Coyote
Weirdness 6/10

The wild predator that secretly lives in every major US city

This animal is so adaptable it now thrives in the middle of major cities.

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Which one is REALLY true about the Coyote?

The short version

ages 9–12

The coyote is one of the most adaptable predators on Earth. Called 'song dogs,' just 2-3 can sound like a whole pack. They live in cities like Chicago, LA, and New York, can hear a mouse under a foot of snow, usually mate for life, and out east many have bred with wolves and dogs into a bigger hybrid.

Why it's so weird

  • The Coyote is one of the most adaptable on the planet, living almost anywhere.
  • The Coyote is nicknamed the 'song dog' for its eerie chorus of yips and howls.
  • The Coyote can make just two or three animals sound like a whole pack.
  • The Coyote lives right in the heart of cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
  • The Coyote has hearing so sharp it can pinpoint a mouse moving under a foot of snow.

The full story

This animal has quietly moved into nearly every major city in North America, often without anyone even noticing. Meet the coyote, one of the most adaptable predators on the planet. They are called song dogs for their eerie chorus of yips and howls, and just two or three coyotes can sound like a whole pack, a trick that makes their group seem much bigger than it is. They live right in the heart of cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, hunting rats and slipping through parks under cover of darkness. Their hearing is so sharp they can pinpoint a mouse moving under a foot of snow. Coyotes usually mate for life, and out east, many have quietly bred with wolves and dogs, creating a bigger, bolder hybrid. Clever, tough, and living closer to you than you think. Follow for more weird animal facts.

🔬 The science — how & why

A coyote is a "generalist," which is a fancy way of saying it isn't picky. It eats rodents, rabbits, bugs, fruit, and even food that people throw away, so it never runs out of meals when its surroundings change. It can also change its habits: in busy cities it does most of its hunting at night to stay away from people. Because it doesn't depend on one kind of food or one kind of place, it can make a home in deserts, forests, and city neighborhoods alike.

📚 Source: The Coyote — U.S. National Park Service
🔎 How do we know?

Wildlife biologists who study coyotes have documented them eating a huge range of foods — fish, insects, snakes, deer, and even fruit and grass — which is exactly why the National Park Service says this wide diet lets them thrive almost anywhere.

📚 Source: The Coyote — U.S. National Park Service
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The Coyote is one of the most adaptable predators on the planet, living almost anywhere.

The Coyote may be one of the smartest animals on Earth, with brainpower rivaling a young child.

The Coyote is nicknamed the 'song dog' for its eerie chorus of yips and howls.

🍎 Teacher or parent? Print a Coyote research worksheet or open the lesson hub.

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Coyote gallery

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