THE COYOTE

Coyotes are found all over the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, and from the west coast ( British Columbia ) to the east coast ( New Brunswick).

They are able to adapt to different habitats. Coyotes live in the north, on grassy plains, in the desert and in the mountains.

---

The coyote digs a burrow and stays there during the day. Then it is out hunting all night. The den can be at the foot of a hollow tree, or a hole in some rocks. Usually the coyotes' den is on the side of a hill. The coyote also takes over a fox den or a badger den.

---

The coyote is the size of a dog. The fur is greyish. The tip of the tail is black. The coyote has a long pointy nose and a very keen sense of smell.

The coyote eats small rodents, rabbits and hares. In the winter it listens for small animals hiding under the snow. When the coyote knows where the animal is it pounces on it.

The coyote will also feed on dead animals, grass and insects.

If a coyote gets very hungry it may catch small farm animals like chickens or sheep. This is why coyotes are hated by some farmers.

Coyotes often hunt in packs for deer or elk. Packs have their own territories.

a lone coyote

---

From three to as many as twelve pups are born in the den. After the pups are a month old the parents feed them food which they have already chewed up. Young coyotes are very playful.

pups

---

The coyote can make a lot of different sounds. It barks like a dog, growls, yelps or whines like a puppy. One coyote howling can set off other coyotes to join in too.

CANADIAN ANIMALS
More about the COYOTE