Transcript
How to Identify a Coyote Physical Appearance Coyotes are smaller than their wolf relatives, and are approximately the size of a small German Shepherd. Their color varies, from red to light brown to gray, and they have long ears, a long pointed face, and a bushy black-tipped tail that they hold low to the ground. Coyotes usually only hold their tails horizontally when displaying signs of aggression. Due to their thick coat, coyotes tend to look larger than they actually are. Some coyotes can appear small, however, and may be confused with foxes. A couple of physical attributes will help tell them apart. First, foxes run with their tails held straight out, while coyotes run with their tails pointed down towards the ground. Second, foxes tend to have contrasting colors on their legs when compared to their bodies. Coyotes have the same coloring on their legs and body. Finally, pay attention to that black-tipped tail – if it’s present, it’s a coyote; if not, it may be a fox (although sometimes the black tip on the coyote is subtle).
Vocalizations Coyote vocalizations can often be heard in both rural and urban environments. With highpitched yips and quavering howls that sound like cries, listening to coyotes at night can be an eerie experience. However, the coyotes use these vocalizations to communicate with each other, and each vocalization means something different. Howling is used by individual coyotes to communicate with others – often it is used by males to call females and claim territory. Yelping or yipping is typically used in family packs and is used in play as well as fighting or bickering. Barking can often be difficult to distinguish from a domestic dog bark. However, this is usually heard near a coyote den or kill, and is the coyote’s way of saying “stay back”. Rarely heard is communication between adult and juvenile coyotes, which comes in the form of a huffing sound. This vocalization is quiet and is used to call pups.
