Coyote

There are 19 different subspecies of coyotes residing from Canada to Central America. Coyotes used to be only in the prairies and deserts of central and Western North America. However, as humans develop new habitats, the coyotes have spread further afield. Coyotes are so adaptable that they now thrive in cities.

Yellowstone National Park is home to three canines: wolves, coyotes, and foxes. The coyote is in the middle of the three in terms of size. They weigh 25-35 pounds. The average lifespan ranges from 6 to 13 years.

Coyote tails are bushy and held down when the coyote is running. Look for a black tip on the tail.

Coyotes' forelegs, sides of head, muzzle, and paws are reddish brown. Their face and muzzle are pointed.

They primarily eat small mammals such as voles, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and mice. However, they will also eat carrion, and you can often see them waiting their turn at a carrion feeding site. However, coyotes do consume a significant amount of fruits and vegetables. So, coyotes are omnivores. They are good at pest control.

Coyotes mate for life and are monogamous.

Both parents work together to raise, feed, and defend their pups. Coyotes typically have 1 to 19 pups in a litter. The number of pups in a litter is a defensive measure against the high juvenile mortality rate. Approximately 50-70% of the pups do not survive to adulthood. The pups emerge from the den 3 - 4 weeks after birth. In Yellowstone, they are born in April and emerge from the den in May. They are fully weaned 35 days after birth. So, the pups you see in the above picture are still relatively young, as they were still nursing.

Coyotes have large ears proportionally to their head size. When they are zeroing in on prey, their ears are pointed up and forward.