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In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a coyote in just a few quick steps, but first... Coyotes are canines, like pet dogs. Coyotes used to only l

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Sometimes, they join small packs (groups), but normally hunt alone. Coyotes live in dens. They dig a tunnel under the ground and then dig out a larger area at the end of the tunnel where they sleep and have their babies or pups. They can have six pups at a time.

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You probably don't have wolves living in your backyard, but you just might have coyotes. These small wild dogs live all over the United States. They can adapt to many types of areas. They live in the desert, the mountains, the plains and even in cities.

Coyotes are carnivores, but they eat fruit and vegetables too. In fact, they might even get in your garden to snack on berries or melons.

Fun Facts about Coyotes for Kids

Coyotes weigh only about 20 pounds, making them the size of a medium dog.

They have long fur that is brownish red, grey or white. Coyotes have a bushy tail like a fox.

Coyotes raise their pups in dens or holes in the ground.

They usually have two to four pups.

Coyotes make high yipping sounds. These sounds get louder and faster when they close in on prey. A coyote's yipping sounds a little scary if you've never heard it before.

Even though coyotes look like dogs, they're wild. If you see one, yell and back away slowly.

Coyote Vocabulary

Learn More All About Coyotes

Have a look at this awesome video all about coyotes:

A video documentary about the live of coyotes in the wild.

Coyote Q&A

Question: Do coyotes live in packs like wolves?

Answer: Yes, but their packs aren't as organized or as long lasting.

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Question: Will coyotes hurt humans?

Answer: Not usually, but they are wild. They sometimes eat pets.

Enjoyed the Easy Science for Kids Website all about Coyotes info? Take the FREE & fun all about Coyotes quiz and download FREE Coyotes worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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You probably don't have wolves living in your backyard, but you just might have coyotes. These small wild dogs live all over the United States. They can adapt to many types of areas. They live in the desert, the mountains, the plains and even in cities.

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Published August 15, 2014
By the early 1900s, people had wiped out nearly all the eastern wolves through hunting, trapping, and clear-cutting forest habitat. No more wolves meant no more fierce enemies for coyotes, so western coyotes successfully branched out toward the east to claim new territories.

A few wolves survived in the Great Lakes region. Lonely and isolated, these wolves bred with the coyote newcomers, and the coyote-wolf hybrid-also known as the eastern coyote or coywolf-was born.

In the September 2014 issue of NG Kids magazine, you can read more about these cunning coyotes. Learn more below about the differences between western and eastern coyotes and how you can tell if that canine at your local park is a coyote or just a stray dog.

Did You Know?

Wile E. Coyote was inspired by Mark Twain's description of the coyote as a "long, slim, sick and sorry-looking skeleton, with a gray wolfskin stretched over it."

American Indian mythology refers to the coyote as a "trickster" and Navajo livestock herders referred to it as "God's dog."

Though eastern coyotes are still considered to be the same species as the western coyotes and retain the typical cleverness of any coyote, the eastern cousins do have a few different traits that developed as the animals and their descendants continued their expansion eastward after mixing with wolves. It looks like this "new" canine cousin of the western coyote may be so successful in the East because it combines coyote brains with wolf brawn.

According to Roland Kays, who directs the Biodiversity Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, interbreeding between eastern wolves and western coyotes probably helped the new hybrid coyotes adapt to going after the prey that is easily available in the east. "The wolves passed on characteristics that made these coyotes slightly bigger," Kays says. "That also resulted in wider skulls, which we think allows them to have a stronger jaw that can handle larger prey, such as deer."

Compared to the western coyote, the coywolf has:

A beefier body: Eastern coyotes weigh up to 50 lbs. (23 kg), compared to western coyotes at 20-30 lbs. (9 - 14 kg).

More color, on average, with odd colorations that include: red, black, pale, or a combination of those colors

A longer, bushier tail

A bigger, broader skull

Larger teeth

Bigger paws

Longer legs

Coydogs? According to Kays, the added coloration in some eastern coyotes may be due to a mixing with domestic dog populations.

"Look, there's a coyote in our backyard!" Or is there?

Coyotes can be found living throughout most of North America today, but would you know how to spot one? Let's examine some of the signs ...

As you can see from the graphic above, coyote tracks are similar to dog tracks. However, there are some differences you can look for. Compared to dog tracks, coyote tracks:

Are more oval-shaped, with the two middle claws being closer together

Have less prominent claws

Are more compact

Coyote tracks also tend to go in a straight line, whereas dogs tend to wander aimlessly.

Note that eastern coyote tracks can be up to 3.5 inches (9 centimeters), or an inch (2.5 centimeters) longer than those of the western coyote.

Tails
Coyotes typically carry their tail downward whereas dogs typically carry their tail up in the air.

Talking
The coyote's scientific name, Canis latrans, means "barking dog." While they can bark like dogs, coyotes also produce high-pitched, loud yips and howls. A mated pair of coyotes will produce a group "yip-howl," whereby the male howls and the female adds in yips, yaps, and barks. See if you can listen for differences between coyote and dog vocalizations in the audio recordings below.

