Coyote Voicings: Howls, Yips, Barks, & More
Coyote Howls, Yips and other Vocalizations: A Panoply of Sounds & Situations
Illustration by Kanyon Sayers-Roods
COMMUNICATION by coyotes is one of my passionate interests, just as is their family life and social interactions. What I write here is based entirely on my own twelve years — now 17 years! — of hearing and documenting coyotes in their natural settings and in context. Coyote communication occurs mostly via eye contact, facial expressions and body language and it can be very subtle. Coyotes are not forever vocal as humans are; they tend to be on the quiet side — except when they aren’t!
I’m including a number of vocalization videos for you to hear. By carefully observing the contexts in which any vocalization occurs and knowing different coyote positions and relationships in the family, we can figure out why they were emitted and what meaning they have for other coyotes. Their sounds do not constitute “a definite language” per-se, but consist more of emotional output — emotings — which can be easily read by other coyotes and by those of us who spend time listening to them in situ as they go about their social activities. Coyotes have intense family lives, so it’s the interpersonal communication/vocalizations which predominate. Family internal affairs are much more all-consuming than anything else going on in the ‘outside world’ for them: family life is what they live for. And each coyote — and by extension each coyote family — has its own unique variation on the general themes.
Yipping, howling, and any other vocalizations may be heard at any time of day or night — this is because coyotes themselves are diurnal animals, meaning they can be active at any time during a 24-hour day. How far off do you think you can hear a howl? I investigated this question in the post by that name — just click on it to read it. By the way, I have not encountered coyotes howling for no reason at all, and I have not encountered coyotes howling before or after a kill — yips and howling appear not to be an indication of an eminent attack on prey nor a celebration thereof. Coyote “songs” can last for 20 minutes or longer.
Within their sing-songy yips and howls, they are able to produce a variety of tones, pitches, modulations, inflections — sometimes with warbles, lilts, crescendos and trills. They use their mouths, lips (at the sides) and tongues in addition to their vocal chords. The unique pattern combinations, lengths and use of these various articulations, can form signature howls for individual coyotes. In addition, their voices are probably as individually different as our own. They can be identified this way by other family members — just as we can identify voices over the telephone. Among the coyotes I know, I can distinguish who is howling in the distance because I’ve learned their individual howl patterns.
We don’t have terms for all of the sounds they emit as far as I know, and since they run in a continuum, and mostly meld together, it might be hard to break them down into exact discrete descriptive terms. Eskimos have 50 or so terms for snow to differentiate very relevant differences that they need to know. Further south on the continent, our terms for snow are limited to what is relevant to us: powder, icy, slush, new, wet, dry. The same might be said of coyote noises: barks, growls, howls and yips are the terms most of us apply to coyotes. However, there is much more that is relevant for them, and the examples below dip into this a little. Context is important — it determines the meaning of any vocalizations.
Why do coyotes yip, bark, or howl? What are the types of things they communicate verbally (remember that most coyote communication is quiet and through body language)? Warnings, hellos, happiness, joy, anger, distress disapproval, dislike, pain, their whereabouts are some of the things they express out-loud. I’ve heard a dad start yipping, apparently calling to his family, and then two of his pups respond but not the others. The two that responded had been close-by. They ran towards him and then all of them started yipping together — there had been no siren, and the other two family members — his mate and another adult pup — were not involved.
The area I have not had experience with is voice communication between individuals from different families. I know these individuals challenge each other vocally and respond to the challenges, and they even physically fight. I’ve seen the result of such a fight but I did not hear the vocalizations. If and when I do hear this, I will elaborate on it here. If anyone else has heard it and would like to comment about it, please do!!
Summarizing generally:
- Their sounds range from raspy sounds, which include growls, snarls, hisses, and barks (see recordings 1, 2, 3). These communicate that they are upset or angry, or are used as warnings. When a high-pitched sound is urgent or intense, it fits into this “not very happy” category. . .
- to sing-songy friendly howls, yips, whines, and squeals (see recordings 4, 5 and 6). These higher pitched and smoother sounds tend to be friendly, happy or contented sounds.
- Use of lips & tongues allow modulations.
- Their ability to create a variety of sounds often cause a few coyotes sound like many.
- Unique howl patterns identify each coyote. I can distinguish some in the distance.
- AND I’ve never heard coyotes howl at a kill.
Before delving into some samples and a few situations, I want to elaborate on THREE COMMUNICATIONS which folks are most likely to hear. These are generalizations, within which there is infinite variety:
1 Howling/yipping along with sirens. One or more coyotes might be involved. If there are multiple coyotes, the variety of sounds produced by each coyote and the dissonances between them often makes it sound as though there are many more coyotes than there really are. Why do they howl with sirens? The speculative, likely explanation is that they are singing with and responding as if to other coyotes: sirens may sound like other coyotes — a friend from New Delhi once confused our sirens for the Jackals in India. When they respond to other coyotes in the distance, it appears to be to express/confirm both their unity with these non-family neighbor coyotes residing within earshot, and their territorial separateness from them (peaceful coexistence?!)
2 Social communication. The social communication in recordings #8 and #9 may, at first, sound a bit harsh due only to the coyote’s proximity to the microphone — but you’ll see that it is a peaceful communication with a gentle intention in its back-and-forth flow. Since here they precede a get-together before the evening activities, the immediate message is probably about that: “Hey, I’m ready” or “I’m coming”, and conveys their proximity to each other. Beyond that, the simple act of communicating confirms their unity as a pair, their well-being, and no doubt more about their mundane situation. It also (speculating again) may serve as a territorial message proclaiming ownership of the turf to other coyotes further off but within earshot, as explained above.
I have heard a father call out (no siren was involved) to which two yearling youngsters not only responded to him vocally, but came running towards him. Was he calling them? If so, why didn’t the three others come? Might howling serve as a sort of “roll call” for the family? I question this because all coyotes don’t always join in. There are always more questions than answers! One of my contacts heard howling which lasted all morning — 4 hours at least: several of us determined that this could have been a youngster calling for its mother who probably had been killed by a car or a bullet. :((
3 Distressed howling and barking due to intrusive dogs. This barking is intense. It happens as frequently as ‘howling with the sirens’ in the parks where I observe. Howling and yipping which results from having been chased by a dog is easy to recognize because it is very distressed and anguished sounding. An unusual example of this is a three-year old loner I’ve been documenting: She regularly screams at, and follows, the dog who used to chase her — she does this to no other dogs, no matter how often they’ve chased her. That dog no longer chases her because she is kept leashed. The coyote appears to be aware that the dog is restrained. This behavior has gone on for over four years. The coyote appears to be standing up for herself and possibly for her territorial claim, against this dog who harassed her, even though a human is there, and even though the dog is over 100 pounds.
