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Coyote: what kind of animal, description, habitat, behavior, photo. Animal ugly, cunning and wild coyote: description, photo, video

Domain: Eukaryotes

Kingdom: Animals

Type: Chordates

Class: Mammals

Detachment: Predatory

Family: Canids

Genus: Wolves

View: Coyote

Distribution area

In connection with the massive deforestation and the extermination of the main food competitor - the wolf - the coyote spread over a much larger territory than its natural historical range was. A hundred years ago, the coyote was the original inhabitant of the prairie, but today it can be found almost everywhere from Alaska to Central America, and in the USA it inhabits 49 states out of 50. The coyote lives both in deserted places and near settlements, appears even on the outskirts of Los -Angeles. This beast has extraordinary ecological plasticity and easily adapts to a changing environment - this allowed him to conquer two thirds of the American continent in less than 30 years. Throughout its vast range, this predator forms 19 subspecies.

In the myths of the North American Indians, the coyote appears as a cunning, intelligent and mischievous deity. In Navajo mythology, he is also the deity of hunting, war and love, the inventor of witchcraft. In creation myths, Coyote sometimes creates the world and the first people by kicking a lump of dirt, excrement, or a clot of blood. Among a number of indigenous tribes in North America, the coyote is considered a sacred, totem animal, hunting for which is prohibited for religious reasons.

Appearance of a coyote

The size of the body of a coyote varies between 76-96 centimeters, while the tail, which reaches a length of 30-40 centimeters, is not taken into account.

These predators weigh from 7 to 20 kilograms. The southern inhabitants are smaller than their northern counterparts. The largest coyote caught in the North of the continent had a length of 1.75 meters, and its body weight was 33 kilograms. The same parameters are observed in gray wolves.

Coyotes have erect ears and bushy tails. The legs, in comparison with the size of the whole body, seem small. These dogs have long fur. The color varies from yellowish gray to grayish brown. On the muzzle, paws and sides there is a reddish-brown tint.

The hind legs are slightly lighter than the front. The back of the body has a dark yellow undercoat, all other long hairs have a black tip. Thanks to these black hairs, a stripe is obtained on the back, and a cross on the shoulders. The tip of the tail is black. The muzzle has a pointed shape, it is extended forward. Highland coyotes have dark fur, while desert predators are light brown.

Coyote lifestyle

The movement of the meadow wolf is even and smooth, constantly turning its head to the sides and back. The sense of smell is developed, even with an unknown smell it can stop abruptly, is frightened. Jumps up to four meters. Runs at a speed of sixty-five kilometers. In pursuit of prey, it moves over long distances.

They go hunting in pairs, they can hunt big game in a herd, they go one by one for small game. These are smart animals, some chase prey, others wait for it, they always win the fight. Some start, others finish the pursuit of prey. Cattle are weakening, lagging behind others. There have been cases of joint hunting with a badger. The badger makes a hole and climbs into someone else's dwelling, the coyote is waiting for prey. The wolf loves to play with prey. When he catches a meadow mouse, before eating it, he throws it up, plays, and then eats it.

In villages on the outskirts, the animal can eat prepared food in a garbage container or on a dump site. Shelter is found in abandoned ruins, abandoned wells. Coyotes are cowardly animals. Even if he is chasing prey, and the fleeing prey turns around and goes on the offensive, the coyote retreats. A turkey can protect its offspring if it goes into battle with its wings against the enemy.

Prairie Wolves live in pairs. In places of abundant food, and when the residence of small rodents is reduced, they live in flocks. They can only catch large prey in packs. Packs are dominated by one wolf leader. But most of the time they live on their territory and protect it. They mark their territories with their own droppings and urine. The boundaries of the territories of one flock can reach one hundred and forty kilometers. Marked territories mean that the area is occupied. Coyotes are peaceful animals, even when a stranger invades its territory, they do not fight.
If one coyote falls into a trap, then the other stays near it for a long time. Couples do not change their life partners.

coyote diet

Coyotes are omnivorous and extremely unpretentious predators in food, but a significant part of the diet is represented by food of animal origin, including hares and rabbits, prairie dogs, marmots and ground squirrels, and small rodents. Coyotes often prey on raccoons, ferrets and possums, beavers, birds, and even some insects. Prairie wolves swim very well and are able to successfully hunt all kinds of aquatic animals, represented by fish, frogs and newts.