Did You Hear?

Two coyotes howling together can sound like eight or more due to the way their sounds are distorted as they pass through the environment. This phenomenon is known as the Beau Geste Effect.

Like people, dogs have "accents." Scientists can distinguish between the barks of British dogs and American dogs. Additional research may reveal differences in howls among coyotes in different regions.

Portions of this story were taken from the "Top Dogs" article written by Karen De Seve in the September 2014 issue of NG Kids magazine.

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Watch the video "Coyote - National Park Animals for Kids" uploaded by Funny Collection 2015 on Dailymotion.

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Coyote ( Canis latrans)

What they look like: Coyotes are distinguished from domesticated dogs by their pointed, erect ears and drooping tail, which they hold below their back when running. The coloration of coyotes varies from grayish brown to a yellowish gray on the upper parts. The throat and belly are white. The long tail, which is half the body length, is bottle shaped with a black tip.

Coyotes are members of the dog family (canids) which includes wolves, jackals, coyotes, dogs, and foxes.

Where they live:
Coyotes are found throughout North and Central America. They range from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Coyotes are present and common in most of Washington except the islands, and has been seen recently on Bainbridge and Whidbey. Prefers open habitat and forest edges and readily uses open forests and extensive burned or clear cut areas. Found in agricultural lands, and at the edges, and sometimes well into developed areas including cities.

Click the range map to learn more about the distribution of Coyotes in Washington.

What they eat: Coyotes are carnivorous ( eat meat) -- they eat primarily small mammals, such as eastern cottontail rabbits, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, and white-footed mice. They occasionally eat birds, snakes, large insects and other large invertebrates. Coyotes can live in a variety of areas since they will eat almost anything, including human trash and household pets.

Behavior: Coyotes are nocturnal predators, but can occasionally be seen during daylight hours. Coyotes are capable of running at speeds up to 65 km/hr and they can jump horizontal distances of up to 4 meters. Coyotes are less likely to form packs than are wolves, so they usually hunt individually, in pairs or small family groups.

Coyotes are resourceful. They are capable of digging their own burrows, but they often enlarge the burrows of woodchucks or badgers to use for their dens.

Reproduction: Coyotes mate between late January and March. Once the female chooses a partner, the animals may remain paired for a number of years. Young are born after a gestation of 60 to 63 days. Litter size ranges from 1 to 19 pups (the average litter size is 6 pups). They usually breed once each year. Coyotes can mate with domestic dogs and occasionally with gray wolves.

Lifespan/Longevity: Coyotes have been known to live a maximum of ten years in the wild and 18 years in captivity.

Did you know?

The young are born blind and open their eyes after 10 days.

Coyotes live up to 10 years in the wild.

They can jump horizontal distances of up to 4 meters.

Animal silhouettes available to purchase "
More information:
Coyote Facts - Animal Diversity Web
Coyotes - National Geographic Kids
Hinterland Who's Who - Coyote
NWCoyoteTracker - Urban and Suburban Coyote Sightings

Photo Credit: Robert Ashbaugh (top), Natures Pics (bottom)

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Coyote facts for kids by the NatureMapping Program.

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Coyote is a member of the canine (dog) family. Although it resembles wolf, these two are completely different species. Coyote can be found in the United States, Mexico and Canada. They inhabit different types of ecosystem, such as deserts, mountains and prairies.

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5 Amazing Facts About Coyotes That You Need to Know

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Discover some facts about coyotes, and learn why they are considered "barking dogs."

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1. The coyote has a very developed sense of smell which he uses for finding food and avoiding dangerous predators. They use their smell to spot a prey that is scurrying below the snow.

2. Coyotes use a wide variety of vocalizations in order to communicate with one another. Howls, yelps, and high-pitched cries are best known, but they also bark, growl, wail, and squeal sometimes. Family groups yelping in unison can create the illusion of a dozen or more performing together. Coyotes are most often heard around dawn and dusk. However, they may respond to sirens and fire whistles at any time of day or night.

3. In order to not get detected by predators, sometimes coyotes walk on their toes to make as little noise as possible.

4. Just like dogs, coyotes use their urine in order to mark their territory.

5. Coyotes use holes for sleeping and when they give birth to their pups.

6. The coyote doesn't hunt alone; usually they hunt in groups of 2-3.

7. Their diet consists of rabbits, insects, mice, fruits, lizards and other foods as well.

8. The coyote is able to detect hunters coming from a mile away or even more.

9. The coyote reaches a respectable speed of 40 miles per hour.

10. The main enemies of the coyote are bears, wolves and of course, humans. Coyotes are able to escape their enemies easier as they have great swimming abilities. They also regulate their body temperature by panting.

All in all, the coyote is one of the most interesting creatures on this earth and people should try giving them the attention they need.

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This article will try and provide interesting facts about coyotes that we think you weren't aware of: