Coyotes are clever enough to trick other animals. A coyote might leap about crazily near a group of birds to distract them, then its partner might sneak up on the birds and seize a few of them for dinner. People have helped coyotes to spread across North America. Wolves eat many of the same small animals that coyotes do. With the wolf practically gone in many areas, the coyote has quickly moved in.
Some coyotes kill calves and lambs on people's ranches and farms.
For a century people have tried to kill coyotes by using poison, traps, and guns. Still coyotes continue to thrive. Coyotes are related to foxes.