Description
The coyote stands about 2 feet high, weighs in between 20–50 pounds and can be between 3 and 4 feet long. ncluding the tail.
The fur is long and generally light brown above and whitish below. It is a pale reddish color on the legs with a bushy, black-tipped tail. Color variations do exist regionally. Coyotes are larger in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.
The coyote is primarily nocturnal doing the majority of hunting with it's pack at night. Coyotes run with their tail pointed downward and can reach speeds of 40 mph. They are extremely efficient hunters, and their senses are ultra sharp. In open areas, coyotes are primarily visual hunters but they mostly use smell and hearing to locate prey in thick vegetation or forest.
In the northern parts of its range, the coyote relies primarily on the snowshoe hare and white-tailed deer as prey. A single coyote is able to capture an adult deer, especially in deep snow. Coyotes take down deer by repeatedly biting at the back legs and hindquarters, the kill finally being made with a choking bite to the throat.
In fall and early winter, coyotes often hunt in pairs or packs, and the success of a pack increases with its size. Larger packs typically hunt larger animals, although they will capture and eat whatever prey they encounter. The coyote also consumes carrion. Wherever or whenever prey is unavailable or hard to obtain, coyotes eat large quantities of wild berries and fruits. In doing so, they may become much leaner. In the northeast, coyotes are fatter during winter, when deer are easier to capture, than in late summer.
Coyote Range in North America
Diet and Hunting
In the northern parts of its range, the coyote relies primarily on the snowshoe hare and white-tailed deer as prey. A single coyote is capable of capturing an adult deer, especially in deep snow. Coyotes take down deer by repeatedly biting at the back legs and hindquarter. The kill is made with a bite to the throat.
In fall and early winter, coyotes often hunt in pairs or packs. The larger the pack, the more success coyotes have. When pack sizes are large, they will hunt larger size animals like deer. Squirrels, birds, fish and sometimes frogs will supplement a coyotes diet.
The coyote is not above eating carrion as well as large amounts of fruits and berries when other food sources are scarce. By doing so, they may become much thinner in northern climates. Coyotes become fatter during winter, when deer are easier to capture.
Coyotes have moved to more populated areas in the last 50 years. Once coyotes invade areas where people live, their diet can change dramatically. Food in garbage cans and family pets are on the menu more often than you would think. Once areas are identified by coyotes as a potential food source, they will keep coming back night after night to exploit it. This is the primary reason that it is important to trap coyotes whenever possible.
Why Get Rid of Coyotes?
Coyotes are a nuisance when they locate near humans. They are a problem because these elusive predators sometimes target children and family pets as a potential food source.
The problems begin when individual coyotes and packs enter towns, cities, and suburbs looking to find somewhere comfortable to live where food is easy to come by and the food supply is steady..
Many times, this means that coyotes are raiding trash containers at peoples' homes or businesses. Sometimes, coyotes are more than willing to take family pets as a quick snack. That is often the straw that breaks the camel's back when homeowners in the area decide that enough is enough. That's when we get the call to trap problem coyotes in residential neighborhoods.
Live cage traps are generally not used when trapping coyotes because the animals are very wary of the human scent that is usually all over the cage. They tend to avoid going anywhere near these types of coyote traps.
Once a coyote has been trapped, it is humanely dispatched. For more information, go to jarrods.net
Jarrod's Pest Control and Exterminator Services In Georgia and Alabama
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- Hamilton, Ga.
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- Phenix City, Al.
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