Canyon Country Animals
Mammals: Coyotes, Wolves, and Foxes
This page contains some basic information on coyotes and wolves that might be spotted while hiking and camping in canyon country.
Coyote vs. Wolf
Although both coyotes and wolves live in packs, sightings of each species often involve individuals. Distinguishing wolves from coyotes is not easy. Wolves are generally much larger than coyotes. The muzzle and legs of a coyote appear delicate, while the muzzle of a wolf appears broad and its legs look much longer in relation to its body.
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Coyote |
Coyote and Wolf |
Wolf |
Coyote |
Wolf |
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| Appearance | Delicate | Massive |
| Height | 16 to 20 inches | 26 to 34 inches |
| Length | 3.5 to 4.25 feet | 5 to 6 feet |
| Weight | 20 to 33 pounds | 70 to 120 pounds |
| Color / Coat | Varies from gray to tan with rust; can be thick and bushy. | Varies from white to black to silvery gray; thick and bushy. |
| Ears | Long and pointed. | Rounded and relatively short. |
| Muzzle | Long and narrow. | Large, broad, and blocky. |
| Legs | Thin and delicate. | Thick and long. |
| Feet | Small: 2 to 2.5 inches wide; 2.5 to 3.5 inches long. | Very large: 3.5 to 4 inches wide; 4 to 5 inches long. |
| Tail | Hangs straight down or out. | Hangs straight down or out. |
Coyote
Scientific Name: Coyote: Canis Latrans
Originally found only in grasslands and open country, Coyotes now occur almost everywhere, from tundra to deserts. Success is tied to intelligence; coyotes are clever and resourceful, able to adapt to changing conditions. Coyotes have taken over the wolf's former range. They are the most abundant carnivore in the Southwest. They mostly eat rabbits, rodents, and carrion. If their main prey is absent, coyotes will eat domesticated animals, deer, pronghorns, bighorn sheep, and even grasshoppers or fruit.
No one has conclusively proven that coyotes do extensive damage to livestock; an individual may go on a killing rampage, but as a species coyotes are not significant predators of sheep or cows. In reality, their consumption of jackrabbits and rodents may help improve the range.
Coyotes are common in canyon country, and you may see them at any time during the day or night. They are generally shy and will avoid humans. However, sometimes they can be seen roaming the streets of the smaller western towns or the fringes of some of the larger cities. They will also roan through campgrounds and trailhead parking lots. Mostly at night. So don't let your pet take a walk alone—always keep pets on a leash. These evening prowlers won't usually bother you if you don't bother them.
A predator who preys on nearly every prey species, but who also eats a wide variety of plant and insect material; who scavenges garbage cans and readily eats carrion. Coyotes are occasionally preyed upon by lions.
An average litter contains from four to five pups, but like most dogs, can have more. Pups are born in the spring.
In some areas, during winter, the coyote's mottled gray coat pales to a streaked silver. It is a scavenger and an important predator in the ecological system. The coyote does bite, so by all means keep your distance.
Wolf
Scientific Name: Mexican Gray Wolf: Canis lupus baileyi (El Lobo)
Wolves have been restored to many areas in canyon country, including several national parks and monuments to achieve a goal of perpetuating all native species and their natural interactions with the environment.
Photos
Notes
The main photo on this page was taken in the Nez Perce picnic area of Yellowstone National Park. The drawings of coyotes and the wolves on this page were taken from Teewinot, the official newspaper of Grand Teton National Park.
Related Sites
Remember to bookmark this site before you venture off down these side trails. They lead to other Web sites that we do not control. We cannot vouch for the content on, nor do we endorse, these sites. The following links are intended to assist you in your quest for further related information. If you discover a broken link, or a link with inappropriate content, or know of a link that should be listed here, please let us know.
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