I used to think that the barking and howling which occurred after a dog chase might be a warning to other coyotes in the family group, but I have seen instances where this was definitely not the case. For example, a dominant coyote — the mother — was relaxing on a hilltop when one of her full-grown pups started a barking session not too far off — it had been disturbed by a dog. I immediately started watching for a change in the mother’s behavior, waiting for some type of reaction. There was none. This mother ignored the barking, even though I had previously seen her run to a pup’s defense when she saw a dog — a particular dog which she deemed dangerous — approach too close to one of the pups. In another case, I was on a hillside photographing one of these full-grown pups when I heard the mother barking in distress in the distance — it is a signature bark which I have come to recognize. The young coyote totally ignored the barking and continued its hunt! Here, the yelps were not an alarm signal to others. This is what made me realize that vocalizations were emotive responses. I’ve observed that coyotes are feeling animals if nothing else: hear more about this from Carl Safina.
SOME EXAMPLES AND SITUATIONS (all from my fieldwork):
1) & 2) 3) A coyote’s distressed yelps due to the intrusion of a dog. This type of intense vocalization occurs when a coyote is anguished and upset. The first two videos show the exact same response by 2 different coyotes to the same situation, showing how different coyotes and their communication might be.
3b) This was nighttime and I was absolutely not prepared for this encounter. In the dark, the pregnant female approached my leash dog who was right next to me and screamed, point blank, at my feet:
4) & 5) & 5a) & 5b) Here are a couple of responses to sirens. High pitched yips can sound as though they are puppy noises, but they are adult vocalizations. All sorts of sounds, including grunts, barks and gnarls are woven into both. In the second video (5), a coyote who is not in view responds from the distance by baying. 5c two recently united coyotes howl to sirens in a united front.
6) Soulful baying is a more unusual response to sirens and here melds into a back and forth communication with another coyote.
7) & 8) A family responds to sirens in the distance which morphs into shorter greeting yips in a rendezvous.
9) A 4-month old youngster responds to his family in the distance.
10) & 11) Long-distance social communication between a mated pair. The first takes place during a calm afternoon: more details about this video can be read above under “social communication.” The second video is more intense, at night, with the male barking in the foreground, and the female, sounding agitated further away.
12), 13) & 14) 14a) 14b) Hisses and growls are depicted in these three videos. In the first, soft anger hisses/growls are used to say “get away from me”. In the second video, hissing and “almost” growling at a youngster imparts that Mom does not want any nonsense — pup acquiesces. In the third video, the female of a mated pair is trying to impose her will on her mate (apparently trying to keep him from grooming a youngster) who responds by moving away from her. In the fourth video (14a) Dad is reminding 10-month-old youngster who the boss is — listed to 1:24 thru 1:48.
15) Growling and snarling accompany shoving and biting, while the youngster squeals of pain in this video depicting disciplinary and dispersal behavior .
16) This recording begins as a family response to a siren. Then at about 1:36, as greetings and rank confirmations begin to take place, a youngster growls at another and THAT coyote is then pursued by two others who threaten her for her disruptive growl. She squeals as a preventative measure as they approach, warding off a possible bite from them!
17) & 18) I’ve included two more videos to show how coyotes use mouth and lip movements in their vocalizations, and even tongue movements.
19) To howl or not to howl is an indecisive wavering I see repeatedly: there is grunting which sometimes precedes a barking episode, as if the coyote were trying to decide whether or not to go ahead with it.
20) Multi-tasking! After stealing the dead rat and playing with it, he walks off, intending to bury it where only he can find it. But sirens and howling from others begins and distracts him. So he multi-tasks: howling with the rat in his mouth. But not for long, the rat is more important. He goes to bury it, but again gets distracted: family activities win out, and the rat is abandoned.
21) & 22) Some howling can be pretty relaxed. In this first video a female is responding to her mate’s call while lying down: note her single high-pitched tone vs. her mate’s barking. In the second video, rank issues and annoyance are dealt with along with howling..
23) This coyote is following, and giving a tongue-lashing, to the dog who chased her long ago. She behaves this way towards this dog and no other. She is both angry at, and fearful of that dog as seen by her posture. She follows them (dog and owner) for maybe a football field’s length, sometimes complaining like in this video and sometimes not, then sits and watches them disappear over the horizon. Owner and leashed dog just keep walking on and away from her and, fortunately, are rather amused by the coyote’s behavior. This behavior has been going on for over half a year now.
24) Grunting with displeasure:
25) This lugubrious howl occurred after the male coyote went about an unusual frantic sniffing of his territory. He was following someone’s scent. Right after the recording he “kicked” the ground: he was angry. The day after the recording, I spotted an intruder female in his territory. So this howl is either a warning or an emission of internal discontent — the same as when coyotes howl after having been chased by a dog.
26)a And here is an audio of social communication one evening: it’s two coyotes during their greeting session before heading off for the evening trekking: it sounds super-conversational, doesn’t it? This one was recorded by Alicia Pollak
26)b HE passes through, looks back for HER, doesn’t wait and goes on his merry way. SHE then appears and sniffs. She knows he has been there. She waits and waits, and finally she calls out to him: “Are you coming? Where are you?”. HE responds, and so does the rest of the family. When she moves out of the automatic eye of the camera, the recording stops.
27) Here is a video of a mother and father coyote with some of their 8-month-old offspring. Mom is vocalizing her desire to be left alone, and she even nips at her mate. The youngsters understand because they distance themselves. Dad stands by her side and is there to “second the motion”.
28) Mellow, Gentle, and Sweet Vocalizations — Her new companion is only a few feet away in each case. If you know coyote vocalizations, you’ll know right off that these are comfortable and affectionate reachings out for her new friend. The second one is in response to sirens. Compare these to some of the agitated, distressed vocalizations caused by being chased by dogs that I’ve posted.
29) Family extended conversation session at 6am in mid-February in the dark of the morning. This occurred AFTER sirens had sounded and they had already responded to that. There had been vocalizations even earlier but I don’t know for how long before. What is happening here is that three new coyotes have moved in to the territory. The alpha female from the old family had been there calling for her mate the previous night. I don’t know if it was the old family, or the new coyotes who were vocalizing in this recording. It was pitch dark outside.
30) Upset yearling coyote calls out to the rest of the family, but they aren’t around — you can hear the urgency in the call when no one answers.
