Although it might seem that there is a surge in the presence of coyotes lately, it really is
about this time every year there appears to be an uptake in sightings of this medium-
sized canine. So, does that mean there truly are more or does it just mean that we are
able to see them a little easier since hayfields have been mowed and combining has
taken place in the corn and soybean fields?
The coyote (Canis latrans) is a widely distributed dog-like carnivore that can be found in
virtually all of North and Central America. It is generally a slender animal, very similar in
appearance to a medium-sized dog and since the coyote and domesticated dog are
from the same family, Canidae, the resemblance is more than a coincidence. Coyotes
have a bushy tail which is usually tipped in black and is carried down at a 45 degree
angle as the animal moves, unlike that of its other cousin the wolf. The majority of
coyotes are gray, though some show a rusty, brown or off-white coloration. It stands
about one and one half to two feet tall and is between 41 to 53 inches in length. Males
of this species are larger than the females and weigh anywhere from 20 to 50 pounds.
Resembling a skinny German Shepherd, this member of the wolf family can run 45
miles per hour in short bursts; and the male coyote’s range can encompass up to 36
square miles. Their presence in fields and their haunting calls at night seem to be ever
more prevalent around Ohio, these days.
To learn more about this “dog-like carnivore”, please take a few minutes to review our
previous articles on this local predator …