In the last summer decade and early autumn, meadow wolves are happy to eat berries and all kinds of fruits, as well as peanuts and sunflower seeds. With the onset of winter, coyotes living in the northern territories switch to a more acceptable diet and feed on carrion and weakened, old or sick animals. Predators inhabiting national parks quickly get used to people, therefore they are able to take food even from human hands.

In accordance with the data of the analysis of the gastric contents of coyotes, the standard diet of a predator is represented by:

carrion - 25%;
small rodents - 18%;
livestock - 13.5%;
wild deer - 3.5%;
birds – 3.0%;
insects – 1.0%;
other animals - 1.0%;
products of plant origin - 2.0%.

Prairie wolves rarely attack adult and large livestock, and wild deer, but they are able to forcefully hunt lambs or newborn calves.

reproduction

Coyotes, also called prairie wolves, usually form permanent pairs. This is due to the fact that in nature they do not live long - about 4 years. Long-lived coyotes have more than one partner. During the mating season, which lasts several weeks, the female is only ready to mate for 10 days. After mating, a pair of coyotes digs a burrow. In some regions, parents diligently equip the hole, in other places they occupy, for example, an abandoned badger or fox hole. Sometimes a coyote's lair is located in small caves, rock crevices, or in the hollows of wind-blown trees. Puppies are born in two months.

Parents take care of them for 7 weeks. At first, coyote pups only consume their mother's milk. After 3 weeks, puppies begin to eat solid food. Both parents constantly hunt and bring the caught prey to the cubs.

At the age of 9 months, coyotes become adults and reach sexual maturity by the year. In most cases, young coyotes create pairs as early as next year. They leave their mother's burrow and set off in search of a hunting ground for themselves, sometimes covering a distance of more than 150 km. If the territory of residence of one of the parents is rich in food, the cubs remain with their parents for some time and hunt in packs.

natural enemies

The main natural enemies of adult coyotes are cougars and wolves. Young and immature predators can be fairly easy prey for eagles and hawks, owls, cougars, large dogs, or other adult coyotes. According to the observations of experts, less than half of the young individuals are able to survive to the age of puberty.

The red fox can be considered as the main food competitor, which can displace the coyote from the inhabited territory.

The cause of high mortality among prairie wolves is many serious diseases, including rabies and infection with nematodes, but people are considered to be the main enemy of the coyote. Poison dogs and traps, strychnine and arsenic baits, and burning entire areas have been used to control the rapidly growing coyote population. The pesticide "1080" was especially popular, as it successfully exterminated not only coyotes, but also many other animals. Accumulating in soil and water, the "1080" poison caused irreparable harm to the ecosystem, as a result of which it was completely banned for use.

population

Although it looks strange, but in a certain sense, people caused the spread of coyotes. Destroying wolves in the vast expanses of the United States - the main competitors of coyotes, and cutting down the forests that once covered most of North and Central America, people created favorable conditions for the expansion of the range of coyotes far to the east.

People have long hunted coyotes for their beautiful fur and destroyed them to protect sheep herds. In the early 70s of the XX century. in the western United States, more than 100,000 coyotes were exterminated annually. In 1977, more than 320,000 animal skins were brought to the world market from North America. These days, the mass killing of coyotes for their fur is increasingly condemned. In 12 states, coyotes are protected; in the rest of the American continent, hunting for them is regulated by laws.

Now the coyote can be found in 49 US states, as far north as Canada and Alaska. The number of the animal has more than a million individuals. People are trying in vain to destroy this species, coyotes show their vitality.

The coyote is an excellent runner, he can reach speeds of up to 65 km / h, and to overcome a barrier of 4 m in length for a coyote is a real waste.
A very interesting fact is the joint hunting of coyotes and badgers. Coyotes, who have a good sense of smell, track down places where various rodents and other small game are hiding, while badgers dig this place. Animals divide game in half.
Cases have been noted when coyotes interbred with domestic dogs and ordinary wolves, while giving completely healthy and viable offspring.
From the Aztec language "Coyote" is translated as "Divine dog".
Despite the fact that the coyote's preferred food is meat, they do not disdain to eat vegetables and fruits. Coyotes eat cedar and spruce needles, sasparilla, peanuts, and even apples and strawberries. A special peak of vegetarian nutrition occurs at the beginning of autumn.

In total, there are about 19 species of coyotes. Related species of coyote are considered to be a wolf, a maned wolf, a red wolf, a red wolf, a dingo, a jackal, a dog. So, coyotes have plenty of relatives.

“This is a long, skinny creature, unhappy and sick in appearance, in a gray wolf skin, with a rather fluffy tail, but invariably pursed, which gives his whole figure an expression of extreme despondency and hopeless longing; his eyes are evasive and vicious, his muzzle is elongated and sharp, his upper lip is raised and does not cover his teeth.

Coyote is the living embodiment of need. He is always hungry. He is always poor, unlucky and alone. The lowest creature despises him, and even fleas would prefer a bicycle to him. Mark Twain. "Light"

There are many myths in the American West about coyote. So, many believe that this animal easily distinguishes a hunter from an unarmed person. And if in the first case you do not even have time to raise your gun, as the coyote will already disappear over the horizon, then having met an unarmed person, the beast will easily let him in at a fairly close distance.

Some hunters claim that the coyote is even able to determine the caliber of a gun from afar and will always run back exactly to the distance where the bullet will not reach. And some tell exciting stories about how a coyote disarms traps by busily putting sticks in them, and then burying them in the ground so that the hunter can no longer find them.

Coyote, or meadow wolf (lat. Canis latrans) is a predatory mammal of the canine family. The name comes from the Aztec coyotl, "divine dog". The Latin name of the species means "barking dog". In size, the coyote is noticeably inferior to the common wolf. Body length - 75-100 cm, tail - about 30 cm, height at the withers - 50 cm; weight - 7-21 kg (for comparison, the weight of an adult wolf is usually 32-60 kg). Like other wild dogs, the coyote has erect ears and a long bushy tail.

Distributed in North America, from Alaska to Panama. There are 19 subspecies.

This is not a movie

Even from these short stories, it can already be concluded that the coyote is a clearly extraordinary and comprehensively gifted creature. No wonder the Americans made dozens of cartoons about him. The very ones where a cunning animal tries to catch a very nimble bird or steal a delicious lamb from a herd.

True, he does not succeed, but that's in the movies. If a coyote had caught a sassy bird (or kidnapped a ram) in the very first episode, then there would have been no continuation. But if this scenario came true in real life, both the bird and the ram would not last long.

Coyote catches mice

The first description of the coyote by professional zoologists appeared in 1823. Then scientists just found out that the coyote does not like wolves and lynxes (and this dislike is mutual), and therefore rarely enters the forest - the main habitat of these animals. He prefers to live in boundless deserts and prairies, apparently because it is easier to escape from danger in open areas.

In the evenings, loud howls and shrill yapping of coyotes are carried far over the vast expanses - a kind of musical accompaniment noted by all travelers who have spent the night on the prairies.

Coyote is able to reach speeds in a straight line up to 65 kilometers per hour, but he cannot climb trees, and he is not a master of hiding. In addition to carrion - the main and favorite dish, this animal willingly eats prairie dogs, hares, rabbits and small rodents if they fall under its paw.

Another coyote knows how to catch birds and fish, does not disdain lizards and insects. If a sufficient number of coyotes have gathered in one place, then, having met a herd of, say, deer, they beat off the one who is weaker, and begin to drive the unfortunate one in a circle. At the same time, part of the coyotes is pursuing, and the other part is resting. Then they change, the victim has nowhere to go, except for dinner for bloodthirsty predators. This fact alone demonstrates that coyotes are much more on their minds than they try to seem.

Bad character

Interestingly, sometimes a coyote takes an animal of a completely different species as a hunting partner - say, a badger. American zoologists once witnessed such a symbiosis (and even filmed it). A badger and a coyote were tearing apart someone's hole - either a marmot or a prairie dog. Moreover, the badger, in fact, dug the ground, and the coyote guarded the potential victim at the emergency exit.

Wild Hunt"

The desperate migrants who mastered the Wild West were not familiar with scientific works on coyotes, but they knew for sure that the skin of this animal was strong enough, and the wool was thick and warm. Sheep farmers, in turn, were sure that coyotes were to blame for the loss of a good part of the lambs.

And in some ways they were right - this little predator will gladly eat a weak or sick lamb that has lagged behind the herd. For these and other reasons, the coyote has been ruthlessly hunted at all times. He was chased on horseback and hounded by dogs. Farmers scattered animal carcasses saturated with strychnine and arsenic everywhere.

Greed and hunger overcame innate cunning, and 1.5 million coyotes fell victim to these poisonous baits. Such a "hunt" was banned only in 1971, and even then because not only coyotes, but also other animals died from poison.

Exodus

Progress has made its own adjustments to the hunt for coyotes. Now these animals are shot from jeeps and helicopters, and farmers use electronic traps. But all in vain - the coyote is indestructible. If earlier this beast preferred to live on the prairies, now it can be found in the snows of Alaska and in the suburbs of Los Angeles.

No wonder the Navajo Indians from ancient times revered him as the most cunning, most intelligent, very nimble and mischievous beast. By the way, the Navajos were pastoralists, but, unlike the white settlers, they saw a significant benefit in the activities of the coyote and were tolerant of his presence and even attempts on lambs. After all, the Indians knew very well that the coyote exterminates rodents, and the sheep herds save first of all from sick individuals.

And according to, again, Indian legends, the coyote “will be the last animal on Earth when man disappears and the world plunges into darkness. And then in the pitch darkness, the eternal call of the coyote will echo.

Konstantin FEDOROV

Detachment - Predators

Family - Wolf

Genus/Species - Canis latrans. Coyote, or meadow

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: 75-100 cm.

Tail length: 30-40 cm.

Height at withers: 45-55 cm.

Weight: 7-20 kg.

BREEDING

Puberty: in year.

Mating period: From January.

Pregnancy: 58-65 days.

Number of cubs: 5-10, usually 6.

LIFESTYLE

Habits: coyote (see photo of the animal) is active at night; communicative; adapts to different conditions.

What does he eat: small mammals, carrion, deer and sheep.

Lifespan: usually 4 years, in nature - up to 14 years, in captivity - up to 22 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The family includes 8 more species, for example, the wolf and the domestic dog.

A wild coyote is trying to attack a human. Video (00:04:55)

Unlike most large predators in North America, coyotes, after the arrival of European colonists, managed to expand their habitat due to their ability to adapt. Despite this, today the coyote population is declining - they often become the object of hunting by hunters or fall into traps set by shepherds.

BREEDING

Coyotes, also called prairie wolves, usually form permanent pairs. This is due to the fact that in nature they do not live long - about 4 years. Long-lived coyotes have more than one partner. During the mating season, which lasts several weeks, the female is only ready to mate for 10 days. After mating, a pair of coyotes digs a hole. for example, an abandoned badger or fox hole.Sometimes a coyote's lair is located in small caves, rock crevices, or in hollows of wind-blown trees.Pups are born in two months.

WHERE TO GO

Coyote inhabits the space from the cold regions of Alaska to Costa Rica. You can admire the coyote's ability to adapt to the environment. More willingly, coyotes settle on open plains and in areas overgrown with rare shrubs. In its natural environment, the coyote lives in a certain area, in less suitable areas it leads a nomadic lifestyle. The site marks with urine and sound signals: barking and a long howl. Coyotes that live in the mountains usually move to the valleys for the winter.

WHAT DOES IT FEED

With the onset of dusk, coyotes leave their resting places and go hunting. They are excellent at communicating with each other and adapt their hunting methods to the environment and the prey they are hunting. Coyotes feed almost exclusively on meat: approximately 90% of the diet is made up of squirrels and small rodents.

During the hunt, as well as, the coyote jumps up and lands with all its paws on the back of the victim. Coyotes can also attack a large animal, such as a deer, but then a whole pack must participate in the hunt. A pack of coyotes most often consists of 6 animals. During the hunt, coyotes behave like wolves: the pack surrounds the chosen victim and pursues it until the animal gives up.

Coyotes in a pack do not have such a complex hierarchical organization and constancy as wolves. Coyotes eat not only caught prey, but also carrion. In some areas, carrion accounts for up to half of their total diet.

COYOTE AND MAN

Although it looks strange, but in a certain sense, people caused the spread of coyotes. Destroying in the vast expanses of the United States wolves - the main competitors of coyotes, and cutting down the forests that once covered most of North and Central America, people created favorable conditions for the expansion of the range of coyotes far to the east. People have long hunted coyotes for their beautiful fur and destroyed them to protect sheep herds. In the early 70s of the XX century. in the western United States, more than 100,000 coyotes were exterminated annually. In 1977, more than 320,000 animal skins were brought to the world market from North America. These days, the mass killing of coyotes for their fur is increasingly condemned. In 12 states, coyotes are protected; in the rest of the American continent, hunting for them is regulated by laws.

GENERAL PROVISIONS. DESCRIPTION

Of course, farmers and cowboys hate the coyote for its antics, but attempts at extermination have not been successful. This was facilitated by the amazing intelligence and cunning of animals, which quickly learned to avoid bullets, traps and poisoned baits. In our time, the coyote has remained one of the typical animals of North America.

