The coyote: American jackal

Sham S. Misri

The coyote  is  also known as the American jackal.  Its scientific name is  Canis latrans, means "barking dog". The color of the coyote's fur varies from grayish-brown to yellowish-gray on the upper parts, while the throat and belly tend to have a buff or white color. The black-tipped tail has a scent gland located on it.  Coyotes shed once a year, beginning in May with light hair loss, ending in July after heavy shedding. The ears are large in relation to the head, while the feet are small in relation to the rest of the body. Coyotes typically grow to 30–34 inches in length, excluding a tail of 12–16 inches. On  an average, the weight is  from 6.8–21 kg.

Coyotes sometimes mate with domestic dogs, usually in areas where the coyotes are plentiful. The resulting hybrids are called coy dogs. They maintain the coyote's predatory nature, making them a more serious threat to livestock than pure-blooded animals. Coyotes usually breed only once a year, while coy dogs will breed year-round, producing many more pups than a wild coyote. Differences in the ears and tail generally can be used to distinguish coy dogs from domestic dogs or pure coyotes.

When a coyote calls its pack together, it howls at one high note. When the pack is together, it howls higher and higher, and then they yelp and make very shrill sound. Coyotes are carnivores. They mainly eat small animals such as prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, birds, snakes, lizards, deer, and livestock. They also eat large insects and other large invertebrates. The coyote prefer fresh meat. Fruits and vegetables are a significant part of the coyote's diet in the autumn and winter months. Coyotes actively hunt cats, and leap shorter fences to take small dogs.

Coyotes shift their hunting techniques in accordance with their prey. When hunting small animals such as mice, they slowly hunt through the grass, and use their acute sense of smell to track down the prey. When the prey is located, the coyotes stiffen and pounce on the prey in a cat-like manner. Coyotes commonly work in teams when hunting large animals such as deer. When attacking large prey, coyotes attack from the rear. Occasionally, they also grab the neck and head, pulling the animal down to the ground. Coyotes are persistent hunters, with successful attacks sometimes lasting as long as a day.

Coyotes inhabit nearly every neighboring U.S. state and Alaska. They  have moved into most of the areas of North America and are often observed in garbage bins. They are difficult to tame, except when raised from a very young pup, and even then, much of their wild temperament shows when they reach puberty. Coyotes, has perhaps, never been domesticated. They Coyotes are an important furbearer animal.

When coyotes are about two years old, they select a mate and stay with that mate for life. The name coyote comes from the Aztec word coyote. The Aztecs were people who began living in Central America some 700 years ago. The coyote's keen intelligence and senses help it adapt to many different habitats: forests, deserts, mountains, suburbs, cities, and even golf courses.

Coyotes are native only to North America. Female coyotes select den sites and give birth from 1 to 12 pups in spring. Both parents care for the pups. Parents chew food and swallow it. Then they bring it up again to feed the pups.