31) This video’s vocalization is JUST barking. A female is upset at an intruder. The barking went on over two minutes before I began this video. At two minutes into the video, the barking stops and two siblings arrive to offer support. I did not see the intruder this day, but she appeared the following day until driven off.
32) Mellow, mild and sweet vocalizations to her new, nearby mate:
33) High pitched and at the sametime soft gurgling or warbling vocalizations of 8 month old pups. You’ll hear one pup alone at first — he/she is on one side of a large hill. As I drove around, I soon heard a group of tiny “conversational” sounds.
34) Warbling sounds by one coyote after sirens sound in the distance (courtesy Trish Tenhoeve):
35) Three 20-month-old siblings give this amazing concert after sirens sound at 9 pm (Courtesy D.Samas):
36) Three 20-month-old siblings give another amazing concert, this time there were no sirens to set it off, it’s simply their evening rendezvous (Courtesy D.Samas)
37) I call this “Siren Chatterings”: a family of four responding to sirens at dusk, with ever so many nuances to their individual vocalizations.
38) Vocalizations during feeding the pups:
38a) Dad calls out to his pup to come for a rat he’s brought him. [ I previously had posted this as a *distressed* vocalization, but after reviewing all the peripheral evidence, I stand to be corrected: he’s calling his son. Read the caption and text below the video].
39) Discipline and/or ostracizing vocalizations, with the youngster whining at the treatment.
40) Fight between the alpha female and alpha male of a family:
41) Upset vs.content vocalizations between an adult mated pair of coyotes:
42) Rendezvous sounds from 3:00 to 4:20 on this video which include grunts, growls and high-pitched emittings:
43) Grunts of a 7-month-old pup that never erupt into a full howl: the video shows his body heaving with each grunt:
44) Parental disciplinary growl occurring at a greeting:
45) Mating sounds:
46) Heading out after an intruder (@1:45 on the video):
47) Mother calls out to family and they respond (excuse the wind noise). After a nap the family, consisting of Dad, 2 year old male and 1 year old daughter, respond to sirens, and Mom can be heard but is not in the video:
48) This one was sent to me — it’s REALLY cool! Ash Temeña was playing the piano out of doors when the coyotes joined her!
49) Three adults from a family respond to sirens. Listen right to the end where you might have to strain to hear the growls. A short bark actually ended the howling, but the short growls continued, barely audible, afterwards. The adults consist of four year old Dad, two year old son, and one year old daughter. Mom and the pups were not here:
50) This is an older mother coyote calling out to someone in her family but getting no response. It went on for 10 minutes: this here is a short snippet of that:
© All information and photos in my postings come from my own original and first-hand documentation work which I am happy to share, with permission and with properly displayed credit: ©janetkessler/coyoteyipps.com.
Coyote Yipps 
Jan 17, 2018 @ 09:50:41
Any chance you can help me with the meanings behind these coyote sounds that I routinely hear after every train blows its horn near Water Works Park in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio?
VIDEO 1
In the video above, what I’m most concerned with is the loud scream that comes in during the third set of howls. I often hear this specific coyote in the pack and wonder if he has something wrong, if it’s a specific vocalization of his, or if it’s just his voice in general. He’s one of the primary reasons I took such an interest in this exact pack above others. He sounds very unique. Plus, I’ve been a railroad fan for 15-20 years, going out day and night, and have never come across another spot where they go nuts at the train horns like this. It’s incredible.
VIDEO 2
In the video above, there are a number of different audio clips. At 1:17 and 2:19, do you know what kind of vocalization that is? It almost sounds like a cry, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s the same coyote who makes the screaming sound in the video above. At 3:54 (it’s real quiet so you’ll have to listen closely), you again hear the screaming (almost moaning) sound. I’m really, really fascinated by this coyote and want to know what his deal is. I’ve never heard a coyote sound like that one before.When I first discovered these guys at Water Works Park, he happened to be the very first coyote I heard make any sound. Naturally I was a bit freaked out, because he doesn’t even sound like a member of the canidae family at first listen. I thought it was a human or goat lol.
Any help is VERY appreciated. Nobody seems to have answers to this. I have roughly 60 audio recordings of this exact pack of coyotes, and even more questions than what’s here, but I won’t bombard you.
Thanks much!
Jan 17, 2018 @ 20:30:46
Hi Richard —
Thanks for sending these. The train noises increase the feeling of mystery in the recordings! I’m glad you’ve taken an interest in coyote voicings. Each coyote, you know, has his/her own unique and individual voice, and what you are hearing here, as far as I can tell, based on my own listening and recordings, is a variation of the same howl you are hearing from the others. This voice certainly serves as a unique identifying marker. Possibly it’s an *extreme* variation which could be due to the coyote’s physiology or some throat/voice-box trauma which makes him/her sound a bit more raspy. Coyotes are known for their eery sounds, which indeed can sound like a man crying in agony on his deathbed, or witches laughing as they stir their pots deep within the forest. All of the sounds in your videos are a response to the train whistle: just like sirens, coyotes respond to these. Beyond this, I have found that the *raspier* coyote vocalizations tend to convey anger or warnings. But without being there and watching the behavior, and knowing these coyotes and their temperaments, I would not go so far as to say this is what it is. Hope this is useful?? Janet
Jan 19, 2018 @ 07:47:12
Janet,
Thank you very much for the timely reply and information. It does indeed help. I wish I could tell you more about this pack’s physiology and behavior, but unfortunately in the dozens upon dozens of times I’ve been here to get recordings, I’ve NEVER been able to see them. They’re only active at night, and are in a portion of the park that is fenced-off as a part of the town’s water supply. I have heard their sounds come from different directions outside of this restricted area, but it is always from deep within the woods at a very dark hour. Finding them has been a monumental challenge for me, but I keep trying because I really would like photos.
By chance, do you have an email that I could message you at? I figure that may be easier than communicating back and forth on here. Plus, I’d like to share with you some more of my recordings, findings, and discoveries with this pack to get your opinion (as long as you don’t mind).
I appreciate it all. Thanks much.
Richard
Jan 19, 2018 @ 12:26:15
Hi Richard — I’ll send you an email. Janet
Oct 04, 2018 @ 04:34:43
Incredibly insightful! My dog and I have encountered a coyote almost daily on our walk for months now. The vocalizations are very similar to the “disressed by a dog” audio you have provided. The animal usually shows itself as a means to attract the dog’s attention for a chase. This usually happens close to where my dog flushed out 3 pups this spring. The pups weren’t harmed but I wonder if this is still a parent on guard? Thank you for providing the benefit of your learning – it’s nice to learn more about our wild neighbours!
