This is the first in a series
planned to bring attention to some of the animals of the forest,
and provide some information about the animals. I hope you enjoy
the series, have fun with the puzzles, learn something you might
not have known, while participating in this wonderful sport of
geocacheing.
Stop That guy he's making
off with the cache:
The cache, as you can see in
the Coyote's mouth, is a lock n lock container painted camo, and
contains the usual trading items and a FTF prize. Fortunately the
Coyote dropped the cache and we were able to retrieve
it.
This cache is dedicated to
the "Wiley Coyote": And is not at the posted co-ordinates. In order
to find the cache you must read the text below, in so doing you
will learn a little about the Coyote.
1) Let the average weight of
the Coyote = AB - CD pounds
2) Up to this number of young
are born each year = EF
3) The stride in Inches = GH
- IJ
4) Gestation lasts an average
of = KL days
The Final cache is located at
North 49 04.(J-E)IC West 121 46.L(H+L)C
Every evening I listen to
this adaptable animal as they call one another either just to say
"hello" or perhaps to say "I am going hunting, want to come?" If I
were to be watching every morning I would see one cross through my
back yard as they head back to their den area nearby. Geodobi goes
wild but certainly keeps her distance as this interloper passes
through the field.
Coyote
Canis
latrans
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.
Distribution - 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.
Biology - The coyote may pair for life and each year up
to 19 young are born. Eating almost anything it can chew, the
coyote is an opportunistic and cunning hunter. Known to run up to
40 mph, they often combine efforts with 1 or 2 others when running
their prey. The typical den is a wide mouthed tunnel, terminating
in an enlarged nesting area. Predators once included the grizzly
and black bears, mountain lions and wolves, but due to their
declining populations these are no longer a threat. Since coyote
pelts have become increasingly valuable, man is the major
enemy.
Tracks- 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
Coyotes breed in late January or early February
(depends on altitude), gestation lasts on average 63 days, and
litters of four to six pups (Average 5.5 pups; Moehlman 1997) are
born in late April or early May. Both parents (and often
undispersed young from the previous year) help to feed the pups. At
three weeks old the pups leave the den under close watch of their
parents. Once the pups are eight to twelve weeks old they are
taught to hunt. Families stay together through the summer but the
young disperse to find their own territories by fall. They usually
relocate within ten miles. The young are sexually mature at 1 year
of age, although few breed this young (Bekoff 1977).
Hearing a
coyote is much more common than seeing one. The calls a coyote
makes are high-pitched and variously described as howls, yips,
yelps and barks. These calls may be a long rising and falling note
(a howl) or a series of short notes (yips). These calls are most
often heard at dusk or night, less often during the day. Although
these calls are made throughout the year, they are most common
during the spring mating season and in the fall when the pups leave
their families to establish new territories.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.