Coyote

A grizzled grey or reddish-grey coat with buff underparts, long, rusty or yellowish legs and a bushy tail characterize the coyote. They have arresting, yellow eyes and prominent ears. Average weight is 20-40 pounds. The coyote was originally native only to the prairies and arid west but as settlers moved across the country, altering the landscape and doing away with wolves, a new niche was opened up to the coyote. They now thrive in the Western Hemisphere from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans.

Eating almost anything it can chew, coyote is an opportunistic and cunning hunter. Known to run up to 40 mph, they often combine efforts with 1 or 2 others when running their prey. The typical den is a wide mouthed tunnel, terminating in an enlarged nesting area. The coyote has been historically important for First Nations for pelts and as a trading commodity after Europeans settled in the area. Currently hunting and trapping is used to keep this predator species' population numbers in check.

General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

Issues:

• Increased population numbers are reducing ungulate population sizes below sustainable levels

Goals:

• Undergo ungulate enhancement by increasing hunting and trapping limits on coyotes