Wylie the Coyote

The ever-evasive Coyote, a.k.a the prairie wolf, thrives in Indiana. Common names of coyote groups are a band, a pack, or a rout. They scavenge if food is scarce, but predominantly are good hunters and eat small mammals, such as rabbits, ground squirrels, and mice, though they will eat birds. They usually hunt in pairs, and as my mother in law knows from experience will eat cat food when needed. A coyote's pelt or hair varies from grayish brown to yellowish gray on the upper parts, to almost white underneath. Before a coyote is born, the gestation period lasts from 60 to 63 days and surprisingly they have anywhere from 1 to 18 pups, with an average of 6. WOW! Coyotes are great sprinters.




If you were to run from one, good luck; the coyote can reach top speeds of 43 miles an hour. If for some reason you get caught in a pack, yell, scream or make some loud noise. The animal will run away with it's tail between its legs. Do be cautious if you have small children, they are known to attack children under the age of 10, but don't worry, coyotes have only recorded one death. They have evolved into a nocturnal (night time) animal because of pressure from humans. Some people in the town where I live have seen them knocking over the trash can at night and searching through their trash for an easy meal.

The coyote lives in a burrow usually made by a ground hog, but can make their own. Here is Wylie searching for food on my mother n law's land: