Coyotes in Warner Park

Coyotes in Warner Parks

                                                          

Have you ever been hiking at Warner Park in the early morning or late evening and heard the coyotes howling?  The howls of coyotes can inspire fear, but how much do we really know about them?  Let’s learn a little bit about these enigmatic animals.  Coyotes are not native, but they arrived in Tennessee in the 1970s.  They have found a niche here due to the decline of wolves, an ability to adapt to different habitats, and natural range expansion.  

                        
                          Photo by Diana Robinson 

The average weight of coyotes in Tennessee is 20 – 40 pounds, the average length is 48 – 53 inches.  Fur can be grey, brown, white, or black, and always with a black tipped tail, and the animal’s fur color will change in the winter.

Look closely at the head of this coyote.  As you examine it, you will notice a slender muzzle with a black nose and erect pointed ears.  Their eyesight is 6 times better than humans’ and their sense of smell is 23 times better! This is important because they use these senses to find their food.  A coyote licks its nose to moisten it to increase its ability to smell.  Try it yourself.  Pick your favorite smell, wet your nose, and see if the smell is stronger.

When you examine the skull, you can tell coyotes are omnivores.   The sharp front teeth are an indicator they prefer to catch and eat animals such as deer, birds, rabbits, rodents, squirrels, and skunks, and surprisingly, coyotes also eat fruit – look for persimmon seeds in their scat in the fall.  They chew and grind their food with their back teeth, their molars, that are very similar to ours.  They are quite opportunistic and will also eat dog and cat food if left outside, so keep pet food inside or locked up.  

If it snows, coyote tracks are a common sight in the Park.  A coyote will walk with a direct register, meaning in a straight line.  This allows them to conserve energy when resources are scarce.  A dog’s track is very similar, but their tracks will often meander in a playful manner.

Eastern coyotes can  be found in small packs, although some prefer to live alone.  A pack is comprised of an alpha male and female, their children, including some from previous years, and any other coyote who has been accepted into their family.  

Photo by tbtalbottir

For the most part monogamous, coyotes breed between late December and March.  The pups are born March – May, and they nurse for four weeks.  Both parents participate in caring for the pups.  Some pups stay with the family about nine months and then strike out on their own.  Some stay with the pack. 

                                                     

Much like a nest, the coyotes only use their dens when the pups are small. Dens may consist of a hollowed-out tree stump, rock outcrop, or existing burrow made by raccoons, skunks, or other medium-sized carnivores. Coyotes will also build dens from scratch by digging a hole. They usually prefer some protective cover at the den, such as bushes or trees, and some type of slope for drainage, away from human activity.  The mother will birth, nurse, and protect her pups in a chamber three to six feet below the surface.  Mothers often transfer their young from den to den to keep them safe or reuse the same den year after year.

    

                                                                       By NDomer73

Enjoy an evening stroll or morning jaunt at Warner Park and take some time to listen for the coyotes.  If you are lucky enough to see a coyote, please don’t panic, but instead enjoy the beauty of these fascinating animals.

By Melissa Donahue