![]() ![]() Coyotes live throughout Upstate New York and commonly inhabit many suburban and urban areas. They are here to stay.Ĭoyotes, commonly believed to live only in the more rural or wild parts of New York, readily adapt to living close to people. Regardless of how they arrived in the state, coyotes have been present in New York since the 1930s, and have been firmly established throughout the state since the 1970s. Coyotes then spread rapidly across the state over the next 40-50 years. Evidence indicates that coyotes reached New York and the Northeast in the early 1930s and 1940s, with coyote range expansion first reaching the state by passing north of the Great Lakes and into northern New York. This explanation suggests that coyotes originally inhabited central North America and naturally extended their range throughout the continent in response to human changes to the land. The second and more widely accepted hypothesis is that Eastern coyotes are a relatively new species in New York. The return of forested habitats during the 20th century coincided with the return of the coyote. ![]() The clearing of the forest for farms and homes forced coyotes to retreat to unsettled areas of the Northeast. ![]() The first explanation is that coyotes were here before Europeans settled North America. There are two hypotheses to explain the presence of Eastern coyotes in New York. These young coyotes often travel 50 to 100 miles in search of a vacant territory, find a mate, and enter adulthood as a breeding pair. They are fully grown at 9 months and eventually disperse after being driven from their parents' home ranges. Coyote pups grow rapidly and are weaned at 5 to 7 weeks of age and abandon den sites around this time. Litters of 4-6 pups are born in ground dens, brush piles, or under downed trees or human structures, such as sheds and other buildings. Male coyotes may travel greater distances to hunt more intensively while seeking additional food to support the female and pups. In early spring, female coyotes use dens for raising pups and often stay close to these sites. Adult coyotes live in home ranges throughout the year in New York however, they may shift their activity patterns during the four seasons.Ĭoyotes are monogamous and mate for life. They are territorial, and will firmly defend portions of their home range. They are year-long residents and typically inhabit an area known as a home range. Seeing a coyote during the day does not necessarily mean it is sick or unhealthy, but caution should be exercised. They may be observed moving about during the day, yet are more active after sunset and at night. Coyotes do not frequently kill healthy adult deer.Ĭoyotes are not strictly nocturnal. Deer killed by vehicles and other causes (carrion) can be an important food source for coyotes. Annually, their diet includes white-tailed deer, rabbits, small mammals such as mice and voles, raccoons, groundhogs, birds, insects, and plant materials. Coyote diets are diverse and vary throughout the year based on seasonal availability. Life HistoryĬoyotes are opportunistic omnivores, meaning a coyote's diet depends on what is easy to find, scavenge, or catch and kill. Eastern coyotes can be distinguished from wolves by their smaller size large, pointed ears and pointed snout. ![]() Learn more about steps you can take to avoid conflicts with coyotes.Įastern coyotes have a mix of coyote, wolf, and dog ancestry and are larger in size (about 40 pounds, on average) than coyotes west of the Mississippi. You can read more about coyotes in the article "Rise of the Eastern Coyote (PDF)" in the June 2014 issue of the Conservationist. Many have a white chin and a dark spot just below the base of the tail when observed from behind. Weight: 35 to 45 pounds (males usually larger than females)Ĭolor: Variable, from blonde or reddish blonde to dark tan washed with black. They have long, thick fur and full bushy tails, usually carried pointing down. Eastern coyotes look similar to German shepherd dogs, yet are half the weight. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |