by Sharon Challenger
Photos by Sal De Fini
“Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my!” would not be the right mantra for those of us who live in Haddam, Higganum, Haddam Neck, or Killingworth. For us it would be more along the lines of “Coyotes, Bobcats, and Bears, oh my!”
Living in the neighborhood of Connecticut’s second largest forest, Cockaponset, we are no strangers to wildlife in our back yards. Cockaponset Forest is named after an Eastern Algonquin Indian Chief who is buried in the Ponset section of Haddam. The forest encompasses over 17,000 acres and spans the towns of Haddam, Chester, Deep River, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Killingworth, Durham, Guilford, Middletown, and Middlefield.
While we might like to imagine coyotes reside mostly deep in our forests, they prefer living on the edge between clearings and woodlands. However, they have been seen in cities, suburbs, parks, beach fronts, golf courses, and office parks.
It may surprise you to learn that the eastern coyote is not native to Connecticut. They only began appearing in our state in the 1950’s. Since then, however, sightings of coyotes began to increase and have made many of us sit up and take note of their presence. Today they can be found throughout our state with numbers ranging from 3,000 to possibly as many as 5,000.
The eastern coyote is a mix of the western coyote, wolf, and domestic dog. This hybridization occurred in southern Ontario around the turn of the 20th century. The eastern wolf population had been decimated by hunting trapping and clear cutting of forests. The few wolves that survived, mixed with the western coyote. As a result. the eastern coyote is approximately 35% heavier than its western counterpart. It is however smaller than the eastern wolf which is approximately 65% heavier than the same sex eastern coyote.
The differences between western and eastern coyotes have spurred some scientists to say the eastern coyote should be designated as a new species, Canis oriens. In addition, they believe a new common name is also warranted, “Coywolves,” because they are 60% coyote, 30% wolf, and 10% dog.
Differences between Eastern and Western coyotes
- Eastern coyotes have a larger “home range” (11 square miles.)
- Eastern coyotes have a wider skull, bigger teeth, bigger paws, and longer legs.
- Eastern coyotes can weigh up to 50 lbs. Western coyotes range from 20 -30 lbs.
- Eastern coyotes have more color, with odd colorations of red, black, pale or a combination.
- Eastern coyote tracks can be up to 3.5 inches, which is one inch longer than those of the western coyote.
Comparison of Coyote, Dog, and Wolf Paw Prints. Source: http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/wolf/wolfCoyote.html
Breeding habits
Monogamous by nature, their bonds with their mate can last several years. The breeding season runs from January to March with gestation being around 63 days. Litter size can vary from four to seven pups but can be as large as twelve. Both parents and older offspring help to care for the young pups. Their dens can be in dense thickets, or they sometimes will use the dens of other animals. After their pups are weaned the den is usually abandoned but can be used in following years. Pups reach adult size after approximately nine months.
Important things to know:
- Coyote breeding season in Connecticut runs from January through March with the peak being mid-February.
- Male coyotes become more aggressive during the breeding season.
- Coyotes are attracted to and can mate with domestic dogs which have not been spayed or neutered.
- Coyote pups are born April to mid-May and females and males can become very protective of their core territory during this time period.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of the coyote is six to eight years. In captivity they can live as long as sixteen years. They can become infected with canine distemper, mange, and parvovirus. They are susceptible to rabies but are not carriers of the mid-Atlantic strain of the virus. Like dogs and wolves, they can suffer from ticks, fleas, heartworms, and intestinal worms. Whereas wolves used to be their top predator, their decline has allowed for the coyote to prosper. Today, humans are their biggest threat. In urban areas they have to beware of cars, in the rural areas, their major cause of death is trapping and hunting. It is legal to hunt and trap coyote in Connecticut, but there are strict laws and regulations. (https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Coyote)
Territory
A “pack” will consist of a breeding pair, their offspring, and coyotes from other packs that have been accepted into the family. Food supply will be the determining factor when it comes to size of the pack. If their diet is influenced by humans, the pack could be much larger than those who have to survive on a natural diet.
