Many times I have seen them run through a herd of cattle or go through a pig lot. I have never seen this to verify it, but I have heard that coyotes will take over for each other and let the hounds run them for a while. This gives the other coyote time to rest. I do know that at night while the hounds are baying one coyote, others will come in very close and bark and howl to try to pull the hounds away. They truly are a tricky critter.
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