Wednesday

Coyotes - vs Wolves or Foxes

{Click on any image to view full size, then use the back button on your browser to return to this page}
This page last updated on 02/23/2020
(Fig. 01)
Picture Notes: The pictures in (Figs. 01-03) were taken on 01/29/2020 off Kingman Wash Road and Fortification Hill Road in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 2 miles over the bridge into Arizona. Here is the page for the place where we took these pictures ... Fortification Hill Road. Because I forgot my camera today, my friend Jim Herring, shot all of the pictures shown here. It is difficult to differentiate the difference between Coyotes and Wolves. You decide. In all of my hiking I have only seen coyotes on three occasions. The first time was while driving Bitter Spring Backcountry Byway Road. The last three pictures (Figs. 05-07) were the two coyotes we spotted near Bitter Spring. Here is the page for the place where I took these pictires ... Bitter Spring Backcountry Byway.

(Fig. 02)
DescriptionCoyotes vs wolves and foxes. It may be challenging to spot the difference between a coyote and a wolf or fox because of their similarities at a glance. But, looking closely, one would firstly notice that coyotes are much larger than the foxes. Coyotes are larger than foxes but are smaller than the wolves. Unlike a wolf, a coyote has a bushy, thick tail, which it holds low to the ground. Coyotes hunt primarily in pairs, while wolves hunt in packs. As a point of interest, the animals we observed today were three hunting food together. Based upon the descriptions below, I think these are wild Coyotes. 

Coyotes can weight from 20 to 46 pounds and have a long snout with triangular ears. They are larger than foxes but smaller than the wolves. Coyotes average 24 inches tall at the shoulder and, including the tail are approximately four feet in length. Coyotes in the desert average about 20 pounds, while those found in mountainous areas can average twice that. Females are slightly smaller than males. The coat is predominantly gray, changing to tan along the belly, legs, muzzle and ears. Some guard hairs, as well as the tail are tipped with black. The intensity and amount of coloring varies and individuals are usually lighter in the winter. The legs of a coyote are visibly thinner than those of a wolf. Coyotes can hunt during the day. Wolves generally have gray, black, or white fur and are bigger in size than the coyotes.

In general their habitat range from the low desert valleys to the alpine ridges. Coyotes are found in about any type of habitat where they can find food and a place to hide. They seem to show some preference for brush covered rolling hills and flats. Coyotes have perhaps the most varied habitat of any animal in Nevada. The coyote is an opportunistic feeder. In most areas of Nevada, rabbits, rodents and carrion make up the bulk of the coyote diet. Coyotes in urban areas forage at landfills and raid garbage cans and have been known to take domestic dogs and cats.

(Fig. 03)

(Fig. 04)
(Fig. 05)
(Fig. 06)
(Fig. 07)

_________________________________________________

Note: Every attempt is made to provide accurate information, but occasionally depictions are inaccurate by error of mapping, navigation or cataloging. The information on this site is provided without any warranty, express or implied, and is for informational and historical purposes only.