This beast is familiar to residents of Canada, America and Mexico. The coyote, of course, is a close relative of the wolf and, but this is a completely special species that can be called that way. The body length reaches a meter, a long fluffy tail - 40 cm, and the mass does not exceed 20 kg. Prefers prairies and open plains interspersed with trees and shrubs. Willingly populates the area cut by gorges with rock outcrops. It usually does not occur in the depths of forests and mountains. They live in families. The female brings 5-6 cubs. They hunt rodents, hares and birds. Often they attack young deer, feed on carrion and visit dumps in search of garbage. In addition, a coyote will always drag off a chicken or a lamb on occasion.

INTERESTING FACTS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT...

Although the name of the animals sounds like a Spanish word, it comes from the Aztec name for this animal.
The coyote and the American badger have an amazing collaboration. It has been proven that coyotes hunt down hamsters and other rodents, and then show the badgers their holes. The badger breaks the hole and shares the prey with the coyote.
Coyotes communicate with each other not only by howling, but also by at least ten other sounds. For example, they may whine, squeak, and growl.
Sometimes coyotes mate with domestic dogs.

COYOT HORROW

Nora: is found in a cave, in crevices among the rocks, in the hollow of a fallen tree, or in a deep hole, and there is no litter in the lair. Can use an abandoned badger or fox hole.

Puppies: The first weeks of life are spent in a hole, food is brought to them by their parents.

- Habitat of the coyote

WHERE THE COYOTE LIVES

Inhabits all of North America, from Alaska to Costa Rica, east to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Not found on the Atlantic coast.

PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

The coyote is protected in 12 US states, in others it is an object of hunting. The species is under threat of extinction.

Titles: coyote, meadow wolf.
The name coyote comes from the Aztec coyotl, "barking dog".

area: Western and central North America. In connection with the massive deforestation and the extermination of the main food competitors - the common and red wolf - the coyote has spread over a much larger territory than its natural historical range was. A century ago, it was the original inhabitant of the prairie, and today it can be found from Alaska to Central America. The coyote is currently found in 49 US states. He lives both in deserted places and near settlements, and even on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Description: In size, the coyote is noticeably inferior to the common wolf, and in its appearance and lifestyle there is something close to jackals. He has erect ears, a long fluffy tail, which, when running, he holds down at an angle of 45 degrees, in contrast to the wolf. The coat is thick and longer than that of a wolf. The guard hairs on a coyote's skin are about 8 cm long on the back and 12 cm in a spot between the shoulder blades known as the "mane" or "comb". Coyotes have 42 teeth, including four long incisors.

Color: The coat is smoky, grayish or reddish-brown in color on the back and sides. The fur coat is strewn with black and gray spots, which allows the coyote to be invisible on the ground. The throat and belly are paler than the rest of the body. End of tail black

Size: Body length - 75-100 cm (average about 90 cm), tail length about 30 cm, shoulder height slightly more than 50 cm. Males are somewhat larger than females.

Weight: About 13 kg, maximum up to 21 kg. Coyotes in the north of the range are larger (average 34 kg) than those living in the extreme south of the range, such as in Mexico (average 11 kg).

Lifespan: In nature - up to 10 years, in captivity - 16-18 years.

Coyote bark and howl
Howls and squeals of coyotes
howl of coyotes

Coyotes use voice signals to communicate with each other on the prairies. The howl of a coyote delights naturalists and intimidates tourists. Other vocal cues such as growls, barks, and whines are also present in coyote communication. Each sound corresponds to a specific feeling or emotion of the coyote, such as anger or submission.

Habitat: Coyote predominantly lives on open plains occupied by prairies and deserts. In the ecosystems of the American prairies, the coyote occupies a place similar to the jackal. He runs into the forests only by chance. Easily adapts to anthropogenic landscapes. In mountainous areas, flesh up to 3000 m above sea level is found.

Enemies: The main enemies of adult coyotes are the puma and the wolf. Young animals are sometimes preyed upon by eagles, hawks, owls, cougars, dogs, and even other coyotes. Therefore, less than half of all young coyotes survive to reach sexual maturity. The coyote does not tolerate the presence of a red fox on its territory as its food competitor.
Diseases such as rabies and hookworms have also caused mortality among coyotes. But their main enemy is man. Coyote was poisoned by dogs, traps were set, tons of strychnine and arsenic were scattered on his way, entire areas were burned, but thanks to his dexterity he survived. A pesticide known as 1080 was most successful in killing coyotes, but it also took a toll on the ecosystem, killing many other animals. The poison accumulated everywhere, even in water and grass, and therefore was subsequently banned from use.

