English: Coyote; French: loup de prairie, Coyote; Apache: ba’/ma; Aztek: coyotl; Chipewyan: nuniyëtsle; Cree: mahicha Kunis; Dogrip: nòdi tsòa; South Slavey: digahat-séliah.
Former distribution: As now.
Present distribution: Semi-arid regions from Alaska all over the continent south to Nicaragua; not in the Barren Grounds, Labrador and the eastern States of America. They extended their range in recent years to the north, west and south.
Behaviour: Preferred habitat includes prairies and woodlands. They hunt singly or in small groups, and prey on small mammals, domestic animals, plant material, and carrion. Activity both diurnal and nocturnal.
Population status: In spite of intensive hunting and preservation by farmers – everywhere stable.
Brief notes:
Body weight: 9-14 kg
Head and body length: 90 cm
Tail length: 30-40 cm
Shoulder height: 25-40 cm
Gestation period: 60-65 days
Maximum age: 15 years
Trophy: Skull length 19.2 cm, width 9.9 cm; CIC: 29.1 points.
Hunting methods: On a kill, with dogs, on horseback, traps.
Subspecies: 19.
Remarks: A revision of this classification is needed, due to the fact that the ranges of extension have overlapped and mixed forms developed.