Oct 04, 2018 @ 04:41:53
Hi Laura — Yes, the coyote is upset and wants your dog to stay away from that area. It might be a good idea, if you can and are willing, to leash your dog in that particular area and walk way, way around it? You could experiment to find out what distance stops producing the barking??
Oct 05, 2018 @ 01:52:44
Yes – we’ll respect its space – thank you.
Jun 09, 2019 @ 12:56:39
Hi! My husband and I recently moved to a rural area- 22 acres of farm land and woods. We took a walk across the property, just out of the range of our floodlight to look at some stars. We heard what sounded like a grunting sneeze in the field and turned our flashlight in that direction where were met with 4 glowing green eyes! The animal made that huffing sneeze sound again and we backed away slowly toward the house to respect their space. Initially we thought it may have been a deer but the pair were only about 20 feet from us and too small to be a deer. They looked to be about dog size, but as it was so dark we didn’t get a great look. Does this sound like it could have been coyotes? We haven’t heard any yips, barks, or howls in the 3 weeks we have lived here so we weren’t too sure!
Jun 09, 2019 @ 15:27:14
Hi Jess —
Thanks for contacting me. Right off what came to mind is raccoons: I’ve seen raccoon eyes reflect green. When I’ve seen coyotes at night, their eyes have always reflected white. HOWEVER, if you go on line, you’ll find that canid eyes can reflect a variety of colors. Here’s a fun article: https://www.canidae.com/blog/2016/08/can-you-recognize-an-animal-at-night-by-its-reflective-eye-color/. So, although I can’t give you a definitive answer, I can suggest that you continue your investigation: keep taking your stargazing walks and keep watching! You are bound to see them, and other critters again, and this time try to increase your awareness of their size and types of movements they make. Have fun, and let me know what you find out! :)) Janet
Jan 14, 2020 @ 22:36:05
The population of coyotes has grown over the years in the Hunters Point Shipyard and they are very vocal. There are no dogs confronting them and they pretty much have the area to themselves so all the vocalization is puzzling. Just last night I heard what sounded like a cat being attacked along with a chorus of yips and I ran out to find one coyote that was staring a me from about 50 yards away behind the fence. The coyotes here do not resemble ones I’ve seen in Bernal Heights. They are much larger and have distinctive two tone fur. There seems to be a lot of activity lately and you would think there has to be dozens of coyotes from all the noise they make. They seem to migrate from one area to the next within this area of connected open space so you see and hear them for a time then they disappear and you see and hear them across the water in candlestick or Tunnel road where they had been absent for a while. I was wondering if you knew about the population we have in this area of San Francisco? It’s hard to predict the future since the development of this area is ongoing and full of problems. They really have it made in this area because of all the isolated open space, plentiful prey and little, if any, human or dog interactions. I have been keeping a close eye on them and trying to deter them from venturing onto the streets or close to where people and pets will be. I have worried for years that they may be killing some of the feral cats in my area but so far that has never been proven. I believe they have somewhat of an understanding of what is their territory and what is not and just to drive it home, I go out of my way to scare them away when they venture outside of the fenced area and could pose a problem. I didn’t do that last night regrettably because like most people, you are struck by their beauty and want to observe them. I believe I asked it “what are you doing?” but seeing that he/she was on the right side of the fence where it belonged, I walked away. I should have yelled to scare it away and to enforce the idea that they should avoid anywhere humans will be.
Jan 15, 2020 @ 19:52:04
Hi Kelly —
First of all, remember that a few coyotes can SOUND like a whole bunch: coyotes can accomplish this feat because of the variety of sounds they make — this may account for all the sounds you are hearing. Also, pups are now adding to the chorus, and they will soon disperse. Note that a coyote’s chief rival/enemy will be other coyotes, not just dogs. A dog chasing a coyote usually causes ONE coyote to bark in distress, as far as I have seen. Coyotes are territorial: each territorial family needs minimally several hundred acres to more normally several square miles. If their territory is fragmented, as you say it is, they will move between the territories and mark them in order to keep other coyotes out. The youngsters, then, will disperse out of the city starting about now and continuing through the year, and you should be seeing/hearing fewer of them. I would love it if you would keep me updated on them! An ecologist has seen youngsters disperse South to, and in the direction of, Los Gatos.
Coyotes at this time of year do look larger because of their heavy and fluffy fur which they’ll retain into the springtime when their fur will start shedding and they’ll APPEAR to look smaller in size. Also, at this time of year, with all the wet weather, they may appear darker.
Coyotes do indeed grab free-roaming cats. But also, the feral cat colony might have moved if there are coyotes around. The problem here is with feeders: when feral cats are fed in pretty much the same spot, the feeder is luring both coyotes and cats to the area, and the coyotes might take advantage of the situation if they’re hungry, eating the cat food and maybe more.
Their territory includes the neighborhoods, so scaring them away, as far as I have seen, will simply cause them to change the time when they do their trekking. The most important thing you can do for coyotes is never feed, never be friendly, and keep your distance: always walk away from them and KEEP moving away. If you can help get this information out to folks, you will be doing them a great favor.
I hope this helps? Please keep me updated! And thank you for sharing your concerns AND observations! Janet
Mar 06, 2020 @ 15:01:10
These writings and recordings are most wonderful indeed. You are gifted and highly valuable extension of the Coyotes world speaking to our human one.
Mar 06, 2020 @ 21:10:18
Thank you so much, David! Appreciatively! Janet
Jul 21, 2020 @ 05:38:51
Hi! I really enjoyed this article! Thank you so much for your time and dedication to this. This helped me to identify the sounds of packs I’ve been hearing all my life in New England.
Jul 29, 2020 @ 15:05:31
Wonderful article and incredibly helpful. My dogs & I were followed by a coyote who was making vocalizations different from the ones I hear at night as they roam the neighborhood. This has helped me realize that we might have unwittingly passed too close to a den — the sounds the coyote was making were not threatening, nor was she being aggressive toward us (in fact, she started the episode by sneaking up behind us and sniffing one of my dogs). She kept with us for about 1/2 mile, more interested in shuttling us out of the area. For all my anxiety during the situation, it was always clear she was not aggressive. I had to stop a few times to regroup & untangle leashes, and when I did that she made a point of letting me know that I wasn’t moving fast enough for her.
Believe it or not, this article has given me comfort that our encounter was not aggressive, but to protect a den. This happened in the last week of June, so it makes sense that it was the end of breeding season.
Thank you!!
