The social unit evolves around the mated pair and its offspring. However, the delayed dispersal of some offspring may result in extended family relationships beyond a year. Observations indicate other coyotes living in a territory may help provide food to a growing litter. They have one heat period that lasts 4 to 5 days, usually in February. The litters are born from mid-April to early May, and litter sizes average 5 to 7 pups.
Coyotes compensate for unusually high mortality by having larger litters.
Known denning sites range from beneath overturned trees, piles of tree stumps, rock dens, and dug out red fox dens. Dens are usually located on southerly exposures. The pups are moved frequently to new dens to avoid detection. Young coyotes begin to disperse from the family group during October, when they're six months old. Studies in Pennsylvania indicate some juvenile coyotes dispersed up to 100 miles, but 30 to 50 miles is more common.