THE ANIMAL FILES

Coyote

Canis latrans

A pounce, a den and a chorus are three different clues.

Coyotes catch small rodents alone but can cooperate on larger prey. Dens mainly shelter the growing pups.[1]

Follow the evidence ↓
Coyote
Image: Yathin S Krishnappa · Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hunt size matters
Small prey is commonly caught singly.[1]
A nursery underground
Dens shelter pups.[1]
Beyond the lone howl
Calls include greetings, alarms and contact sounds.[1]

Hunt size matters

Coyotes pounce on mouse-sized rodents and may chase other small prey. Larger animals can be hunted by pairs or small groups.[1]

A nursery underground

Dens may use existing holes and can occupy banks, rock settings or other sheltered sites. Pups can be moved when a den is disturbed.[1]

Beyond the lone howl

The repertoire includes barks, whines and howls in different contexts. Group yip-howls can accompany reunion, while lone howls can serve contact functions.[1]

A COMMON MIX-UP

Does every coyote hunt require a pack?

No. Small prey is usually caught alone, while larger prey can bring cooperative hunting.[1]

TRY A LITTLE REASONING

Why would the same coyote hunt alone one day and cooperate on another?

Reveal the explanation

Prey size and conditions change the useful strategy. Social organisation does not force one method onto every feeding attempt.[1]

Sources & editorial notes

Adapted and translated from the cited Wikipedia revisions, with source-linked reasoning. Image credit and licence are listed separately above.

Adapted and translated from Wikipedia contributors; exact revisions are linked below. CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. Wikipedia contributors — Coyote (cited revision)
  2. NCBI Taxonomy — Canis latrans

Last fact check:

One discovery leads to another

WolfA pack is a social family, not just a contest for a title.Canis lupus ↗Arctic foxWinter white is one coat strategy, not the only one.Vulpes lagopus ↗Brown bear“Brown” is a species name, not a reliable colour swatch.Ursus arctos ↗