Jul 29, 2020 @ 17:17:00
Hi Lisa — I’m so glad that you decided to find out about coyotes rather than harbor and then spread fears about them because of this experience. Their behaviors indeed are very understandable if we are willing to figure them out, and the protocol is so easy: move away from them and keep moving away. Thank you for your comment! Please be an ambassador for them by spreading what you know — coyotes need your help in this! Warmly, Janet
Jul 29, 2020 @ 18:26:04
Thank you Janet! There is *no*way* I could ever say anything negative about coyotes. I love them so much, sometimes it hurts. In fact, that coyote, when the encounter began, was actually trotting along next to me (as if she’d been on a leash, too) and my first thought was “when did I get 3 dogs??” LOL! I could’ve petted her…
2 years ago, we had a dog attacked by a coyote in our backyard in the early morning hours. It was scary (and resulted in an expensive surgery) but even that didn’t dissuade me. I just love them, and whenever someone says something negative about coyotes, I try to help them understand why WE are the invasive species and instead of fighting them, we should revere them.
I also believe in symbolism of animal experiences, so I am still sorting through what such a close encounter means in my life.
Thank you! And I’m so happy I found your page!
Jul 29, 2020 @ 18:56:04
:))
Nov 29, 2020 @ 15:23:21
I have an unusual sound from what I believe is a coyote. It doesn’t sound like what is on this page and I’m interested in what you think it could be.
Dec 12, 2020 @ 05:05:46
Hi there! I really enjoyed your videos…my dogs HATED me watching them! We live in a rural area in Arizona. We have listened to them nightly for many years. They come within 50 feet of our windows every night. Lately they have changed…rather than yipping, and squealing, as they run by, they have taken to standing outside of our wall and are very high pitched! This goes on for a minute or two and then without any seeming warning, they shut off all at once and we hear them start yipping further away. We do have dogs, but have had them for years. They usually sleep through the yipping, but the new sound has them outside growling and barking a warning. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance!
Dec 12, 2020 @ 05:56:42
Hi — I can imagine your dogs going absolutely berserk at hearing coyote recordings — mine used to!
Might you have recordings of the old and the new sounds the coyotes are making? I think of yipping and squealing as high pitched, so I’m having trouble imagining the sounds you are trying to describe. Janet
May 26, 2021 @ 13:57:04
Ok, great website. Maybe this is not pertinent since I live in Connecticut, but here goes:
I’ve got what appears to be 3 relatively large coyotes in my yard, passing through – often nightly. Last night, there were 3 distinct locations of howls in the east woods in my back yard, in the northern woods down to the left – and then upon the wooded and western hill in front of my home. While there are woods, I would describe this area as more suburban than anything else. The coyotes seemed to be located in a triangle and this howling chatter went on from 1am until about 4am.
These coyotes appear to be stockier than those in your videos and I suspect some wolf DNA may be in them. They look like they may weigh 35-50 lbs, maybe a little more – unsure. They approach my patio in the dark – it can be alarming. I think the pack is growing.
Some neighbors feel its time to take them out and may seek a trapper to do this. There are no shortage of coyotes here, but some cats are missing as are herds of deer we used to see. Maybe its out of balance – I don’t know.
One thing for certain, since they are coming right up to people some loser has probably fed them. With kids around playing at night, this is a little concerning.
Is there a way to drive them off without killing the noisy bastards?
Thank you
May 26, 2021 @ 14:29:06
Hi Dallas — Thanks for your comment. First, yes, your coyotes in Connecticut ARE larger: they are known as the Eastern Coyote and sometimes referred to as “coywolves” because their DNA shows that they are 70% coyote, 30% wolf, and 10% dog. This should not alarm you since wolves in fact are even more aversive to humans than are coyotes. Eastern and Western coyotes have pretty much the same behaviors except that the Eastern ones tend to hunt larger animals such as deer, usually thinning out those who probably would not make it anyway.
If the three coyotes are seen together, they are a family. EACH family needs 2 to 4 square miles and considers that space THEIR territory, keeping other coyotes out. So your “pack” will only ever be as large as one family, with youngsters always moving on during their second year — their population on any one territory has an accordion effect. We’re in the middle of pupping season which often prompts some “dispersals”: maybe these are involved in what you’ve been hearing. Be that as it may, family members often sleep in separate locations and they communicate (as from three different points of a triangle) before their evening rendezvous.
Yes, coyotes will pick up free-roaming cats, and some weaker deer, but they have not killed off the deer herds: more likely, the deer now, as much as possible, avoid the areas where they’ve seen coyotes: it’s more a matter of exclusion than anything else.
“Removal” is illegal in most states — you might look into this — so the option is to kill them. This does not work because the vacancies will just be filled by other coyotes. To have your one stable family in the area actually keeps behaviors on an even keel: you don’t want to create havoc among them by disrupting (by killing) their social system.
Yes, some “loser” indeed has probably been feeding them — that’s why they approach people — it’s really sad because that loser is altering their behaviors — that loser may in fact ultimately be killing these coyotes, which is the opposite of what he/she intended. Know that you can coexist with them and improve the situation by keeping any food and compost out of your yard: pretty soon there will be no reason for them to come by. And always walk away from them.
Anyway, I don’t know if you’ll find any of this information helpful, but I hope so. Please let me know if you have questions. Janet
May 26, 2021 @ 16:36:22
Janet,
Thanks for all the information. Your assessment seems spot on to me!
I am not of the mindset to have these coyotes killed, and you are correct – in CT, my understanding is they cannot be relocated. I believe in rights to gun ownership even though I don’t own a gun (I doubt I could shoot any animal unless my life was actually in jeopardy anyway!) Also, there’s not one person on my street of mainly pacifists who would shoot the coyotes either.
But we hope they move on. Gotta stop feedin’ them!
Ironically, the many Liberal friends in my neighborhood are the biggest voices calling for the coyote hunt! These people were the main cat owners, some of them owning up to 5 cats – and 4 families report a missing cat per house; one person says they lost 2 over the past 6-7 months. I’m not a big fan of cats, but I sympathize with how they feel, but it’s hard to conclude it’s the coyotes as the predator. We also have bobcats and bears (and 13 years ago, I spotted a mountain lion one night but was too embarrassed to tell anyone!)
We had a herd of 10-18 deer hanging around. There were many little ones among that group – but no more. People blame the coyotes. I think you are correct in that it might be tough for a coyote to take down a buck (and there were some large ones). However, the fawns were so small I suspect on some nights a few were taken out by the coyotes. I believe this because in March, we heard growling, barking, and ultimately howling and “happy” noise-making per some of your videos. (It sounded like it could have been a dozen coyotes at that time, but I have been told that right now – as of May 2021, there are only 3 coyotes. They can sound like an army, which I suppose you know.
