Coyotes (Canis latrans) are adaptable canids that populate nearly all of North America, thriving in environments from wilderness areas to dense urban settings. Their widespread presence means many people encounter them, particularly during pup season. This period is marked by an increase in adult coyote activity and visibility as they raise their young. Understanding their reproductive cycle and subsequent behavioral changes provides insight into their lives.
The Timing of Coyote Reproduction
The coyote reproductive cycle begins in the winter months, typically between January and March, when mating occurs. Coyotes are a monoestrous species, meaning the female is receptive to breeding only once per year for a brief window of about five to seven days. This single annual opportunity ensures that births are timed for the availability of food resources in the spring.
The female coyote carries her litter for a gestation period lasting approximately 63 days. This means the peak birth window across most of North America falls between late March and May. Litter size typically averages between five and seven pups, but can vary widely. Litter size is often influenced by population density and the abundance of food; females may produce larger litters where food is plentiful.
Life in the Den: Early Pup Development
Coyote pups are born deep inside a den, which is usually an enlarged burrow abandoned by another animal, a natural crevice, or a concealed space under a brush pile. The den serves as a temporary nursery, providing warmth and protection during the pups’ most vulnerable stage. At birth, the pups are helpless, blind, and deaf, relying entirely on the mother for survival.
The pups begin to experience the world when their eyes and ear canals open, a milestone that occurs around 10 to 14 days after birth. For the first few weeks, the mother rarely leaves the den, depending on the male to bring food to her. Once they reach about three weeks of age, the pups start to venture just outside the den entrance, taking their first steps into the daylight.
The shift from milk to solid food begins around six weeks of age, marking the start of the weaning process. Adult coyotes bring food back to the den site, often consuming it first and then regurgitating it for the pups. This method ensures the young receive easily digestible nutrients until their teeth are developed enough to process whole prey. The family eventually moves from the den to above-ground sleeping areas once the pups are weaned.
Behavioral Shifts During Pup Season
The presence of a litter alters the behavior of adult coyotes, who must now support multiple new lives. The increased nutritional demands of the pups necessitate constant hunting, making sightings of adults, even during the day, more frequent during the spring and summer. Both the male and female provide food, and other adult pack members sometimes assist with hunting and guarding the den.
Adult coyotes exhibit heightened territoriality during the pup-rearing season, aggressively defending the area surrounding the den site. This protective boundary can extend several hundred feet or more, as the parents perceive any approaching animal as a threat. This defensive behavior is often misinterpreted as aggression, but it is an attempt to drive away perceived danger.
A common observation is “escorting” or “shadowing,” where a coyote follows a person or pet at a distance. This deliberate tactic guides an intruder away from a hidden den or rendezvous site without direct confrontation. As the pups grow, the family moves from the den to these “rendezvous sites,” which are concealed above-ground locations like dense brush patches. These staging areas serve as the family’s base through the summer until the young coyotes disperse in the fall.