What Does a Coyote Look Like?
Coyotes are wild canines with narrow snouts and bushy black-tipped tails. One way to tell coyotes and dogs apart is by watching their tails when they run. Coyotes hold their tails down between the hind legs, whereas dogs hold their tails up when running. Their coarse fur is gray-brown with hints of red or yellow around the ears, face, and legs. Coyotes weigh between 20 and 40 pounds, stand about 2 feet tall, and measure around 3 to 4.5 feet long, including their tail.
Behavior & Habits
Coyotes are most active from dusk until dawn. They communicate using a variety of vocalizations, including barks, yips, whines, and howls. Coyotes are social animals that live in family groups or as solitary individuals. They usually hunt alone or in pairs. Coyotes are highly adaptable and thrive in various environments, including suburban and urban areas such as Milwaukee. Coyotes do not hibernate in the winter. Instead, they shed their summer coat and grow thicker, heavier coats in the autumn to help them stay warm through the winter.
Professional Coyote Removal in Milwaukee, WI
If you have seen a coyote repeatedly on your property, it may be time to call the animal control professionals at Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control. Coyotes can pose a serious threat to small pets and children. Our certified wildlife removal specialists have the knowledge and expertise to trap, remove, and exclude coyotes from your home or business. Let the wildlife experts protect your home and family from the potential dangers of coyotes!
Are Coyotes Dangerous?
Coyotes are wild animals that can attack humans and pets. While they are generally shy and wary of people, they can become aggressive. It’s important to be especially cautious with children and pets at night when coyotes are most active. Additionally, coyotes can carry diseases such as canine distemper, rabies, and mange, which can affect dogs and cats from bites.
Coyote Exclusion
Coyotes often invade properties in search of food, water, and shelter. Though coyotes typically avoid human interaction, they have adapted to living in residential areas in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our heavy-duty mesh fencing can keep coyotes out from underneath decks, porches, and sheds. We bury the fencing 12 to 18 inches deep to prevent them from burrowing underneath. Contact our wildlife specialists for coyote removal and exclusion today!
Coyote FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What do coyotes eat?
Coyotes are carnivores that mainly prey on squirrels, rabbits, rodents, and other small mammals. Coyotes hunt in packs when hunting larger prey like deer. They prefer to eat fresh kill, but coyotes will occasionally eat carrion. In urban environments, coyotes may enter yards to feed on pet food or garbage. Coyotes may attack domestic pets if they come close to them on your property.
Where do coyotes live?
Coyotes are found throughout Wisconsin. They prefer open grasslands and woodlands. However, coyotes are very adaptable, and it is not uncommon to see coyotes living in suburban or urban areas in Milwaukee. Coyotes make dens out of existing burrows or covered areas. Underneath porches, decks, and sheds are potential places for coyotes to build dens.
When do coyotes have babies?
Coyotes mate between February and April. The gestation period is approximately two months, with pups born during late April or early June. Coyotes have one litter per year. Litters of two to nineteen pups have been recorded, but the average litter size is usually around five to seven. The pups are weaned when they are about a month old. Male pups will leave their mother when they are six and nine months old. Female pups will stay with their mother’s pack. Male and female coyotes pair off and mate together for several years.
How long do coyotes live?
The average lifespan of a coyote in the wild is about 10 to 14 years. Coyotes have a few predators, including wolves and bears. Unfortunately, many coyotes die due to human interaction: road kills, trapping, shooting, and farming chemicals.
What does coyote poop look like?
Coyote poop looks very similar to dog poop, but they often contain visible traces of small bones, fur, or plant matter. Coyote scat is usually found in the middle of trails or near the borders of their territories.
What do coyote tracks look like?
Coyote tracks are often confused with dog paw prints, but there are some distinguishing features. Coyote prints are more oval-shaped than dog prints, with two nail prints at the top of the paw and a larger heel impression. Coyote tracks will also appear in a straight line, whereas dogs frequently change direction, leaving a random track pattern. A coyote’s hind foot may also overlap the track of its front foot.
Illustration by Dan Goodman