Coyotes

Coyotes:

The *Canas latrans*
or Coyote, is a canine native to the North American region. Coyotes are a
sub-species of the Gray Wolf and are carnivorous by nature. Their prey is
largely dependent on their location as they are very wide-spread throughout
their region. Such prey can vary from small insects like grasshoppers to large
mammals like deer. Coyotes will hunt in both the day and night, especially when
they have pups to care for.

First Steps:

The Gestation period for female coyotes is as short as 60-63
days. The average litter size is 5-7 pups. Before the pups are born, the mother
creates a den, usually a hole in the ground that is safe to give birth in. This
den will serve as a home for these pups in the early life. When they are born
the mother will stay by their side, not leaving the den until their eyes open
for the first time. The pups are breastfed for only the very beginning of their
lives. Around a month after birth, they will already be weaned and eating meat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Coyote#p00f7617

Growing Up:

After a few months, the pups have matured into adolescents.
They are now learning how to hunt, beginning with small prey like insects. The
learning process is very hands-off from the adults, as the pups must learn on
their own. The pack will all stay in one area with an adult standing by as a
lookout. This is when the pups will learn that hunting is often a task done
solo or with a partner.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Coyote#p00f75h6

Home:

Once the pups are weaned and grown, the den is abandoned. Coyotes
may not have “house”, but they definitely have home territory. These territories
are home to a pack of coyotes, which have chosen it based on access to food and
its quality of shelter. The pups have gotten to a point in their lives when
they either venture of to start a new pack, or stay with their birth pack. A
coyote pack is ruled by an Alpha Male and Female pair, and consists of their
pups and sometimes other adults. Coyotes that leave their home pack are called
transients, and can only join another pack if accepted by the alphas.

Power:

The alpha male is always the most dominant in the pack. From
a young age, the hierarchy is already established, so there is no need for
fighting over power. When the alpha male dies, the next most dominant will take
over. The alpha female is the female deemed most worthy by the alpha male, the
mate he has chosen. However, the alpha has access to every female in the pack.
The alpha male marks the borders of his territory with urine. These boundaries
are dependent on the size of the pack, and sustainable food sources within. The
smaller the pack, the smaller the boundaries. Occasionally an unknown coyote
will enter the boundary in hopes of joining the pack.

Courtship:

During mating season, the alpha pair are the only that
reproduce. During this time, they will often sleep next to each other, sniff
each other and groom each other. The process leading up to mating the two will
bond greatly, leading to a monogamous relationship for the rest of their lives.
The same process occurs every mating season.

Parenthood:

While the mother coyote remains close to her pups in the
den, the alpha male and the rest of the pack will hunt for meat to regurgitate
into the pups’ mouths. The major duties of a parent coyote include feeding,
grooming and protecting the pups. They will also indirectly teach the pups the
basics of hunting through observation.