Known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, the cunning coyote is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America.
In Utah, the coyote is not a protected species. The Utah DWR does not have jurisdiction to manage the species. Instead, coyotes can be taken at any time, anywhere, and for any reason.
Despite millions of coyotes being taken during the past century, and ongoing control efforts, coyotes not only still flourish, but are expanding their range. Like “Wile E. Coyote,” in the Roadrunner cartoon, coyotes seem to cheat death again and again.
Female coyotes may produce one litter of four to seven pups during the spring. The young are typically born in earthen dens, where they remain for eight to ten weeks. Both parents tend to the pups until fall, when the young leave the family and head off on their own.
Coyotes are active year-round and are primarily nocturnal. They are opportunistic feeders that mainly consume small animals and carrion, although plant material mule deer are also consumed.
For more information on the coyote or any other critter found in Utah, check out the Utah Field Guide on our outdoors page at KSLTV.com
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