Many people wonder if jackals roam Texas. This article clarifies the native ranges of jackals and the canids that actually inhabit Texas, providing distinguishing features to help identify these animals.
Understanding Jackals
Jackals are canids native to Africa and Eurasia, not the Americas. The term “jackal” commonly refers to three species: the golden jackal (found in south-central Europe and Asia), the black-backed jackal, and the side-striped jackal (both found in Central and Southern Africa). These animals are opportunistic omnivores, preying on small to medium-sized animals and scavenging. They possess long legs, curved canine teeth, and large feet, adapted for long-distance running, and are primarily crepuscular, active during dawn and dusk. Their distribution is restricted to the Eastern Hemisphere, and they have not naturally migrated to North America, including Texas.
Canids of Texas
Texas is home to several native canid species, with the coyote being the most widespread and frequently encountered. Coyotes are smaller than wolves but share a similar appearance, typically weighing between 25 and 40 pounds. They have long, slender legs, a bushy tail often with a black tip, large, erect ears, and a coat color usually ranging from gray to buff. Coyotes are highly adaptable, inhabiting diverse environments from open plains to urban areas across the entire state. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide variety of items including rabbits, rodents, insects, fruits, and carrion.
Coyotes are known for their distinct vocalizations, including howls, yips, and barks, which they use to communicate within their social groups. While they can live in social groups, mated pairs are common, with males assisting in bringing food to the family after pups are born. Another canid historically present in Texas is the red wolf, though it is now considered extinct in the wild in Texas due to habitat loss and hybridization with coyotes. Current populations of red wolves exist primarily in captive breeding programs and a reintroduced group in North Carolina. Some canines with red wolf DNA have been identified on Galveston Island, indicating a complex genetic history in the region.
Distinguishing Features
Jackals and coyotes, while both belonging to the Canidae family, exhibit clear differences in their physical characteristics and geographical distribution. Coyotes are larger than jackals, typically weighing 20-50 pounds compared to a jackal’s 15-35 pounds, and tend to have more pointed ears and grayish-brown fur, while jackals often have more rounded ears and a sandy or yellowish-gold coat. Vocalizations also differentiate them: coyotes are known for diverse howls, yips, and barks, while jackals are noted for high-pitched yapping calls. Their native habitats are the most significant distinction: jackals are found exclusively in Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe, while coyotes are indigenous to North America. There are no wild jackals in Texas.