Coyotes are familiar creatures in the Columbia Basin.
Coyotes, members of the dog family, are mammals. You may have seen or heard them around the Tri-Cities area, but even if you haven't, chances are they are nearby. Now, however, coyotes have expanded their territory to include all states except Hawaii. Their habitats range from low-lying desert regions in Central America and Mexico to the mountainous regions of Alaska. In the Columbia Basin, coyotes generally are a grayish, tawny brown with a light-colored belly and bushy tail that's black at the tip.