By four months, they are learning how to catch food on their own. By the end of the first year, the litter of coyotes disperses to find territories of their own. They travel large distances in search of a decent place to call home. Most young coyotes die at this stage due to human persecution to the inexperienced trouble-makers. Coyotes can live up to 15 years in the wild, and 22 years in captivity.
Coyotes communicate in a variety of ways.
The most famous of these is the coyote's howl, which is a high pitched yapping barking howl, that can be heard for miles around on a clear night. They also communicate through other sounds, such as snarls, barking, growling, and whining. Each sound communicates a different feeling, like anger or submission. Coyotes use scent communication as well, regularly marking off their territorial boundaries with urine and feces, which tells intruders that another coyote is living here and to stay out. Disease such as rabies and hookworm also take their toll.