One of the most infamous animals in North America is the Coyote, Canis latrans. This species of canine is native to North America and is found in every U.S. state except Hawaii. You may have heard them howling or yipping at night around the Plateau, and while this animal can pose a significant risk to small animals, the story of the coyote is much more fascinating than you might expect.
The coyote holds a sacred place in Native American culture as a trickster figure who represents both good and bad, reflecting the human experience, and in some stories the coyote was involved in the creation of humanity.
After European settlers began moving into North America and pushing westward, the coyote was seen as a threat to human life and domestic animals, prompting multiple attempts to eradicate the species (along with wolves) over the course of many years. This involved shooting any wild canines on sight, setting out poisoned bait, and in later years hunting them from helicopters.
This campaign was extremely effective against the Red and Gray Wolves; however, the coyote proved resilient in the face of eradication.
Instead of falling, coyote populations actually increased across the U.S. as humans continued their attempt to push them out, to the point where coyotes began to inhabit areas where they had never been seen before. Research began on these creatures to understand what was happening, and after some time they learned that coyotes constantly monitor their population numbers in an area by howling to one another and are able to regulate accordingly.
They are also very flexible in their hunting patterns and are able to transition from pack animals to solitary creatures very easily, giving them an advantage over wolves. Despite every effort, coyotes rebounded with incredible strength and are now firmly cemented as a North American staple in all continental corners.
Today, there is ongoing research to understand the resilience of these fascinating canines, especially the populations that live their whole lives and thrive in cities, known as “urban coyotes”. While you probably don’t see them very often, coyotes are always present, despite past humans’ extreme efforts to wipe them off the planet.
Next time you hear the eerie distant howls of a coyote, take a moment to reflect not in fear, but in respect for their unkillable spirit. The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust protects wild places that are critical habitat for these and many other creatures.
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