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Species
Birds
- Cormorant, Double-crested (Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Cormorant, Pelagic (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
- Crow, Northwestern (Corvus caurinus)
- Eagle, American Bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Falcon, Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
- Gull, Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis)
- Gull, Glaucous-winged (Larus glaucescens)
- Hawk, Cooper's (Accipiter cooperii)
- Heron (Fannini subspecies - Ardea herodias fannini)
- Killdeer (Charadruis vociferus)
- Owl, Barred (Strix varia)
- Owl, Saw-Whet (Aegolius acadicus)
Mammals
Coyotes (Canis latrans)
Adults: Urban coyotes in Vancouver weigh 9-16 kg (20-35 lbs). Adult raccoons and beavers often weigh more. They are 120-150 centimeters (40-60 inches) in length and stand 58-66 centimeters
Did You Know?
- Coyotes can sprint at 65 kilometres an hour, and trot comfortably at speeds of 20 to 30 kilometres an hour
- Coyotes can do a 5-metre long jump, and jump over a 2-metre-high fence
- Coyote dens often have an entrance, an exit, and a second smaller chamber to help drain water
- Coyotes are wild ventriloquists: they can throw and scatter their voices with ease
Characteristics and behaviour:
- Coyotes in Vancouver weigh 9-16 kg (20-35 lbs), less than many adult raccoons and beavers. Coyotes often appear larger due to their thick fur coat
- Coyotes measure 120 to 150 centimetres from nose to tail-tip, and stand 58 to 66 centimetres high at the shoulder
- Coyotes can be identified by their erect ears, their bushy black-tipped tail, slim muzzle, and slender build
- Coyotes are active during the day and night
- Coyotes spend most of their time in the "core areas" of their territories and home ranges. Consider the representation below of a coyote's home range and think about how it translates into an urban setting:
Coyote home range, territory, and core area
Habitat:
- Coyotes live in almost every developed and wild area of North America
- Though originally a desert and grassland animal, coyotes now live in a wide range of habitats: from prairie to boreal and montane forests
- 400 years ago, coyotes where found in the central and south western United States, now they range from Alaska to Costa Rica
Diet:
- Coyotes are opportunistic feeders, eating everything from hares and rabbits to rodents, fish, fruit, berries, nuts, eggs and even garbage
- Coyotes in the city feed primarily on rats and mice. They also eat squirrels, raccoons, fallen fruit, berries, compost, garbage, fish, snails, birds, eggs, small dogs and outdoor cats
Breeding:
- Coyotes usually mate for life
- Females typically are in heat for about ten days between January and March
- Pups are born between March and May, after a gestation period of approximately 63 days
- Pups are born blind and nearly naked. Pups begin to leave the den after three weeks
- Litters have between 4 and 7 pups
Coyote Sign
[ Learn more about identifying coyote sign ]
Is someone in your neighbourhood feeding coyotes? Or are you, or one of your neighbours, unintentionally attracting coyotes? Visit the Co-Existing With Coyotes pages to learn how you can prevent conflicts between people, pets and coyotes.
