Coyote Information

Coyotes are a breed of canines and resemble small shepherd type dogs in markings and build. The average length of an adult is 44 to 54 inches, including its 15” to 17” tail. The average weight of an adult coyote measured during fall and winter (their more sedentary season) from 22 to 42 pounds. Coyotes carry their tails lower than dogs, generally below the level of the back, rather than curved upward like dogs. Coyotes’ upper bodies are typically light gray to dull yellow, but can be mostly black, nearly all gray or white. Their underbodies are whitish, cream colored or pinkish yellow. The muzzle of a coyote is long and narrow; ears are pointed upright.

Coyotes are very adaptable animals that can live in a variety of environments, from rural to urban areas. Coyotes are most abundant in areas with a mixture of farmland, woodland and grasslands, but also frequent residential areas as well.

Coyotes are territorial animals and may live in large areas, often 20 to 30 miles in diameter. Several coyotes may share such an area, living as a pack. Since they are territorial animals, coyotes rarely intrude the area of another pack. However, some coyotes do not belong to packs and may have a larger range that encompasses multiple packs’ ranges. If a member of a pack dies or leaves, the solitary coyote may join the pack.

Like other canines, coyotes communicate by barking, yipping and howling. These noises are only forms of communication—not a sign of predatory or aggressive behavior. Coyotes make these noises in response to other noises they hear, including human-made noises such as sirens.

Coyotes are generally nocturnal and prefer to be active from dusk until dawn, but coyotes are frequently seen during daylight hours, which is considered normal.  Since coyotes live in such large areas, it is not abnormal to see a coyote walking or running through open or wooded areas, along paths (including streets or sidewalks for suburban and urban dwellers) in search of food or water.

Generally, coyotes live for three or four years.

The majority of a coyote’s diet consists of animal matter, largely rabbits, mice, other rodents, and birds. Coyotes are natural predators that help control the populations of rabbits and mice in their natural environment. Coyotes also eat insects, birds, fruits, eggs, berries or other food sources that are available.  They are opportunists that will also eat food or garbage left outdoors overnight and/or other food sources left for other animals/birds.

Most females reproduce in their second year of age, though some reproduce in their first year. Breeding peaks in late February/early March, typically for a period of two to five days during this time. The gestation (pregnancy) period for coyotes is 58 to 63 days, and pups are often born during April and May in a den under a hollow tree, log, brush pile or even an abandoned building (any place where the mother can shelter her pups). Coyotes often re-use dens created by other animals.

Litters are typically four to nine pups.  Like many animals in their infancy, pups are blind and helpless at birth, therefore reliant on their mothers for food and protection. Pups open their eyes between eight and 14 days of age and first emerge from the den around the age of 21 days. At the age of five or six weeks, pups leave the den for extended periods of time. Until the age of eight to 12 weeks, pups rely on their parents to hunt for them and return food.  At this age, pups begin learning to hunt for themselves and the family moves away from the den at this time. During the summer and fall months, the young break from their parents and may move up to 120 miles away in search of their own territory or area.

The alpha male and alpha female are the dominant male and female coyotes in a pack. If an alpha male leaves the pack or dies, another male becomes the alpha male or another alpha male will move into the pack.

Walking, running, barking, howling and hunting rabbits or rodents are NOT considered aggressive behaviors. Aggressive behavior may be exhibited when alpha males feel their territory is being threatened by another animal. Females may behave aggressively when rearing their pups in the spring—pups are helpless for the first few weeks of their lives, so their mothers are very protective.

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, coyotes do more good than harm where humans are concerned. Coyotes help control rodent populations, but may occasionally kill other animals, such as livestock, poultry or small domestic animals. There have been no reports of coyote attacks on humans in Libertyville, or anywhere in northeastern Illinois for that matter. Although rare in Libertyville, there have been a few incidents reported over the years, where a coyote has attacked a feral cat or small dog.