Coyotes are highly adaptable canids found across various North American landscapes, from expansive prairies to urban environments. Their ability to thrive in diverse habitats often leads to questions about their natural behaviors, particularly concerning where and how they shelter. Understanding the denning habits of coyotes provides insight into their life cycle and their remarkable capacity to coexist with human populations.
Coyote Denning Behavior
Coyotes dig their own dens. While capable of creating their own burrows, they frequently modify or take over existing structures. They commonly repurpose burrows dug by other animals, such as badgers, groundhogs, or foxes, often enlarging them to suit their needs. This opportunistic approach allows them to establish shelter efficiently.
Den use is primarily tied to the breeding season and raising young. Dens are utilized from February through the fall, especially during the peak pupping season (April to July). Outside this period, coyotes sleep in the open, often under trees or foliage, only occasionally seeking temporary refuge in dens from harsh weather or predators. Both male and female coyotes may participate in digging dens, often choosing sites in soft soil, sandy hillsides, or steep banks to facilitate excavation and provide drainage.
Characteristics of Coyote Dens
A typical coyote den entrance measures 1 to 2 feet in width and height, often appearing triangular. Coyotes frequently widen existing openings to accommodate themselves and their offspring. Dens can extend deep underground, ranging from 4 to 10 feet vertically and sometimes measuring up to 30 feet in length, leading to a chamber 1.5 to 2 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. Some dens have multiple entrances.
Coyote dens are strategically located to provide safety and shelter for birthing and raising pups. Common sites include hillsides, rocky outcrops, dense vegetation like underbrush, or even hollow logs. In urban and suburban areas, coyotes adapt by using abandoned structures, culverts, or spaces under sheds and porches. The den offers protection from predators and adverse weather, serving as a secure nursery during the vulnerable first weeks of the pups’ lives.
Identifying a Coyote Den
Identifying an active coyote den involves looking for specific indicators around a potential site. Freshly dug dirt outside the entrance, particularly during the pupping season, can suggest recent activity or expansion. Tracks leading to and from the entrance are a common sign; coyote tracks are oval, 2.5 inches long, and distinct from dog prints as their paw pads point inward. The presence of coyote scat (feces) near the entrance, often cigar-shaped and placed conspicuously, can serve as a territorial marker.
Other physical clues include hair caught on rough edges near the opening or a well-traveled path leading to the entrance. Behavioral observations are also helpful; increased coyote activity, frequent sightings of adults entering or exiting, or consistent vocalizations like yips and howls, especially at dawn and dusk, may indicate a nearby den. Denning season, from February through the fall, is when dens are most actively used and identifiable. It is advisable to observe from a distance and avoid disturbing any suspected active den sites.