STUDIES OF PEAGE CHANGE. FOOD HABITS AND
BREEDING HABITS OP CAPT"! COYOTES
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Thesis for the Demo 0! M. 3.
MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE

Eden E. White-man
1940

 

 

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STUDIES OF PELAGE CHANGES, FOOD HABITS AND
BREEDING HABITS OF CAPTIVE COYOTES

(Canis latrans latrans)

 

BY
ELDON E. WHITEMAN

submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of master of Science in the
Graduate School, Michigan State College,
Department of Zoology

June, 1940

THESIS

 

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Sincere thanks is here expressed to Mr. B. T.
Ostenson of the Zoology Department of Michigan State
College for guidance in my study; to Dr. H. R. Hunt,
Head, and MI. J. W} Stack, also oi‘the Zoology De-
partment, for their advice.

For permitting me to carry on the study and photo-
graphs of the coyote pup, I am indebted to Dr. M. D.
Pirnie, Director of the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary;
to Mr. Aa‘M. Stebler of the Game Division, Michigan
Department of Conservation, for his suggestions; to

Mr. L. J. Klever for aid in handling of the coyotes.

:1 36831

TABLE
Introduction . . . . . . .
Seasonal Change in Pelage
Fbod Habits . . . . . . .
Foods Rejected . . .
Bbods Accepted . . .
Food Preferences . .
Burying of Food . . .
Howling . . . . . . . . .
Weights and Measurements .
Breeding Habits . . . . .
Study of Young . . .
Summary and Conclusion . .

Bibliography . . . . . . .

OF CONTENTS

22

22

INTRODUCTION

The coyote is a recent addition to the list of mich-
igan mammals. According to E. A. Goldman (1930), the coy-
ote entered the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1906. Prob-
ably with the cutting of the forests, a suitable coyote
habitat was developed. Thus the coyote migrated in from
Wisconsin. The first reports were from Gogebic County.
The animals then spread eastward through the Upper Peninsula,
and at a later date entered the Lower Peninsula. Perhaps
they were transported to the Lower Peninsula by man or
crossed on the ice. Records of bounty payments indicate
that the coyote has now established itself in all the
Upper Peninsula and in the northern half of the Lower Pen-
insula with the exception of Leelanau County.* A.iew have
been found at scattered points in the lower half of the
Lower Peninsula, but they have not established themselves
in this more thickly settled area. a. W. Lyon (1936)
reports that many coyotes have been killed in northern
Indiana. Thus there is a possibility that some of our
southern animals have entered this state from Indiana.

Little is known about the life history of the coyote.
most of the past emphasis has been placed on extermination
with very little attention paid to research on its habits.
In order to study an animal, observations should be made
on captive animals as well as those in their natural en-
vironment. By the study of captive animals we can make

*A. M. Stebler, unpublished manuscript.

Ill [If II‘

some observations that are impossible in the wild.

This study was made on captive coyotes and museum
skins from the University Museum, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Michigan State College furnished one adult female and
three adult males. Jackson City Park, Jackson, Michigan
furnished one adult female. a male pup was also avail-
able for study. He was born to the female at Michigan
State College on April 27, 1939. Observations on these

coyotes were made from november, 1957 to October, 1959.

EASONAL CHANGE IN PELAGE 0F COYOEBS

This study was made by observing two living coyotes
over a period of a year. Data were collected from Jan-
uary, 1958 to January, 1939. These two individuals were
a brother and sister from a litter of five which was
found in a den located on the hanson Game Refuge in Craw-
ford County, hichigan. They were found the last week in
April, 1957. Their eyes at that time were still closed;
thus at the start of this experiment, January, 1938, hey
were over eight months old. At this age they appeared to
possess the characteristics of adults. The total length-
of the male was 46 inches. He weighed 25 pounds and 8
ounces. The female measured 46 inches and weighed 24
pounds and 11 ounces. The fur was the long winter coat
of an adult in prime condition.

The coyote pelage has two types of hair. These are
termed overhair and underfur. The overhairs are long,
straight, and coarse. The average diameter was 80 microns
at the middle of hairs collected from the female, march 7,
1959. Twelve hairs were measured. The function of over-
hairs is to protect the underfur. The underfur is shorter,
curly and much more abundant than the overhair. The average
diameter of hairs from the underfur was 85 microns.

