Coyotes at the Zoo
Samba – A female, came to us in 2013 when she was only a few weeks old. She weighed only 2.4 pounds and was near death, due to anemia, parasites and various other problems.
Siren – A female, arrived at our facility in 2021; abandoned by her mother at a very young age.
Description
Coyote (Canis latrans)
In order to avoid being detected by predators, coyotes can walk on their toes to make as little noise as possible. On another note, coyotes can be extremely loud. Our coyotes love to howl with our keepers and the wolves. When everyone gets going it is really something to hear.
What do Coyotes eat?
Coyotes are omnivores. They eat rabbits, mice, squirrels, fish, frogs and even deer. They also happily dine on insects, snakes, fruit, grass and carrion.
How long do Coyotes live?
Their lifespan is up to 14 years in the wild.
How many Coyotes can be born at a time?
In the spring, 3 to 12 pups are born at a time. Both parents feed and protect the pups.
Where can Coyotes be found?
They can be found over most of North America.
Interesting facts:
- The coyote reaches a respectable speed of 40 miles per hour.
- Just like dogs, coyotes use their urine in order to mark their territory.
- In order to not get detected by their prey or predators, sometimes coyotes walk on their toes to make as little noise as possible.
- Coyotes use a wide variety of vocalizations in order to communicate with one another. Howls, yelps, and high-pitched cries are best known, but they also bark, growl, wail, and squeal sometimes.
- The coyote has a very developed sense of smell which he uses for finding food and avoiding dangerous predators. They use their smell to spot a prey that is scurrying below the snow.
