Coyotes are a common sight across Texas, thriving in diverse environments from bustling urban centers to vast rural landscapes. Their remarkable adaptability has allowed them to establish a widespread presence throughout the state, and understanding these resilient canids can help Texans coexist with them.
Distribution Across Texas
Coyotes are found in all 254 counties of Texas, inhabiting a wide range of environments including open plains, brushy areas, forests, deserts, and major metropolitan areas like Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. Their opportunistic nature and capacity to thrive in rapidly changing surroundings contribute to this widespread presence. Their population has expanded significantly, especially after the decline of larger predators like wolves, allowing coyotes to fill an ecological niche across North America.
Physical Characteristics
The Texas coyote, Canis latrans, is a medium-sized canid, similar in stature to a small German Shepherd. They weigh between 25 and 40 pounds, with individuals in the Panhandle and northern regions sometimes being larger. Their coats range from grizzled gray to buff-colored, sometimes with reddish-brown tones, and their undersides are lighter. Distinctive features include long, slender legs, large erect ears, and a bushy tail, often with a black tip. Unlike foxes or wolves, coyotes characteristically run with their tails down.
Natural Behavior and Diet
Coyotes are intelligent animals with keen senses of hearing, sight, and smell. They are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, though they can be observed during the day. While they can be solitary, coyotes often live in small family units or pairs. They communicate through a variety of vocalizations, including howls, yips, and barks, which announce their presence.
Their diet is highly opportunistic and varied. Primary food sources include small mammals like rabbits and rodents, insects, fruits, and carrion. Their diet can also include lizards, snakes, birds, and fish. This adaptability is a key factor in their success across diverse habitats, including urban environments where they might consume household garbage.
Coexisting with Coyotes
Given their widespread presence, understanding how to coexist with coyotes is important for Texans. Coyotes are wary of humans, but they can become accustomed to people if fed. To prevent conflicts, eliminate potential food sources around homes. This includes securing trash cans with tight-fitting lids, avoiding leaving pet food outdoors, and cleaning up spilled birdseed or fallen fruit.
Protecting pets is another important aspect of coexistence. Small pets should be kept indoors or supervised closely when outside. Dogs should always be on a leash when walking. Fencing can also deter coyotes; fences should be at least six feet tall and extend underground or have an L-shaped mesh apron to prevent digging underneath.
If a coyote is encountered, a technique called “hazing” can reinforce their natural fear of humans. This involves:
Making loud noises
Yelling
Waving arms to appear larger
Throwing non-edible objects near them
The goal is to scare the coyote away without causing harm. Continue hazing until the coyote leaves. If a coyote exhibits aggressive behavior or does not respond to hazing, notify local animal services or wildlife authorities.