ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - If you've caught a glimpse of an animal that made you think, "that's the biggest fox I've ever seen!", you've probably noticed one of the newer members of APG's wildlife population, the eastern coyote.
Coyotes were historically a western species, found mostly west of the Mississippi River. As competing predators were eliminated or reduced in other parts of the country, coyotes expanded their range. They now can be found in every state and province in North America.
Coyotes were first documented in Maryland in 1972 in Cecil, Frederick and Washington counties. Since that time, they have expanded statewide, with the highest numbers occurring in Western Maryland and the lowest on the Eastern Shore.
Almost no animal in America is more adaptable to changing conditions than the coyote. Coyotes can live just about anywhere. They are found in deserts, swamps, tundra, grasslands, brush, and dense forests, from below sea level to high mountains. They have also learned to live in suburbs and cities.
A typical coyote resembles a small, lanky German shepherd. They have large erect ears, a long, tapered muzzle, and a bushy tail that is carried low to the ground. Most coyotes are brownish gray in color with a light gray to cream-colored belly. However, a coyote's color varies and some animals appear blond, red, or black. Most coyotes have dark or black hairs over their back and tail and black tail tip.
Average adult weights range from approximately 30 to 40 pounds., with some individuals approaching 60 pounds. Total length from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail is 4 to 5 feet, and shoulder height varies between 1-1/2 to 2 feet. Males are typically larger than females. Coyotes from the northeastern United States tend to be significantly larger than those found west of the Mississippi River.
Coyotes have one litter per year, typically of four to six pups. Both parents help care for the pups. Coyotes are nocturnal, but with pups to feed, it's not uncommon to see the "mom and dad" out hunting to feed their litter. Newly independent pups that are learning to hunt also may be seen during the day. Daytime activity alone is not an indication of rabies or other illness. Most sightings of coyotes occur during the hours close to sunrise and sunset.
One of the keys to the coyote's success is its diet. A true scavenger, the coyote will eat just about anything. The coyote will eat voles, moles and rabbits, groundhogs, deer, birds, frogs, grasshoppers, fruits and vegetables, pet food left outdoors, birdseed, carrion, and just plain garbage.
This ability to eat nearly anything often brings coyotes into residential areas in search of an easy meal. Coyotes seen near homes or in residential areas are not a threat to human safety. However, ensuring that coyotes are viewed as good neighbors has as much to do with our actions as it does with theirs. Coyotes that become too comfortable around humans can quickly become pests.
Here are some things to do and not do in order to keep coyotes wild and to minimize conflicts.
Never feed coyotes or wildlife (other than birds)
Don't leave bowls of pet food or water outside at night
Keep garbage in sturdy containers with tight fitting lids
Keep compost in enclosed bins instead of exposed piles
Keep bird feeders out of reach and don't let seeds accumulate on the ground
Keep pets inside at night and watch small dogs while outside, even during daylight hours
Keep cats indoors
Always walk your dogs on a leash
Spay or neuter your dogs
Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds where coyotes could rest and den
Don't tolerate coyotes around your yard -- chase them off by yelling, throwing sticks, etc.
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