The entire area, territory, in which they live is called a “home range.” Like dogs, they will mark their territory with urine to ward off other coyotes. However, unlike dogs, they use scat to defend the core areas of their territory. If they rely on a natural diet, the territory will be larger than if their diet is assisted by humans.
Diet
As coyotes expanded their habitat, their diets changed. Prior to living in close proximity to humans, they relied heavily on rabbits, mice, and insects. Today they have been known to consume small mammals, birds, livestock, pets, and even fruits and vegetables. They really enjoy munching on pumpkins in the fall.
If You Encounter a Coyote
Coyotes typically are reclusive animals. However, some have adapted to living in urban areas and feel humans pose no threat to them. While attacks are quite rare, if you encounter a coyote, there are things you can do to avoid a confrontation.
- NEVER run or turn your back. Running may change the coyotes’ opinion of you from aggressor to prey.
- If you’re walking a dog, keep them close to you. Pick up the dog if it is small or shorten the leash length for a larger dog. It is important to maintain control of your pet at all times.
- During the breeding/rearing season of January – May, coyotes are particularly defensive. It’s best to remain calm and walk away from them without turning your back. Stare directly into its eyes and stand tall.
- If it not breeding season, you can be more aggressive. Hazing techniques can be applied. Hazing is a way to help deter them from neighborhoods and reestablish their fear of humans. Stand tall, stare into the eyes of the coyote and shout loudly at it until it runs away. You also can blow a whistle, wave your arms, throw stones or sticks towards the coyote.
- Continue to “haze” the coyote until it leaves the area. If it returns, continue to haze the coyote. They typically will not return after such an encounter.
- Do not interact with a coyote if it appears to be sick. Call authorities and report the incident.
- Protect your pets by keeping cats inside, and dogs leashed. Take walks during the busiest time of day, not early morning, or late evening when coyotes are most likely to be roaming.
- Be mindful of children and pets when they are outdoors.
Native American Mythology
Due to their late arrival on the east coast of the United States, most Native American mythology about the coyote pertains to the tribes of the mid-west and desert southwest.
Within the different tribes, mythological coyotes are often depicted as being clever, intelligent, stealth, and in possession of voracious appetites. The coyote characters can vary widely from tribe to tribe, however. In some tribal myths they are depicted as a cherished hero who teaches and helps humans. In others, they can be seen as a scoundrel who exposes the dangers of negative behaviors such as greed, lying, cheating, and arrogance. Sometimes the coyote is simply a comic trickster, whose lack of wisdom gets him into trouble while his cleverness gets him back out.
In the Arikara tribe (Plains) there is a coyote deity by the name of Chirich (pronounced “schee-reetch.”) He is a clever trickster. He is forever getting himself and others around him into trouble. Like the famous cartoon character Wylie Coyote, he frequently dies or gets harmed only to come back to life where he continues to play his tricks.
Chirich stories are shared to remind us of the consequences of bad behavior and the dangers of associating with harmful characters.
In The Magic Windpipe, we see the trickster coyote Chirich as a thief who steals a magic windpipe from a beautiful Native American girl who lives alone on the edge of a forest. In the end of the story, he is punished severely by a group of braves, nipping dogs, children throwing stones and bumblebees swarming after him. The raging bees settled all over coyote and stung him so hard that he ran howling into the forest. And they kept stinging him until he was well punished for lying and stealing. https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/The_Magic_Windpipe-Arikara.html
One thing seems certain, Coyotes are here to stay whether it be in legends or in reality. They are an important part of our ecosystem, and we will need to learn how to adapt to them, just as smoothly as they have learned to adapt to us.
Photos by Sal De Fini
(Retired from a 37 yr Insurance career in NYC. Relocated to CT 7 yrs ago and now an avid nature photographer.) Email: used2b175@gmail.com
Photo blog:http://sal-ct.blogspot.com/
