Tahoe Wildlife:
The Coyote
Clever
and adaptive, coyotes flourish over much of North America, in part
because of their keen hunting and foraging skills.
Coyotes will eat almost anything. They hunt rabbits, rodents, fish,
frogs, and even deer. They also eat insects, snakes, fruit, grass,
and carrion. Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other
livestock, as well as pets, many ranchers and farmers regard them
as destructive pests.
Coyotes have keen vision and a strong sense of smell. During
pursuit, a coyote may reach speeds up to 43 mph, and can jump a
distance of over 13 ft.
Coyotes form strong
family groups. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more
effective hunting. In spring, females den and give birth to litters
of three to twelve pups. Both parents feed and protect their young
and their territory. The pups are able to hunt on their own by the
following fall.