![]() ![]() ![]() Trappers use the secretions when they set traps to attract the coyote. The coyote’s urine has a very strong smell and is used to mark out its territory. Scent glands often become more active when the animals meet. Such glands also exist on other parts of the body. Like all Canidae, the coyote has, at the root of the tail, a gland that releases a scent. Because it is light-coloured in winter and dark in summer, it blends well with the seasonal surroundings. The coyote’s fur is long and soft and well suited to protect it from the cold. The tail, darker on top and lighter on the underside, is lightly fawn-coloured towards the tip, which is black. Legs, paws, muzzle, and the back of the ears are more yellowish in colour the throat, belly, and the insides of the ears are whiter. The fur is generally a tawny grey, darker on the hind part of the back where the black-tipped hair becomes wavy. The claws are not used in attack or defence they are typically blunted from constant contact with the ground and do not leave deep marks. The forepaws show a rudimentary thumb, reduced to a claw, located high on the inner side. The paw, more elongated than that of a dog of the same size, has four toes with nonretractable claws. The long tongue often hangs down between the teeth the coyote regulates its body temperature by panting. The neck is well furred and looks oversized for the body. The canine, or pointed, teeth are remarkably long and can inflict serious wounds. The yellow, slightly slanting eyes, with their black round pupils, give the coyote a characteristic expression of cunning. Unlike most dogs, the top of the muzzle on coyotes forms an almost continuous line with the forehead. ![]() It has a tapering muzzle and a black nose. The coyote’s ears are wide, pointed, and erect. The female is usually four-fifths as large. Slimmer and smaller than the wolf, the male coyote weighs from 9 to 23 kg, has an overall length of 120 to 150 cm (including a 30- to 40-cm tail), and stands 58 to 66 cm high at the shoulder. Other members of the family are the wolf, red fox, arctic fox, grey fox, swift fox, and dog. If you see one look at the coyote as not only an important part of the ecosystem, but also a connection to the lost world of the Pleistocene.The coyote Canis latrans is one of the seven representatives of the Canidae family found in Canada. Going back tens of thousands of years coyotes lived alongside Pleistocene (ice age) megafauna like Columbian mammoths, giant sloths, woolly rhinos, lions and short-faced bears. We should be reminded that coyotes have been living in our area long before El Paso became a city and that we have actually invaded their territory. If you are concerned about your pets you should avoid leaving them outside at night especially when you know coyotes are in your neighborhood. Unfortunately nothing can be done if a coyote kills a cat or a dog. If you report your concerns about coyotes they will almost always be left alone unless the coyote attacks or threatens a human. If you are concerned about coyotes in your neighborhood contact Animal Control at 311 or Texas Parks and Wildlife at 91. Direct control of problem coyotes is often hampered by city/state regulations and/or concern from local officials about negative publicity. Today coyotes provide a number of benefits to our community by helping to regulate populations of animals like rodents and rabbits including smaller predators like skunks, raccoons, and foxes, which benefits biodiversity.Īccording to Texas Parks and Wildlife coyotes in urban areas sometimes prey on pets (primarily) and other animals like ducks and chickens. As a result the coyote has survived where the wolf has not. Coyotes on the other hand prefer to mix up their travel routes making them harder to predict. During the last century when wolves were systematically killed by the thousands to protect the livestock industry it was pretty easy for trappers to eliminate them by placing traps along wolf pathways. Wolves are more of creatures of habit using pathways that eventually become established animal trails. Compared to a wolf their survival strategy is pretty easy to understand as they are for the most part unpredictable in their movements. They have adapted to human civilization and over most of their range have outlasted their larger cousin, the wolf. Their numbers in our city appear to be increasing as they move into neighborhoods looking for what we all want every day to survive – food.Ĭoyotes are very intelligent members of the Canid (dog) family and well known for their adaptability. ![]() Well known across North America from Canada to Central America, if you haven’t seen one yet don’t be surprised when you do. The coyote is the largest and most common apex predator in El Paso. ![]()
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