California
Canis latrans  Sally King, National Park Service | |
| Type of Animal: | Mammals |
|---|---|
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Federal Status: | |
| State Status: | |
| Occurrence: | |
| Habitat: | Grassland |
| Description: | Coyotes have historically not been favored much by humans. For years they have been hunted, poisoned, and trapped to keep them away from human territories and to prevent them from killing farm animals such as sheep. Despite efforts to control them, coyote populations continue to grow and their range continues to expand. Part of their success is due to versatility. Coyotes are opportunistic animals. They can eat a large variety of foods and live in a wide range of habitats. "Eats primarily mice, rats, ground squirrels, gophers, lagomorphs, and carrion. Takes some insects, reptiles, amphibians, fruits, and occasionally birds, their eggs, and deer fawns. Locally, some may take sheep and domestic fowl. Searches and pounces, stalks and chases, and may dig out prey. Hunts either solitarily, in pairs, or in small packs (family groups). Favors open habitats where it can chase down prey." (California Department of Fish and Game) In California, coyotes mate in February and the pups are born in April. The litter size can range from five to ten pups, and the typical litter size is six pups. The pups leave their parents between four and ten months, usually when food becomes scarce. |
| Effort: | |
| References: | Jameson et al. 1988. California Mammals. Wilson et al. (editors). 1999. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Whitaker (editor). 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals, Revised Edition. Zeiner et al. (editors). 1990. California’s Wildlife, Volume III, Mammals. |
| Other Sites: | "Keep me wild" - California Dept. of Fish and Game Species account - PDF file - Ca. Dept. Fish and Game |
| Field Office(s): | Bakersfield; Barstow; Bishop; Eagle Lake; Mother Lode; Hollister; Needles; Palm Springs; Redding; Ridgecrest; Ukiah |