Species Name: Canis latrans
Taxonomy: Class: Mammalia, Order: Carnivora, Family: Canidae
Physical Description: A medium-sized dog. They are similar in appearance to grey wolves but smaller in size and with a narrower muzzle. Coat is reddish-brown to blonde with a black- or white-tipped tail.
Geographical Range: This species is widespread, occurring as far south as Panama, and as far north as Alaska and northern Canada.
Habitat: This species is generalist in habitat and can be found in urban environments, Sonoran Desert scrub, forests, wetlands, agricultural areas, and more. They can be found pretty much anywhere, but the presence of wolves tends to reduce coyote abundances.
Diet: The coyote has an opportunistic diet, eating small mammals, insects, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and many kinds of fruit. They will also not hesitate to scavenge carrion left behind by other predators, road mortality, or natural death.
Behavior and Reproduction: Coyotes pair off and often form long lasting pair bonds, often mating with each other for several consecutive years. Reproductive season in Arizona is usually February. This species often forms packs, in which a breeder pair will mate and the rest (often juveniles from prior litters) will help raise the young. Often heard making noises (usually barks and yarls) as a pack. The average litter size is about 5 pups. This species often dens in the burrows of other animals.
Lifespan: The average lifespan of coyotes in the wild is 10-15 years. They tend to live longer in captivity.
Conservation Threats: Very few
Species of Greatest Conservation Need status in AZ: Not currently listed as a species of Greatest Conservation Need in Arizona.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species status: Least Concern
Backyard Conservation:
Fun Facts: Epithet ‘Canis latrans’ translates to “barking dog”. "Coyote" is derived from the Aztec word coyotl (meaning coyote), but was a symbol for a clever trickster. Coyotes can control their litter size based on population size and resources.
References:
Arizona Game and Fish (Accessed 17 February 2025). Arizona’s Wildlife: Coyote, Retrieved from azgfd.com.
Animal Diversity Web (Accessed 17 February 2025). Canis latrans: Coyote, Retrieved from animaldiversity.org.
Audubon Society (Published 2000). Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals Canis latrans.
IFAW (Accessed 17 February 2025). Coyotes Retrieved from ifaw.org.
Mammal Diversity Database (Accessed 17 February 2025). Canis latrans Retrieved from mammaldiversity.org.
Urban Coyote Project (Accessed 17 February 2025). General Information about Coyotes, Retrieved from urbancoyoteresearch.com.
Map: coming soon!