We have a late night graduation party next month. If people (many NYC visitors) hear the sounds I heard last night – they won’t venture outside to the patio and fire pit / barbecue! I can’t say I’m totally comfortable going outside lately.
I’ve been telling everyone to stop feeding them. I had a picture of one – if I can find it I’ll email it to you. It was in March and in the dark – it was the smallest one but pretty stocky even if some of the girth is fur.
You have a great background in this area and I am grateful you share this interesting research and documentation. Thank you for sharing and replying and keep up the good work.
Dallas
PS I was on Twin Peaks a within the last two years – with all the people it’s amazing a coyote would venture up there. In 1999, I saw a coyote on the West Side Highway in Manhattan, walking along the shore of the Hudson River by 79th street, so nothing should surprise me.
May 26, 2021 @ 17:16:55
Hi Dallas —
Enjoyed your comment. Yes, any “vulnerable” animal might be taken by a coyote, including young fawns. Interestingly, one thing coyotes actually wait for is the afterbirth, but I suppose if a mother deer is having difficulty, a coyote would sense that, too, and grab the youngster while it’s easy.
When coyotes are around, they tend to always be pointed to as the culprit for any problems, and yes, for example, they do take cats, but not all cats are taken by coyotes. Cats often leave on their own especially when they get old, they are killed by cars, are killed by other animals including domestic dogs. Yet, because coyotes are around, I bet every single disappearance has been blamed on a coyote.
It’s very interesting that some self-proclaimed liberals in your area are calling for a coyote hunt: their ideology seems to be one of selfish convenience and self-interest more than an interest in the environment at large.; i.e. there are limits to what they might want to be liberal about. :))
Coyotes will avoid any crowd of people — I don’t think they’ll hang around for your graduation party, unless people start tossing food out for them.
Yes, two or three coyotes can sound like many more than that — it’s amazing!
Keep me posted on your family of three! If you find your photo, I’d love to see it! And thanks for the compliments — they’re always helpful!!
Janet
Jul 01, 2021 @ 16:06:28
Hello there
This is such a positive effort, thank you.
We moved three years ago just across the block 1/4 mile but right on a local river that has recently been part of a several year restoration effort. The future use of what was once town owned land for agriculture (cranberries) will be public access including local school visits as part of an educational/informative project. There are currently parking areas being built and even a small amphitheater type area with what looks like lighting sonar tubes and metal columns.
This land was leased to a local cranberry grower for many years until issues arose surrounding the proper use of pesticides, as this river is part of an ocean estuary (Great Pond/Great Bay) which has supported a run of herring for generations.
The watershed includes former cranberry bogs and also includes at least one small shallow pond upstream where the herring return to spawn.
After a fish kill which was proven to be due to negligence on the part of the cranberry grower, local citizens began to meet to discuss this in the context of public access and tax payers rights. Eventually an informal group formed of various interests and they and others successfully got a warrant article to change things.
Without going too far afield, I’m trying to find information specific to coyotes today as I’ve heard them respond to sirens often. We live near a local fire station and whenever a rescue vehicle heads north and west on route 28 into Falmouth, the coyotes all mimic this one (I call normal or old fashioned original siren) not a newer multiple crescendo siren just your standard whaaaaaaaaa whaaaaaa the tone kind of slowly builds and recedes but is very consistent and was at one time the ONLY siren you would hear. (Just trying to clarify the sound that causes the coyotes nearby to respond)
My wife has 3 dogs. Our yard is totally fenced by 6’ stockade fence attached to the house on both gable ends and from there to within 8-10 feet of the rivers edge where she had them install 5’ chain link fence and a gate.
We’ve had fishers around stealing my hanging wooden suet feeders for the downy woodpeckers (I believe) and I’ve seen coyotes only once near the northern fence corner at the river.
I’ve been trying to make my wife aware of the need to dispose of the dog excrement without it becoming my exclusive job. As it is, much of this has always rolled downhill onto my shoulders. I will not feel badly if she refuses to help in this as I’ve discussed it reasonably several times.
My simple query is will dog excrement above ground of any amount attract coyotes? It has occurred to me that with this restoration effort there has been a resounding growth of life in all forms as a result so perhaps there is sufficient food around for the coyote population already. I say this because it’s my wife’s theory that we do not see coyotes on a regular enough basis, so therefore it’s not a problem.
I realize this is long winded and perhaps out of your bailiwick but any response would be taken seriously by myself.
I have found this page by chance and again thank you very much for your efforts.
Jul 02, 2021 @ 06:12:24
Hi Glenn —
So glad to hear you are working on a project to restore nature without poisons. Thank you!
The coyotes of course know the dogs are there by their odor, whether poop is left out or not. Poop is polluting, so I myself always try to pick it up.
Could you please tell me how large the dogs are? If you have large dogs, if left to their own devices, they could really damage a coyote. If they are very small dogs, a coyote could mistake them for prey. The best thing is to not leave dogs outside if they are not attended.
Coyotes are able to jump a 6′ fence — I don’t know how often they do it, but they are able to do so. If you want to feel secure about leaving your dogs out, you should put up an eight-foot fence, or install rollers on top of the fence: see https://coyotecoexistence.com/2012/12/29/fencing/.
Please let me know if I’ve answered your query!! Janet
Jul 02, 2021 @ 12:45:02
Hi Janet
We have two border collies and one Australian Shephard. The Aussie is the largest dog weighing approximately 50 pounds. The eldest border collie weighs approximately 35 pounds. The younger border collie weighs approximately 30 pounds. I’m not even gonna think about leaping coyotes never mind mentioning that to my wife. The fence is considered by us to be a second line of defense really as our dogs are never left outside unattended. Thank you for the warning in any event.
It seems the primary habitat for nearby coyotes (by way of their mimicking of local ambulance sirens) is actually ACROSS the river on the back side of a cul de sac development of approximately 15 homes. Back in the late 50’s we just called it “the woods”.
My first childhood home was on the other side of the Coonamesset river and we could walk along our side of the river from route 28 inland up to the cranberry bogs and herring run. There was a mill on the river at the junction of the river and bog. It was active for many years but with the industrial revolution it became outdated and removed.
Prior to large scale commercial cranberry growing, this river actually had a population of wild trout and was a pretty nice fly fishing spot I’ve been told by a local fly tier and fisherman. When the cranberry industry started using a lot of sand to support the cranberry plantings, it started to silt up the main stem of the river. Over time this slowed the flow and led to decreased insect and plant life. Eventually only the herring had any significant numbers population wise and they too have had to be protected from over harvesting recently.
