Here is a young mother who reveals her motherhood status to me. It was very exciting to see her! She’s two years old and she has just had her first litter.
a lactating mother
In very young mothers, however, unless they show you their bellies, it is almost impossible to tell that they are lactating: the mammary glands are compact and don’t “show”.
young mother — her lactating status is a secret
On the other hand, older mothers very often do reveal their status as mothers. By the time a coyote has aged and has had several litters, the mammary glands sag more, and if you are looking for it, you can see what is going on.
a lactating mother coyote
More on lactating mothers: https://coyoteyipps.com/2010/05/26/lactating-mothers/
