Coyote (Canis latrans)
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Coyotes are clever, posses keen senses, and thrive in wilderness and suburban areas.
Distribution: common in northern and central Louisiana, some found in coastal southwest marshes and as far east as the Florida parishes, ranges from Alaska southward through western and southern Canada, through the western 2/3 of the U.S., and southward through southern Mexico
Habitat: prefers open country and idle farmlands adjacent to wooded areas; dens in gulleys under roots, thickets, and dense cover
Appearance: looks like a small German Shepherd, coat color varies, adults weighs 18-30 pounds; 43 teeth
Reproduction: coyotes mate for life; male attends the female and litter; breeding in February; 5-7 pups
Food habits: opportunistic with food; rabbits, birds, plants, insects, carrion, livestock, and poultry Habits: males roam 30-40 miles; females 5-8 miles
Controls: adults rarely preyed upon; juveniles by eagles, mountain lions, and dogs; prone to parvo, mange, distemper and rabies; parasites include lice, mites, ticks, and fleas
Values: keep other animals' populations in check; carrion habits reduce the population of insects which afflict livestock; host fleas and ticks which carry the bubonic plaque, which is fatal to man; significant loss to livestock in some areas.