I’ve been watching the herring this year for the first time gather in a small deep pool behind our house. This season I realized the splashing I’d hear at night was the result of striped bass coming up from Great Pond (almost to the site of Dexters old mill) in search of a meal. I thought these larger fish were sea run brown trout which our local Marine Fisheries and other groups have tried to restore here to rivers like the Child’s or Mashpee rivers. I think Daniel Webster among others, frequently fished for these anadromous game fish on several Cape Cod rivers at some point. My local Trout unlimited group is currently working to restore the Child’s River watershed after a major purchase of land and an old estate. Often it is impossible to restore these areas without controlling development along the immediate waterfront.
All this is to say that I’ve seen a real surge in insect life and up the chain in general at the Coonamesset since this restoration effort has been in place. I see these changes only because I visit it daily and not just to walk a dog. I look around at the various grasses and vegetation that have been planted and it is really starting to fill in the old bog areas quite nicely. Change is slow and subtle at times on the other side of a controversial issue. There are good cases to be made on both sides but I look at the thing as a whole. If the river is healthy and the land around it is healthy then “wildlife” will thrive there, and that is good for even the coyote.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of fear associated with these creatures as they struggle to survive here on this peninsula (island really) I believe every creature is sacred and deserving of our respect. I am confident this restoration project is a good thing for wildlife. I will try to insure the public access part of this project includes information about ALL the creatures living there. Your very simple suggestions for humans to use when encountering coyotes is to some degree hard to employ because of the limited amount of encounters with coyotes. If people have enough interactions they will be able to practice proper responses. Much of the coyote/human interactions I read about here are very limited and fear based. If people realized coyotes were here before us, they’d perhaps not be so shocked or fearful. I’ve been lucky I guess to have always seen animals as part of our world and not separate or as “intruders” .
Much of the preliminary signage surrounding the “new” river was part of the initial proposal/grant process I’m pretty sure. I certainly hope public input will translate into a more realistic depiction/representation of the true complexities of a living watershed area. There is a working group with a volunteer(?) leader contact person I can reach out to as well. I guess without a voice the coyote could become just a pest mosquitoes or heavy traffic volume on the Fourth of July…..
Jul 02, 2021 @ 16:58:46
Hi Glenn —
It’s really heartwarming to read about your love for — and knowledge about — the area! Lucky you to have grown up in this place, and good for you for helping to restore it! I looked up Coonamesset and found that it’s in Massachusetts. East Coast. Your coyotes are slightly bigger than ours here out west. Your dogs, in fact, are pretty close to the Eastern Coyote size. I don’t think you’ll have a problem with your own dogs from what you’ve told me. However, I do believe that you should add to your signs in the restored area that coyotes are territorial and like to protect their turf, that if there is a sighting or encounter, it’s best to walk away from them and keep walking away from them especially if you have a dog which should be leashed. These are my two cents! Janet
Jul 02, 2021 @ 17:34:37
Thank you Janet for your brief local background information and the suggestions for the Coonamesset River group.
I will update you here if I think it’s of interest and look forward to reading more about your area (now that I’ve completely unloaded my story……)
Before this restoration project, I’d thought it would be cool to have a herring warden live on site with a low power FM radio station as well. There was an older home on the bog that was used by an employee of the cranberry grower. Unfortunately, the local populace did not want to take on the liability issues I think primarily which makes some sense. In the end, real change is usually driven by those voices that have the biggest megaphone they say. So true. Perhaps I will find my focus at some point and become more involved myself. I’ve never really done that, but my recent retirement has given me a bit more free time and I like the commute!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again
Jul 02, 2021 @ 17:39:00
Hi Glenn — Yes, you’ll find your focus, and I hope you keep me posted. My own focus and passion is with the coyotes. I’m 71. Warmly! Janet
Jul 20, 2021 @ 16:47:26
Thank you for doing this page. We recently moved to a great area in Arizona called Oro Valley and we have quite a large population of coyotes. Sometimes they are quiet depending on the time of year but more usual they are very active with their calling and vocalizations.
We also get them on our property most nights crossing our backyard or driveway to get where they’re going. I have a game camera set up to capture their antics and it has been quite interesting to watch them.
Jul 20, 2021 @ 17:05:55
Hi Dave —
Nice! If you ever have any stories, especially with photos, to share, I would love to post them for others to see. Thanks for your input! Janet
Aug 29, 2021 @ 04:02:44
I am hearing more coyote vocalizations more often and closer to the house. Tonight it sounded as if there were 30 of them ON the back porch. Came upon your wonderful site while looking for info on what all the noise means. Given the time of year, I think it’s a family evening rendezvous. I like having the coyotes around to take care of the glut of deer and rodents in our rural setting, but I do get concerned about my two pastured goats & pony, my small flock of chickens and another small flock of peafowl. The chickens are cooped at night and the peafowl have a stout enclosure. It’s mostly the two Nubian goats (120# each) that I worry about. I’m hoping the easier pickings outside our perimeter fence will satisfy the coyotes and that they won’t bother putting forth the effort to investigate our homestead. One of my dogs had been mauled by coyotes as a yearling and gets intensely upset at hearing them, so I usually go out with a light to encourage them to move on or I would never get any sleep :) Thanks for all the work of studying and documenting the coyotes and maintaining this site.
Thanks, The Farm Wife at Two Pennies Farm
Sylvania, GA
Aug 29, 2021 @ 06:16:37
Hi Kibble Goddess! Thank you so much for your supportive remarks! So glad you like the yelps of the wild! Just a few coyotes can sound like many more than there really are, so you may have had a family of 6 up on the porch. Exciting! Your little farm sounds absolutely charming. I don’t know how safe your animals are in a coyote area. Nubian goats work best in a herd where they can come to each other’s defense with herd behavior. I don’t know how coyotes would interact with just two. I know a goatherd who knows quite a bit about coyotes and goats — would you like me to ask, or put you in touch with her? Warmly! Janet
Feb 01, 2023 @ 22:15:49
Around 1950, as a youth, I visited the North Park Zoo in Buffalo. I stopped at a caged den labeled COYOTE. As I stood in front of the chain-link fence, an animal came out of a black hole in a concrete-and-brick structure and faced me through the fence.
What happened next I shall never, never, never forget. “He” sat on his haunches, pointed his nose to the sky, opened his mouth, and let out a cry. The cry was a long, continuous vocalization; it changed pitch and sound quality every quarter- or half- second – like scraps of every bird call and every living creature he had ever heard – grunts, croaks, trills, etc., etc., etc. – Words fail me for the unending variety of KINDS of sound! I remember marveling to myself that any creature’s vocal apparatus could be so unbelievably versatile.
