It closely resembles a small German shepherd dog with the exception of the longer snout and bushy, black-tipped tail.
Coyotes are extremely adaptable and can survive on whatever food is available.
They hunt rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals as well as young deer and sheep. They will also feed from the carcasses of dead animals and will accept handouts from people in the form of table scraps, pet food and garbage. Coyotes are found throughout California, from deserts and mountain habitats to urban areas. They have certainly become much more common on and around Mt Diablo in recent years. Problems occur when people begin feeding coyotes, either deliberately or inadvertently.