🐺 Coyote
Canis latrans
About
A clever, adaptable canid that thrives everywhere from deserts to downtown parks. Coyote tracks are neater and more oval than a dog's.
Track
2–3 in long, oval outline. Four toes with visible claw marks. Narrow, oval print — longer than wide. Front two toes sit close together. Tracks fall in an efficient straight line.
Where they live
Prairies, deserts, forest edges, farmland, city greenways. Nearly all of North America, from Alaska to Panama.
When they're active
Crepuscular and nocturnal — dawn, dusk, and night
What they eat
Rodents, rabbits, fruit, insects, carrion
Fun fact
Coyotes 'group yip-howl' — two coyotes can sound like a whole pack thanks to shifting pitches.
Should I be concerned?
Generally shy. Keep small pets leashed at dawn and dusk, and if one approaches, make noise and look big instead of running.