The call went on and on for, what – a minute or two? I was mesmerized.
Please, can you help me understand this event?
I wonder if the coyote was bemoaning his unending imprisonment? His separation from mate and pups and offspring? The forever absence of hearing barks and yips of his kind which were life itself to him?
Be assured, any help or comment you can make will be vastly appreciated.
Today, some seventy years after the event – whenever I remember that call, the goosebumps still start up my back…
Feb 02, 2023 @ 05:14:26
Hi Albert!
Thank you for contacting me. I’m so glad you found the magic in a coyote’s vocalizations! Yes, there is variety in pitch and tone, and they can modulate with their lips. It’s too bad that s/he was caged up rather than running free. Was s/he alone? These are highly social animals who live for their families and their interactions. They naturally claim territories of 2 to 4 square miles, so a limited enclosure for such an intelligent, long-roaming, family-minded animal creates a very unnatural living condition for them. In the 1950s animal enclosures were not optimal, not up to par by today’s standards. When I presented your comment to my zoo behaviorist friend, she reminded me that, factually, “no one knows what an animal is thinking”. But I think sometimes we can know what they are feeling — at least some of what they are feeling. For example, I can tell the difference between distressed vocalizations and happy yipping. So it would be pure speculation to think that s/he might have been calling out in hopes that another coyote might respond. She/he might just have been venting her/his own positive or negative feelings, or just felt like belting out for a reason which we can’t decipher. I deal only with wild and free coyotes. I hear all types of vocalizations that are tied to different situations. Most recently, I heard coyotes vocalize when their situations were threatened by an intruder. And I heard that same vocalization sound like a bugle-call to action, not unlike soldiers at war (which is what I thought of when I heard it), when three vocalizing coyotes headed out to drive an intruder out. But in both of these cases, the tones were more on the “moaning” level than what you described. Usually the full yipping, in all its varied glory, is a happy vocalization: let’s hope your coyote was happy where he/she lived and was expressing this. I’m sorry I can’t be more precise than this, but I hope this helps! Janet
Feb 20, 2023 @ 18:31:32
Thank you, Janet, for taking the trouble to reply to my email about a coyote event heard around 1950 that still brings goosebumps to my back.
Thank you for all you know – and care about – concerning these amazing fellow mammals of ours. —And for sharing!!!
Feb 02, 2023 @ 02:59:56
We’ve lived in the same house since 2007. It is fairly rural and the yards are surrounded by cinder block walls, and a walk-way between the neighboring walls. Every night, sometimes multiple times, the coyotes run between our walls, and also down the streets, and yip/talk the whole way through the neighborhood. Could this be just a form of chatting between families? Sometimes they stop and do some howling, and when there are pups it gets very loud and overlapping. Sometimes it sounds like there are 10+ running through our yards. We don’t mind at all, it is interesting to wonder what they’re saying.
P.S. My LGD heard these videos and is now out patrolling the yard with her hackles up high and “mumbling” and barking her warnings! LOL!
Feb 02, 2023 @ 05:37:32
Hi trmott —
Thank you for contacting me and sharing your wonderful observations and thoughts! I can tell you what I’ve seen/heard which may not include all possibilities — your observations are as valid as mine.
From what I’ve seen, coyotes are creatures of habit and often take the same route: it sounds like this is the case, between your walls and down your streets, if you are hearing/seeing the same thing regularly.
Again, from what I’ve seen, the yipping occurs when they first meet up in the evening (usually after sleeping through the daylight hours in semi-separate locations), and then it levels off to quietness with occasional “eruptions” that then again subside. When pups go out with the adults, there is lots of discipline and learning which include vocalizations. My feeling is that, as you noted, there are more vocalizations when the youngsters are around.
I myself haven’t heard them chattering as they trek along: rather, when they trek, they seem to be stealthily silent.
All vocalizations express feelings of some kind, as far as I have seen, so in a way, when it occurs, I guess you could call it “chatting”, but it’s between family members, not between different families unless those families are far apart. Again, I’m talking only from my own experience here in San Francisco.
AND just a few coyotes can sound like many more than there really are. So, what sounds like 10+ to you, may in fact be only 3, 4 or 5.
YES: pet dogs react to the recordings! If you get a recording of your “chattering”, please send it to me at janet@coyoteyipps.com
Feb 02, 2023 @ 03:38:07
Hi Janet! I asked a question in Dec 2021 and then wasn’t able to get back to you. I wished I had a recording, but I’m usually snuggled in bed when they run through…apx 10 p.m. and 4a.m. The sounds they make, yipping that they do are like jabbering to each other as they run along. Somehow I feel like they are literally running a long and talking to each other, as they run through our neighborhood, and sometimes stopping to have a high pitched disagreement, like your alphas, in the empty yards behind our wall. They’re similar to the videos you have above, 18, 22, 26…blended. Just curious if they conversate while traveling in their pack. It sometimes gets louder, and more excited sounding, when they have pups. (Again tonight…my dogs heard these videos and are now patrolling the back yard! LOL!)
Feb 08, 2023 @ 01:52:36
Our family recently adopted a mut puppy that is now 5 months old and she has started to show some signs that are making us question if she is all dog. We live in Alaska in a rural area that has a large population of Coyotes around although they aren’t seen very much at all I hear them every night. She from the day we got her has always been what we thought was aggressive but have realized was just her being extremely expressive when playing (lots of growls, snarling and all teeth) and she loves to stalk(slinks) our Brittany Spaniel before engaging in play as well as recently when we arrive at home and she is excited she makes a very high pitched yipping sound that sounds just like ones in some of your videos. Im wondering if it is common for coyotes and dogs to breed together and if I should be worried about her very vocal play and sounds possibly attracting coyotes to our property (we have a 400acre homestead and know they tend to be near us already), also if there is any physical characteristics that could help us determine if she is indeed a cross breed. I could email pics of her and record her if you would like also.
Feb 08, 2023 @ 05:11:23
Hi Shaleenah —
Although crossbreeding happens, it’s rare, because dogs are on a twice-a-year breeding cycle whereas coyotes are on a once-a-year breeding cycle. But there are such things as “coydogs”. It’s hard to tell from photos, but I could try if you want to send me some. [janet@coyoteyipps.com]. Or if you are willing to spend a little, you could have a DNA test done. I know that full coyotes do not make good pets (and it’s illegal to have them as pets) — but they are protective of their space and are not nice to friends who come over! Janet