Where do Coyotes Live
Coyotes, sometimes called American jackals or prairie wolf, are a species of canine. Their scientific name is “Canis latrans”, which means “barking dog” in Latin. They have a similar appearance to the gray wolf, but are much smaller than this species. There are 19 known subspecies of Coyotes, which are mostly named after the region they came from. Let’s find out where the coyote comes from.
Where do coyotes live?
The coyote can be found only in North and Central America. Populations exist as far north as Alaska and most of Canada through to Panama in Central America. 16 of the subspecies are found in Canada, the United States and Mexico and 3 subspecies are found exclusively in Central America. Unlike most other animals the coyote has actually extended its range since widespread human settlement became common. They have moved into the areas that were formally occupied by wolves. This is partly due to the fact that they have adapted to suburban and even urban settings and are able to thrive in these conditions. Amazingly, it is estimated that over 2,000 coyotes live in the Chicago area alone.
Did you know?
Recent evidence suggests that the red wolf is not actually a new species, but a hybrid between a coyote and a wolf! Coyotes can also breed with domestic dogs to produce coydogs.
In 2006 a single coyote, nicknamed Hal, was spotted in Central Park in New York City. He was captured after 2 days and relocated. Another sighting occurred in the park in 2010. In 2007 a wild coyote, nicknamed Adrian, entered Quizno’s restaurant in Chicago during the lunch shift!
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