Coyote

Canis latrans

The clever Coyote or "the trickster," as some Native American tribes called it, may be one of the most intelligent and successful mammals in North America. While many efforts were made to get rid of them in the West, they seem to have increased and spread their range into the East. Historical records describe smaller "Brush Wolves" that may have been Coyotes. So the trickster can even fool the scientists attempting to study it.

Look For : A harmless, gray or orange-gray, doglike animal with a black-tipped bushy tail that hangs low.

Length : Body about 3' long, tail 12-15" long; 20-40 lb.

Habitat : Brushy areas in the East and open plains in the West.

Range : Common from Alaska and southern Canada throughout western U.S.; has extended its range into entire U.S.