Coyotes are quite prolific throughout North and Central America and are well adapted to, well� adapting. As we humans change the environment and push out larger predators like wolves and cougars, coyotes have smoothly moved in as hunters and scavengers. Coyotes prefer to eat fresh meat by hunting rabbits, squirrels and other small mammals but will also work in groups to take down deer, scavenge dead carcasses or even sort through human trash for a good meal. Despite this wide diet, and contrary to the Looney Tunes' Wile E. Coyote, coyotes are not known to chase greater roadrunners.

Also unlike Wile E. Coyote, most coyotes aren't solitary animals. Instead coyotes tend to hunt in pairs and live in packs of three to seven related adults. Like wolves, coyotes form a kind of social structure within their packs, with the "alpha" male and female at the top of the hierarchy. Coyotes who are lower on the social ladder display more submissive behavior towards those on top. Here at the Nature Center, visitors can see this behavior in how Bea will usually keep her head low to the ground as a show of difference to Barney, the alpha coyote of their little pack.

For the most part coyotes aren't afraid of humans, which can be seen in how Barney and Bea will curiously approach families as they pay the two a visit. This is great for those two, who were raised by humans and rely on people for food and shelter, but in the wild this causes trouble as coyotes have no problem approaching livestock, trash cans, gardens or even domestic pets for food. In fact, there's even been reports of coyotes in Central Park, right in the heart of New York City!

That doesn't mean that coyotes are evil. They fill an important niche in our environment by hunting a variety of smaller mammals, birds and reptiles that in turn can spread disease or eat human crops. They are also, in the words of Cristina, quite cute. I happen to agree as each time I visit Barney and Bea I am reminded of Molly, my own dog from when I was a child. In fact Molly used to "sing" at sirens the same as Bea and Barney do today!

If you want to meet these two curious canines, and perhaps listen to their musical performance for yourself, than come for a visit to the WNC Nature Center! The two coyote can be found in their new habitat up the hill, just past their canine cousins the gray & red foxes.

(Image provided by WNC Nature Center.)

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