A loud, lonely howl heard in the night across North America usually means one thing-a coyote is on the prowl. Though related to dogs, this animal is not man's best friend. The coyote normally hunts alone, stalking prey and killing with a quick pounce; it also chases victims down at high speeds over almost any terrain. On occasion, this canine will hunt with other coyotes, and in a strange match up, even work with badgers to find prey.
Extra Sensory: The coyote hunts mostly at night, so it relies on much more than eyesight to locate prey. This canine tracks potential victims with its excellent senses of smell and hearing.
There's No Escape: This creature looks like a big dog, but it has the agility of a cat. It can make tight turns when chasing prey, even at speeds up to 40 miles per hour, and can jump over obstacles with a 13-foot leap.
Perfect Paws: The coyote has feet suitable for almost any terrain. This creature walks with just its toes touching the ground. It has five toes on each of its front feet and four on each of its hind feet.
Odd Couple[]
The coyote can chase prey over long distances, biding time and striking when its victim is exhausted.
Unlike wolves, which live in social packs, the coyote usually goes it alone. It hunts a wide range of prey, usually small mammals, such as rabbits, or reptiles. The coyote stalks prey for several minutes, then leaps onto victims to pin them to the ground. Sometimes a coyote does need help. It might band with other coyotes to chase down bigger prey, such as deer, and is even known to hunt in leagues with badgers. The coyote locates burrowed prey with its keen senses, and the badger digs it up with its claws.
Coyote Cry: The coyote's howl is one of the best-known sounds in the West. The animal points its snout to the sky, bares its canine teeth and lets out a series of short yelps followed by one long wail to let other coyotes know where it is.
City Dog: This creature likes living in open grasslands, but can survive in a wide variety of habitats. It's known to make its home in forests, deserts, on mountains and even near big cities, such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Mouse Hunt[]
- After stalking a field mouse for half an hour, a young coyote stiffens its legs and leap into the air to take the victim by surprise-and to leave it no way to escape.
- Having pinned the mouse to the ground with its paws, the coyote makes the kill with a single bite, stabbing its thick canine teeth into the victim's neck.
- The coyote still needs to practice its hunting skills, so it flings the dead mouse into the air and pounces again-helping perfect its most-used hunting technique.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The card's front illustration is also used in the Wildlife Explorer series for the coyote's profile.
- The series also shares the back image of the coyote eating, and the multi-paneled images for "Mouse Hunt". The latter is given the name "Worth the Wait", and there's an additional first panel of the coyote stalking the mouse through grass.
- The coyote is featured on multiple other creature cards:
- A coyote is shown teaming up with an American Badger on the back of its knowledge card.
- One is featured trying to eat a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake on the back of its knowledge card.
- They’re mentioned as a predator to the Mexican Beaded Lizard on its knowledge card.
- It is featured in the multi-panel illustration on the back of the Skunk Beetle's card, being the predator it's shown spraying in the face.
- One is shown trying to eat a Chuckwalla on the back illustration of its knowledge card.
- The coyote is one of two knowledge cards with three mini-headings on the front, along with the Impala.
- The coyote is featured in You Ought to be In Pictures on Monster Mania 80.