Coyotes are adaptable wild canids, thriving across diverse North American landscapes, from dense forests to arid deserts and urban peripheries. They play a significant role in their ecosystems, adapting their diets and behaviors to available resources.
Naming the Young
A baby coyote is called a pup. This term is widely used across the canid family, applying to the young of species like domestic dogs, wolves, and foxes.
Characteristics of Coyote Pups
Coyote pups are born small and entirely dependent on their mother. At birth, they typically weigh between 7 and 10 ounces and measure approximately 6 to 8 inches in length. Their fur is often a dark, grayish-brown, appearing somewhat fuzzy compared to an adult’s coat.
Newborn pups are born with their eyes closed and ear canals sealed. Their eyes and ear canals usually open around 10 to 14 days after birth, allowing them to begin perceiving their surroundings. Initially, their movements are uncoordinated, and they spend their time huddled together for warmth within the den. As they gain strength and their senses develop, they begin to exhibit playful behaviors, such as mock-wrestling and nipping at their siblings, even within the confines of the den.
Early Life and Development
The initial weeks of a coyote pup’s life are spent within a den, which can be an excavated burrow, a hollow log, or a rock crevice, offering protection from predators and the elements. Both parents contribute to the pups’ care, with the male often bringing food to the den for the female and their offspring. This shared parental responsibility supports the litter’s survival and development.
Pups rely solely on their mother’s milk for the first few weeks. Around three to four weeks of age, they begin to consume regurgitated food provided by their parents. Weaning typically commences between five and seven weeks, as their teeth develop and they can increasingly digest solid food. During this period, pups gradually transition from the den to the immediate vicinity, exploring their surroundings under parental supervision.
As they grow, usually by eight to ten weeks, pups start making short excursions from the den, accompanying adults on foraging trips. This is a key learning phase where they observe and mimic adult hunting techniques, starting with small prey like insects or rodents. They learn to stalk, pounce, and capture prey through observation and practice. Learning to avoid predators, recognize danger signals, and navigate their territory are also important lessons imparted by adults.
Coyote pups usually remain with their parents and siblings for several months, often until late summer or early fall, or even through the winter until the next breeding season. During this time, they refine hunting skills, learn social dynamics, and strengthen physical abilities. This extended parental guidance helps pups acquire survival skills before they disperse to establish their own territories.