Coyotes are medium-sized canids, typically weighing 20 to 50 pounds, with gray-brown fur. Known for their adaptability, they thrive in diverse North American landscapes from wilderness to urban centers. Resourceful, they often travel alone or in pairs, though they can form family groups.
Coyotes’ Arrival in Virginia
Coyotes are not native to Virginia. They were first observed in the western regions of the Commonwealth in the early 1950s, establishing themselves through natural eastward expansion. Some coyotes were also illegally introduced into Virginia by hunt clubs for game purposes. Eastern coyotes in Virginia often possess wolf DNA, contributing to their larger size.
How Coyotes Spread Across North America
Coyotes were originally found in western Canada, Mexico, the central prairies, and the arid southwestern United States. Their significant range expansion across North America began around the early 1900s. This movement was largely facilitated by the reduction of large predators like wolves and cougars, which created open ecological niches. Human activities, including agricultural expansion and forest fragmentation, also opened new habitats that coyotes readily colonized.
Coyotes expanded eastward through two primary routes. A northern front moved across the Great Lakes region, interbreeding with gray wolves. A southern front progressed through the southeastern states, where they interbred with red wolves. These two expanding populations eventually converged in the mid-Atlantic, bringing coyotes to Virginia.
Coyotes’ Impact on Virginia’s Ecosystem
Coyotes have established themselves as adaptable predators within Virginia’s diverse ecosystems, filling an ecological role left open after the historical disappearance of wolves. Their diet is highly varied, reflecting their opportunistic nature as omnivores. They primarily consume small mammals such as mice, voles, rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels. They also supplement their diet with insects, fruits, berries, frogs, fish, birds, and carrion, adapting their food sources seasonally.
While coyotes frequently consume deer, particularly fawns, it is often challenging to determine if these deer were actively hunted or scavenged. Studies suggest that coyotes do not significantly impact overall deer populations across most of Virginia, especially in areas with robust deer numbers. However, they can influence local deer populations, particularly in areas with poor habitat quality. Coyotes also contribute to ecosystem balance by preying on or displacing other medium-sized predators like red foxes, raccoons, opossums, and skunks, which can indirectly benefit ground-nesting bird species. Their remarkable adaptability allows them to thrive in various habitats, from rural woodlands to suburban and urban environments across all of Virginia’s counties.
Living Alongside Coyotes
Coyotes are now present in every county and habitat type across Virginia, including densely populated urban and suburban areas. While naturally wary of humans, coyotes can become accustomed to human presence if they find easy access to food sources. To minimize potential conflicts, it is important to avoid providing food, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Securing garbage cans and compost piles, and refraining from leaving pet food outdoors, can prevent attracting coyotes to residential areas.
Protecting domestic animals involves keeping cats indoors and supervising small dogs, as they can be vulnerable to coyotes. If a coyote approaches, making loud noises, yelling, or throwing non-edible objects can help reinforce their natural caution towards humans. Removing brush piles, abandoned structures, or other potential den sites near homes can also deter coyotes from establishing territories in close proximity. Attacks on humans are rare and often occur when animals are rabid or provoked.