Coyotes are more often heard than seen in
the neighborhood. Their distinctive yips
and howls pierce the night air as a pack
moves through on the hunt.
At 40 pounds, a
coyote is about the size of a Border Collie.
They are opportunistic feeders who prey on a
variety of animals, though they will readily
eat fruits, berries, and insects.
Their favorite dinner in the neighborhood is
the cottontail rabbit, with voles and mice a
close second. They can and will
prey on deer, especially yearling fawns and
the old and feeble. They have a fairly
small range of two to three miles unless
scarce prey drives them farther to hunt.
Coyotes usually
mate for life. A pack will typically
comprise up to eight animals following the
lead of the alpha pair. Usually,
within the pack, only the alpha pair will
breed and produce young.
The coyote has
a reputation as a nuisance, but they are
extremely useful in keeping down the
populations of real varmints, e.g., rabbits,
voles, and mice. Coyotes will rarely
bother people, but may attack a pet left
unattended. |
