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Coyote Superpowers

Urban Survivalist
They adapt effortlessly to city environments and thrive in diverse habitats.
 
Fascinating Facts
  • Coyotes are a species of canine closely related to the wolf.
  • Coyotes are smaller than wolves. Male coyotes can weigh up to 20 kg (44 lb) while
  • females weigh up to 18 kg (40 lb).
  • There are 19 different subspecies of coyote.
  • Coyotes are native to North America.
  • Coyotes are mostly carnivores, feeding on rabbits, birds, deer, reptiles, rodents and other creatures. They occasionally snack on fruit and vegetables too.
  • Coyotes are very vocal animals, using sounds such as barks, howls, yelps, growls and whines to communicate.
  • Coyotes are social animals that usually live as family packs.
  • Coyote pups open their eyes after around 10 days, walk by 20 days, and run after around 40 days.
  • Coyotes walk as far as 16 kilometres (10 miles) a day.
  • Coyotes are very good swimmers but poor climbers.
  • Coyotes are colorblind, mostly seeing in shades of gray.
  • Coyotes are extremely adaptable and use a wide range of habitats including forests, grasslands, deserts, and swamps. They are typically excluded from areas with wolves. Coyotes, because of their tolerance for human activities, also occur in suburban, agricultural, and urban settings.
  • Coyotes are active mostly at night and in the early morning and late evening hours but can occasionally be seen during daylight.
  • Although coyotes are capable of digging their own burrows, they often enlarge the burrow of a woodchuck or badger for use as a den. Dens are used for several years.
  • Coyotes are capable of running at speeds of up to 65 km/hr and they can jump distances of up to 4 m.
  • Coyotes, magpies, and crows will sometimes follow each other to find food. They don’t seem to fear or attack each other, but rather work together to get a good meal!
  • Coyotes are digitigrades, which means they walk on their toes.
  • Coyotes are monogamous animals – meaning they mate for life.
  • Coyotes can breed with wolves or domestic dogs.
  • The eastern coyote is sometimes called a coywolf or coydog because they interbred with wolves and dogs many generations ago, during coyote expansion across North America.
  • Average lifespan of the coyote in the wild is between 10 and 14 years. They can live up to 20 years in captivity.
  • Coyotes are associated with the character Coyote, which has an important place in the mythology and religion of multiple indigenous groups in North America. Coyote is typically a trickster figure, often attempting to manipulate other animals and beings.
  • Healthy coyotes do not attack humans and instead will stay away from us. They fear us naturally.
  • They are attracted to neighborhoods by food sources (pet food, trash, birdseed, fruit tree droppings, compost, dirty BBQ grills, and unfortunately, outside pets). It is our responsibility to keep these resources in check if we do not want coyotes roaming our neighborhoods.
Why They Are Important to the Planet
  • Coyotes help in keeping many small mammal populations in check, such as mice and rabbits. If populations of these small mammals were allowed to become too large it would result in habitat degradation.
  • Coyotes also hunt other animals that are known for harboring disease and parasites. Lyme disease is carried by rodents that infect ticks that feed off of deer. By moderating the deer and rodent populations, the coyote significantly decreases the opportunity for ticks to feed and reproduce. In addition to harboring ticks, over-populations of deer can be devastating to wild vegetation and farm crops.
  • Control of the red fox population is an important benefit of coyote presence. The red fox mainly preys on duck eggs, partridges, and other birds. When red foxes are prevalent, the percentage of nest success with these birds drastically decreases as more nests are raided. With coyotes to keep the red fox in check, these birds have a better chance of survival.
  • It is important to note that coyotes do not overpopulate nor does their population need to be controlled, as many people believe. Coyotes, and all top predators, self-regulate their populations and will only produce as many coyotes as an area can support through resources like food, water, and shelter.
Why We Should Love These Animals

Altruism has been observed in coyotes when they bring food to other trapped or injured coyotes.

Coyotes, like humans, attempt to mate for life, are territorial, and build social units consisting of family members with parents, brothers, and sisters helping to raise the young.

In their intelligence and adaptability, coyotes teach us about our own capacity to evolve and coexist in the face of rapid ecological and social change.

The future of predator control is dependent largely upon our ability to get away from looking at wildlife as being either good or bad but simply to respect its higher purpose, and I don’t mean its purpose for humans.

Coyotes are intelligent, playful, affectionate, and devoted caregivers. Native Americans appreciated them as cunning tricksters. They are among the most adaptable animals on Earth and are critical to the integrity of many diverse ecosystems.

“From our teachers, we interpret Coyote as one who walks the edge; living in both worlds, the wilderness and the city. Walking this edge asks him to stay alert and to constantly redefine himself as he travels-bringing the wisdom of the forests back to the city and vice versa. He is playful, wise, sneaky and deeply caring.”

See this reference.

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