The coyote in Texas..............the one canid to persist in Texas despite European decimation of Gray and Eastern(Red) wolves

 Any outdoorsman who has spent a generous portion in the field has probably heard at one time or the other the eerie call of an animal synonymous with the great Southwest, the hard-luck loser and mortal enemy of the cartoon Roadrunner — the coyote.

The coyote (Canis latrans) is the most common of the six species of the family Canidae that have called Texas home at one time or another. Other members of this family include foxes and wolves, though the two species of wolf that once occurred in this state can no longer been seen here.

Coyotes are habitat generalists and can be observed in just about every county of the state. They are quite common in the Trans-Pecos eco-region, thriving in the creosote flatlands that separate the mountainous sky islands.

At first glance, adult coyotes closely resemble the red wolf, only they are much smaller and thinner than their exterminated cousin. In size, they are somewhat comparable to a medium-sized dog, with a total length (snout to end of tail) of 48 inches. The tail is proportionately long and is approximately 15 inches in length. The legs are disproportionately long, giving the animal an almost gangly appearance. Adults typically weigh anywhere from 30 to 40 pounds.

The coloration of the coyote is grayish brown with an obscured undertone of black along the upper parts, while the underside is white. The face, including the slender muzzle and broad ears, is more tan in coloration, as are the outside of their legs. The tail coloration is similar to the upper parts, ending in a black tip.

Contrary to the cartoon version from Warner Bros., coyotes are just as varied in their diets as they are in their habitat. Based on the stomach contents of one study in particular, birds made up nearly 35 percent of their diet. Insects made up almost 11 percent, while rabbits, mice and other small mammals combined for 20 percent.

Other interesting portions of their diet include cattle at 7 percent, goats at 4 percent and deer at 5 percent. Most of these larger animals are infrequently subdued by single coyotes, and rarely are these prey items healthy, robust adults.

During the winter, females come into heat and attract a suitable male to mate with. The pair will designate a territory in which to rear their young. This territory will typically include a secure den and available water and prey. A litter can range from two to 12 pups, but the average litter is six. Pups are usually born after two months of gestation and start helpless but grow rapidly.

They feed on milk from their mother for about two weeks, then begin to feed on food regurgitated by the parents for another two weeks. By three weeks, pups are feeding on small rodents and insects. They are trained to hunt and fend for themselves by their parents during the summer months. They generally leave the family unit at about 1 year of age.

Non-breeding coyotes will often group together to hunt in small packs, usually limited to half a dozen. It is for these packs that the coyote calling card of vocalization becomes an important way to communicate. Coyotes are among the most vocal of all mammals in North America, and the howling of an entire pack can be intimidating to even the most avid outdoorsman.

.Michael Price is the director of the San Angelo Nature Center.