The pups join parents on hunting trips when they reach eight to 10 weeks of age and they begin to disperse in the fall, but some pups may not leave the family group for up to two years. When a pup leaves the family group it usually relocates within five to 10 miles, but records show some have traveled in excess of 300 miles. Mortality As many as 50 to 70 percent of all juvenile coyotes die before they reach adulthood. Those that become adults typically live three to five years, and 30 to 50 percent of the adult population dies each year. Under most conditions, human-related causes, including hunting, trapping and vehicle collisions are responsible for most coyote mortality.
Coyotes compensate for that heavy harvest by breeding at younger ages and having larger litters.
Sarcoptic mange occurs in coyote populations throughout Nebraska. Mange outbreaks occasionally become severe and can seriously reduce coyote populations over large areas for a number of years. Other important diseases and parasites that effect coyotes include canine distemper, canine hepatitis and heartworm. Surprisingly, rabies is not an important disease in coyotes, although they are susceptible to that disease. Importance Several million dollars worth of livestock losses are annually attributed to coyote depredation nationwide and several million dollars are spent trying to control those losses.