The coyote is a medium-sized canid. They prefer open woodlands, woodland borders, and brushy areas. Its bushy tail is held down between the hind legs when running, as opposed to the red wolf which holds its tail high. Coyotes are adaptable and mobile carnivores that have greatly expanded their range during this century. They were first observed in the park in 1982. Coyotes travel separately or in family units. They are mainly nocturnal, and are active during all seasons. Coyotes in the wild have been known to live as long as 14+ years (Linzey, 1995a).

Species Description:
- Adult Total Length: 1,120-1,370 mm (44-53 in.)
- Tail: 300-380 mm (12-15 in.)
- Hind Foot: 175-220 mm (6-8 in.)
- Weight: 9-16 kg (20-35 lb.)
- Physical Characteristics: The coyote is a medium-sized canid with moderately long fur and rather coarse guard hairs. Although variable in color, most are tawny-gray with rusty legs, feet, and ears. The throat and belly are whitish. The bushy tail is held down between the hind legs when running, as opposed to the red wolf which holds its tail high.

Habitat:
Coyotes prefer open woodlands, woodland borders, and brushy areas.

Reproduction:
Litters consisting of five to seven pups are usually born in spring. The young remain with the parents until early fall, at which time the pups disperse and seek their own home sites. Young coyotes have been observed in Sugarlands and in Cades Cove in 1992 (Linzey, 1995b). One coyote at Sugarlands was "panhandling" food from visitors.

Longevity:
Coyotes in the wild have been known to live as long as 14? years (Linzey, 1995a).

Terrestrial Ecology:
Coyotes are mainly nocturnal and are active during all seasons. Their senses of sight, hearing, and smell are well developed. Coyotes travel separately or in family units. Their den is usually a hole in the ground, with the burrows of Woodchuck (Marmota_monax), skunk (Mephitidae), and fox (Canidae) often being enlarged to form suitable dens. Primary foods consist of rabbit (Leporidae), carrion, and rodent (Rodentia). Some fruits, such as persimmons, may also be consumed. A coyote was observed chasing a medium-sized Black bear (Ursus americanus) near Hazel Creek in August, 1988. A coyote with a woodchuck in its mouth was observed in Cades Cove in April, 1992. An individual was observed in June 1992 carrying a rabbit. Coyotes have also been observed chasing White-tailed deer (Odocoileus_virginianus) and feeding on deer carcasses. They have been responsible for killing newborn calves in Cades Cove (Linzey, 1995b). Predators and Defense: Man is the only serious enemy of the coyote. Parasites: None recorded from the park.

Coyotes are adaptable and mobile carnivores that have greatly expanded their range during this century. Until the early 1900s, the range extended only as far east as northern Wisconsin and central Texas (Nowak, 1978).
Human extirpation of gray wolves and red wolves together with habitat modification permitted coyotes to gradually move into eastern North America. Besides natural migrations, fox hunters introduced adult coyotes for training hounds as well as introducing coyote pups that were mistakenly thought to be red fox pups (Hamilton, 1943).
Brimley (1944) noted that there had been rumors in recent years of coyotes having been released in the mountains, but no positive evidence had been found.
Young and Jackson (1951) stated that within the past two decades, coyotes had made their first appearance in Tennessee and North Carolina. A forest ranger on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Swain County, North Carolina, reported the positive identification of one animal killed in 1947 (Hamnett and Thornton, 1953). Smith, Funderburg, and Quay (1960) noted that coyotes had been recorded from all of the states bordering North Carolina, and that they possibly occurred in the mountains in small numbers.
In addition, several incidences have been verified where coyotes have escaped from captivity. Hill et. al. (1987) reported three releases add/or escapes in Tennessee, one in North Carolina, and one in Virginia.

Coyotes were first observed in the park in 1982. Charles Remus made the first sighting on June 6 in Cades Cove. Coyotes currently inhabit many parts of the park but in low numbers. Population estimates ranging from one coyote per 12.9 km? in Cades Cove to one coyote per 39.7 km outside of Cades Cove were reported by Crawford (1992). These estimates were based on howling responses, observations of animals, and trapping.

References:

Bekoff, M. 1977. Canis latrans. Mammalian Species No. 79: 1-9. American Society of Mammalogists.

Bekoff, M. 1999. Coyote. Pages 139-141. In: D.E. Wilson, and S. Ruff (eds.). The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.

Brimley, C.S. 1944-46. The Mammals of North Carolina. Eighteen installments in Carolina Tips. Carolina Biological Supply Co., Elon College, NC.

Crawford, B.A. 1992. Coyotes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Evaluation of Methods to Monitor Relative Abundance, Movement Ecology, and Habitat Use. Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

Hamilton, W.J., Jr. 1943. The Mammals of Eastern North America. Comstock Publishing Company. Ithaca, New York.

Hamnett, W.L., and D.C. Thornton. 1953. Tar Heel Wildlife. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh, NC.

Hill, P.E., P.W. Summer, and J.B. Woodling. 1987. Human Influences on Range Expansion of Coyotes in the Southeast. Wildlife Society Bulletin 15: 521-524.

Linzey, D. W. 1995a. Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company Inc., Blacksburg, Virginia.

Linzey, D. W. 1995b. Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park-1995 Update. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 111(1): 1-81.

Linzey, D. W. 1998. The Mammals of Virginia. The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company Inc., Blacksburg, Virginia.

Nowak, R.M. 1978. Evolution and Taxonomy of Coyotes and Related Canis. Pages 3-15. In: M. Bekoff (ed.), Coyotes: Biology,