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Coyote (Canis
latrans)
The coyote has erect,
pointed ears; a long snout; and green, wolflike eyes. Its body is 0.75 to 1
m (2.5 to 3.3 ft) long, not including the tail, which is 30 to 40 cm (12 to
16 in) in length. The thick coat and prominent bushy tail have black-tipped
guard hairs; the inner fur varies greatly, from the reddish-blond coyotes to
the light gray of coyotes.
Coyotes are most active
at night, when they emit their characteristic sharp barks and prolonged
howls; they are also active at dawn and dusk. Usually they hunt singly or in
relays with others rather than in packs. They eat on carrion, birds, large
insects, and rodents, and can reach speeds of more than 60 km/h (more than
40 mph) when running down animals such as rabbits. Coyotes also prey on
unprotected sheep and occasionally on weakened deer. Females bear 2 to 12
pups. The pups are tended by both parents, and by autumn they weigh 9 kg (20
lb) and can fend for themselves. Coyotes mate for life. They sometimes breed
with feral dogs to produce “coydogs,” which, however, breed at inopportune
seasons and soon die out. |
| Attempts have
been made to exterminate coyotes by poisoning and hunting, especially in
sheep-farming lands in the southwestern United States. These efforts have
been largely unsuccessful due to the coyote’s wariness and adaptability.
Opponents of these measures argue that without the coyotes, populations of
such rodents as jackrabbits quickly swell and destroy the vegetation
intended for sheep. |
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