Damage:
Coyotes can be very vicious. Mainly eating livestock, and other animals
of pray. A coyote alone cannot take down a full grown cow, but a calf
would be no problem. I have never seen a coyote attack a dog, but I
have heard of it. Customors have told me of the coyote attacking their
German Shepards while it was chained. I have had two customers tell me
of this on two different occasions. The way it was told to me, was like
this "3 coyotes attacked our German Shepard. One on his back, another
at his hind end, and one tearing at his throat. By the time we could do
anything about it, it was too late. We scared the coyotes off by
yelling and running towards our pet."
Description:
The Coyote is extremely doglike resembling a small German Shepherd. A
callus is usually obvious on the front leg in the region of the elbow.
The pelage is fairly long, coarse and heavy. The coyote is easily
distinguished from red and gray foxes by its larger size, coloration,
shorter tail and round pupil of the eye (foxes' pupils are vertically
elliptical). Typical Iowa coyotes are colored gray to dull yellow with
the outer hairs broadly tipped in black. The throat, belly and innerleg
fur is white to pale gray. Coloration can vary from nearly black, to
light gray and occasionally a reddish cast occurs. Adult coyotes range
in length from 40"-54" an d weight between 18-30 pounds.
Habitat:
Coyotes prefer to live in brushy country, along the edge of timber and
in open farmland. Dens are usually located in unused fields and are
often close to timber. They may be found in a bank, under a hollow tree
or log, in a rock cavity or occasionally in a dug out area in a clump
of brush.
Habits:
The home range of a coyote may be as small as three to four miles when
caring for young, or as large as 20-30 miles during the rest of the
year. They like semi-open country and prefer to travel on ridges or old
trails. Coyotes normally hunt singly or in pairs, but in late summer or
early fall may hunt with a family group. They are primarily nocturnal
with peak activity periods within one or two hours of sunset and
sunrise. Coyotes swim well and can run as fast as 45 MPH for short
distances.
Reproduction:
At least 2/3 of Iowa coyotes breed the first year of life. Pairing and
mating and breeding activity begins in January with the peak occurring
in late February thru March. Gestation is from 58-63 days with 2-15
young (usually 5-7) born in late April or May. Some pairs stay mated
for a year while others mate for life. Pups are born blind and
helpless. After 5-6 weeks of age they infrequently use den sites.
Food:
Coyotes are carnivores, relying on primarily upon rabbits and mice for
2/3 of their diet. Seasonal fruits and plants, such as plums and
mulberries are also eaten. They are opportunists, feeding on whatever
is available during a particular time. Adults will feed on domestic
livestock including lamb, calves and pigs. They often feed on dead
livestock and are sometimes blamed for livestock kills made by dogs.
Adult coyotes carry food in their stomachs and regurgitate partially
digested food for pups up to 8 weeks of age.
Sign:
Coyote tracks are sometimes confused with certain breeds of domestic
dog tracks. Generally they are more elongated and the toes are closer
together then dogs. The hind portion of the heel pad of the front foot
of a coyote is well lobed and spread horizontally in comparison to a
dogs. Coyote scats are extremely varied in size and will overlap in
size with red fox scats. The most conspicuous coyote sign denoting
their presence is their howl.
Predators:
Man is the most important predator of coyotes. Dogs and great-horned
owls may take pups. White-tail deer have been known to kill coyotes
with their feet.
Diseases:
The most frequent diseases are distemper and tularemia. Rabies very
rarely occurs in coyotes.
Parasites:
The following parasites occur on or in coyotes: ticks, fleas,
roundworms, tapeworms, flukes and mites. Occasionally mites cause
coyotes to get mange, but mange does not cause as much mortality in
coyotes as it does in the red fox.