Food: Coyote is omnivorous and extremely unpretentious in food. However, 90% of its diet is animal feed: hares, rabbits, prairie dogs, marmots and ground squirrels, small rodents. He attacks raccoons, ferrets, possums and beavers; eats birds (pheasants), insects. It swims well and catches aquatic animals: fish, frogs and newts. At the end of summer and autumn, it eats berries, fruits (watermelons, grapefruits, apples, persimmons) and peanuts with pleasure. In recent years, the coyote has begun to eat sunflower seeds, which are a tangible source of nutrition for the coyote, which has not been noted before.
In winter, in the northern regions, the coyote switches to carrion feeding; follows herds of large ungulates, eating the fallen and cutting down the weakened animals.
It does not touch people at all, and in national parks it sometimes gets so used to them that it even takes food from the hands.
An analysis of 8,339 coyote stomachs from the Western United States showed that rabbits made up 33% of their diet; carrion - 25%; rodents - 18%; livestock (mainly sheep and goats) - 13.5%; deer - 3.5%; birds - 3%; insects - 1%; other animals (skunks, weasels, shrews, moles, snakes and lizards) - 1%; vegetable products - 2%.
Domestic sheep, goats, wild deer and pronghorn are rarely attacked, although in some places the coyote's favorite food is lambs. Sheep predation is commonly seen in the summer when supplemental feeding is needed for adult animals nursing puppies. It was this circumstance that brought the hatred of sheep breeders to the meadow wolf. Although the coyote has a notorious reputation as a killer of sheep and other livestock, studies of its diet indicate that livestock make up no more than 14% of the coyote's diet.
Coyotes sometimes also prey on calves, especially during their birth period. Short-tailed calves are often found in western natural pastures and their short tails are the result of an unsuccessful attack on them by coyotes. The incidence of coyote attacks on livestock depends largely on the size of the coyote population in the area and the availability of other types of food.

Behavior : Lifestyle, mostly crepuscular. The coyote is distinguished by highly developed higher nervous activity. It perfectly adapts to changing habitats and, despite persecution, has even expanded its range somewhat in recent years.

Coyote

Photo 1 of 3

Coyote- is American. Unlike many predators, he adapted to the invasion of civilization into the world of wildlife and managed to survive, although man destroyed him mercilessly. It was the man who contributed to the settlement of the coyote throughout the continent. Previously, coyotes lived only on the plateaus of the West. After the hunt began, he began to flee, and now these predators live throughout North America from Alaska to southern Mexico.

Their nightly howl is heard by movie stars in their villas among the hills of Hollywood, and tourists in the state of New Hampshire, where 30 years ago there was not a single coyote. The total number of coyotes in the United States is now about a million.

The coyote resembles a smaller copy - it weighs from 9 to 18 kilograms: three times less than its large relative. His legs are thinner than those, his paws are more elegant, his nose is sharper, his eyes are golden yellow, and his tail is long and fluffy. In quick wit, he is not inferior, more picky about food, adapted to the neighborhood of people and learned not to catch their eye.

Coyotes are distinguished by true family cohesion. Having once created a couple, they usually remain together for the rest of their lives. The male coyote diligently helps the female raise the puppies. He guards them, plays with them, licks them, brings them some of the prey. Coyotes are relatively small and therefore require little food.

Their needs are quite satisfied, lizards, bird eggs and leftovers in trash cans. It is precisely the fact that they almost do not harm agriculture that saved them from extermination. Of course, they sometimes like to raid the chicken coop, eat melons and tomatoes in the fields, but these are very small sins in comparison with the benefits they bring.

The sworn enemies of the coyotes immediately became sheep farmers, who, not counting the lambs, in a rage waged a real war with the coyotes. Although researchers show that coyotes attack sheep very rarely.

The coyotes suffered very heavy losses in this war. In the 1960s, predator control reported 89,653 coyotes killed. However, this massacre was inconclusive. Coyotes with unimaginable speed bred to the former population.

In the vicinity of settlements, coyotes began to appear only at night. Where there are few people, they can be seen during the day. Sometimes they hunt alone, but more often in pairs and groups. One observer saw six coyotes marching across the field like foot soldiers. When one scared, others immediately blocked his way. Coyotes hunt well in pairs, using various tricks.

So, for example, one coyote drives, and the second sits in ambush behind a bush. Sometimes a coyote begins to tumble in the grass, while the second one sneaks up to him, who looks with interest at the strangely twitching coyote. Often, coyotes use other animals for their own purposes. Coyote specially scares in front of the nose