Coyotes are members of the dog family or Canidae and are much like dogs in many of their habits. The scientific name of the coyote, Canis Latrans is Latin for “barking dog.”
Coyotes are found throughout Kansas as well as most of the North American continent. In recent years, they have expanded their range into all of the United States. In Kansas, coyotes are most abundant in the eastern two-thirds of the state.
The coyote is a great deal smaller than many people believe, averaging about two feet high at the front shoulders. In Kansas, adult males average around 30 pounds while females average slightly smaller at 24 pounds.
There are 19 recognized subspecies of the coyote in North America, two of which are found in Kansas.
Do Coyotes Cross with Domesitic Dogs? Occasionally, coyotes have been known to cross with domestic dogs, forming a hybrid commonly known as a coydog. Coydogs are relatively rare in Kansas, but they are known to occur, particularly in more heavily populated areas where dogs are allowed to roam free. Unlike many hybrids, the coydog is fertile and can reproduce.
Coyotes have been known to live 14 years in the wild and up to 21 years in captivity. The average life-span in the wild is much shorter than that. The average age in the wild population is 2 to 3 years. This average is due partially to the fact that a large proportion of the coyotes die before they ever reach 1 year of age.
Coyotes are known for their howling and singing ability. They can give a series of yips, yaps, and howls. The coyote’s voice has a ventriloqual quality and will carry for several miles. Coyotes are often heard howling from sunset until just after sunrise, but they can occasionally be heard during the day.
It is very difficult to eradicated established populations of coyotes. During the late fall and winter, nature takes a heavy toll of the young. Research shows that annual mortality for coyotes one year and older may reach 40 percent in populations not undergoing trapping or intensive artificial control. Therefore, the high reproductive potential of coyotes under good conditions may mean that control efforts merely crop the population, taking the surplus normally lost to nature. For that reason, trapping for pelts during fall and early winter is successful, but population control attempts at that time are practically wasted effort. Nature is already effectively culling the population.
For more information about coyotes or working on eradicating herds of coyotes, contact Lacey Noterman, K-State Research and Extension Wild West District Livestock Agent at lnote@ksu.edu or stop by your local extension office.
