Coyote

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Physical Description - A grizzled grey or reddish-grey coat with buff underparts, long, rusty or yellowish legs and a bushy tail characterize the coyote. They have arresting, yellow eyes and prominent ears. Average weight is 20-40 pounds.

Habitat - The coyote was originally native only to the prairies and arid west but as settlers moved across the country, altering the landscape and doing away with wolves, a new niche was opened up to the coyote. They now thrive in the Western Hemisphere from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans. Coyotes occur in nearly all types of habitat, including some urban and suburban areas. They are most abundant in areas with a mixture of farmland, woodland, and grassland.

Habits - A coyote lives in a large area, often 20-30 miles in diameter. Several coyotes may share this area. Coyotes sometimes form packs in western states, where living as a group gives them an advantage in killing large prey like deer or elk. It also gives them an advantage in defending their kill from other predators.

Coyotes communicate with a variety of barks, yips, and howls. They also mark areas with urine, feces, or gland secretions, much like domestic dogs. "Body language" plays an important role in the family social structure and in meetings between strangers. Facial expressions and body gestures can signal a coyote's aggressive, submissive, or neutral intentions.

Tracks - Coyotes prefer semi-open country and like to travel on ridges or old trails. They are most active from dusk until the early morning hours, but are sometimes seen at other times of the day. They can run up to 43 miles per hour for short distances. Water is rarely a barrier because coyotes swim well.  The coyote track closely resembles that of a dog or fox although the coyote tends to follow a straight path across open areas where the others will wander or follow aspects of the landscape. The print is a rough oval shape with four toes bearing claw prints. The larger front foot has a much larger pad than the smaller rear foot.

Straddle: 10.5 - 15 cm (4.2 - 6 in)
Stride: 30 - 40 cm (12 - 16 in)
Track: 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long / 5.5 cm (2.2 in) wide

Diet

 Eating almost anything it can chew, coyote is a opportunistic and cunning hunter. Known to run up to 40 mph, they often combine efforts with 1 or 2 others when running their prey.