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Coyote
Yukon Government Photo
Page Index:
The Species: Canis Latrans Incolatus
Tough and crafty, this wild relative of the common dog adapts masterfully to new environments. Coyotes were once creatures solely of the southern plains but today they thrive from the tropical heat of Costa Rica to the chilling arctic winds of the Yukon. Opportunists par excellence, they mold their lifestyle and diet to fit new surroundings with remarkable ease.
Distribution
This versatile animal extended its range northward into the Yukon sometime around the turn of the century. Today coyotes are common in the southern portions of the territory but their numbers diminish northwards, with only rare sightings in the Dawson City area.
Coyotes are animals of the fringe. That is, they flourish in areas where two or more habitats meet and diversity of prey is high. Riversides, forest burns, and farmland are all likely homes for the coyote. Being opportunists, they are also scavengers and will often live close to our communities. The Whitehorse area, for example, maintains a population of approximately 60 coyotes although numbers vary with the snowshoe hare cycle
Characteristics
Yukon coyotes are generally tawny grey in colour with a slight cinnamon tinge to their coats. Both the belly and throat are white. Compared to coyotes further south, those in the Yukon have relatively less black-tipped guard hairs.
In spite of a delicate body build, coyotes are often confused with wolves. Coyotes range in weight from 9 to 13 kilograms which is less than half the size of a wolf. The large sharply pointed ears, long slender snout, and bushy tail are all traits of the coyote. Another difference is the position of the tail. The coyote's hangs down, sometimes tucked slightly between the legs while the wolf's is held out level with its back.
Life History
Coyote pairs mate in late February or early March. Although not necessarily paired for life, a mating couple may remain together for a number of years. By early April, the pregnant female prepares for her litter by seeking a den site. She prefers to enlarge an existing ground squirrel hole or use a natural cavity rather than dig a new den. When she's finished, the den will be about one meter in diameter. To defend against attacks on her young, the female will either devise a second hidden escape route or ensure there are other burrows nearby. Coyote pups provide a tender meal for wolves, bears and even golden eagles.
It is within the earthen den, during early May, that the young pups are born. Little bedding protects them from the damp earth and with eyes closed until 9 days, they look a vulnerable sight. But they develop rapidly. Nourished by their mother's milk, their fine brown fur becomes a thick coat and in less then two weeks they are peeking out of the den's entrance. By five weeks of age, they are eating the half digested snowshoe hare their parents provide. An average litter size of 5 - 7 pups keeps both parents busy hunting for whatever they can catch or scavenge.
Near the end of two months the hunting lessons have begun. The young are natural hunters. Whether they are after a dinner of ground squirrels, mice, beetles, or bird's eggs, their cleverness pays off. Coyotes have a distinctive hunting technique. Once prey is spotted, a coyote will stalk slowly and silently until finally it springs up and pounces stiff-legged onto the unsuspecting animal. The young's hunting abilities must be finely tuned by summer's end when the crisp autumn winds signal the break up of the family unit.
Heavy winter snowfalls are the curse of Yukon coyotes. They are animals of open spaces and their bodies are not adapted to walking on deep, soft snow. Quick, stealthy movements, a necessity for hunting success, are hampered by the snow. Yet coyotes have responded by adapting their ways. Each year at the onset of winter, they take cover in the forests where overhanging tree limbs shelter the ground from large amounts of snow. Here they rely on snowshoe hare and "left-overs" like moose kills or dried berries and seeds. Snowshoe hares constitute a main food source for Yukon coyotes, thus affecting coyote populations as hare numbers fluctuate. Coyotes also eat birds, ground squirrels and the occasional Dall lamb.
In some winters, a family unit may stay together to increase hunting efficiency. This is done if the winter is particularly lean or if the main food source is a large animal like the deer. Just as soon as the snow's crust is hard enough in open areas, coyotes return to roaming freely. But even then, they will tailor their movements to take advantage of snowshoe hare trails or other areas of compact snow.
Coyotes and People
Although often associated with populated areas, the coyote is timid and wary of people. Yukon trappers recount numerous stories of the coyote's remarkable ability to outwit humans. They are indeed a hard animal to trap, perhaps because they are so familiar with human scent. Trappers will attract coyotes by rubbing urine from a different coyote over the trap.
Coyote fur is coarser than the fur of many animals. It stands up well to use. Because of its low price and good serviceability, coyote fur is commonly used as parka trim.
Viewing Opportunities
Strangely enough, if you're eager to view a coyote you have a better chance near a community than in remote areas of the Yukon. Coyotes are active at night and can often be spotted along backroads or in the suburbs by those who rise at first light. If you are lucky, you might see one lazing in the early morning spring sunshine when the days start to lengthen. As with all wildlife, coyotes can be dangerous, so avoid approaching.
Coyotes are heard as often as they're seen. A chorus of whines, barks, and howls drifting into the late evening or early morning air is sign of their presence. The exuberant cry of one coyote is often joined by the yips and yaps of other family member.