The general color of the individuals at the beginning
of this experiment was a grayish tawny. The back was gray,
this color going down the sides to merge gradually with the

white of the belly. This gray or grizzled appearance of the

sides and back was due to the peculiarly banded coloration
of the individual overhairs. a hair selected from the mid-
dle of the back, just posterior to the mane, had a white
basal portion of 10 mm.; this gradually merged into black
which extended 26 mm., followed by a 10 mm. band of white,
then a black tip of 16 mm. This 62 mm. hair was of average
length for the posterior dorsal region. In the shoulder
region they were longer and formed a short mane. Six hairs
from this region had an average length of 88 mm. The under-
fur of the back was a dark gray which became lighter in
color on the sides to become a very light gray on the under
surface of the animal. The underfur of the flanks and shoul-
ders was tipped with buff. White overhairs of a softer
texture were found on the under surface, chest, throat,
cheeks, chin, and formed a margin above the upper lip. The
white of the under parts also extended down the inside of
the hind legs. These hairs vere entirely white from the base
to the tip and averaged 75 mm. in length on the belly. The
shoulders, forelegs, flanks and outer part of hind legs and
the tOp of head and ears were a fulvous brown. The snout
was also a fulvous brown, but of a darker shade. The facial
portion on top of the head from the ears to the front of the
eyes was a grizzled gray. hairs on the head were very short
and underfur was scant.

The brush of‘the tail was cylindrical, 13 inches long,
with a diameter of 5.5 inches at the middle. As to color,

the dorsal surface was a continuation of the gray of the

back except for an elongated black blotch 1.5 inches in
length located 4 inches from the base of the tail. This
blotch marked the location of a scent gland. The overhairs
forming this blotch were stiff and the area was devoid of
underfur. The sides and ventral parts of the tail were
buffy; the tip was a solid black. The abundant underfur
on the tail was a dark gray.

In addition to the two living individuals, 51 skins of
Michigan specimens from the University Museum at Ann Arbor
were studied. Specimens taken in all the months of the
year except July, November, and December were available.

One skin was found for each of‘the months of April, May,
June, and August. The remaining months were well represented.

In this study, the term shed'has been employed to denote
clearly visible hair loss from a given body area. Previous
to the shedding, the guard or overhairs concealed the under-
fur. As the overhair is shed, the underfur is exposed and

soon rolls off in mats to reveal the new ingrowing overhairs.

January appeared to be one of the months when the coy-
ote pelt was in a prime condition. at this date the over—
hairs had reached their maximum length and the underfur was
very dense in the captive animals. The heavy winter coat
gave the animals a well rounded and full appearance in con-
trast to the slender appearance of summer. Throughout the

month of January no shedding took place. Three skins from

the Museum showed no signs of Shedding and were all fine pelts.

(

 

In February the first signs of any loss of hair were
observed. On the eighth of this month the male was noted
to be losing overhairs from the tail and a few from scat-
tered points on the body. The female kept her prime coat
until the last week in the month. In her case no general
melting on the body was taking place, but the tail was
losing overhairs on the upper side between the base and
the black blotch marking the scent gland. By this time the
tail of the male had lost the fullness which the female
still possessed. The shine at the Museum which were col-
lected in this month were represented by two males and four
females. One male and one female skin were still prime;
one male and one female were shedding in the middle of the
tail; one female showed a loss of hair at the base and
middle; the last one, a female, had lost a few scattered
overhairs. It was noted that shedding started in the month
of February, but was not far advanced in either the live
animals or six skins studied.

By March 15 the overhairs of the body region were
first noted to be melting on the female. This condition
was not localized at any one body region. It first ex-
pressed itself as a thinning out of the overhairs all over
the body. At this date the tail was still quite full, but
was losing overhairs over the whole dorsal surface. The
degree of melt of the male at this date was in advance to
that of the female. His tail had undergone a rapid loss

of overhair so that only a few scattered overhairs and the

v

5).

 

black scent gland hairs were persisting. There had been
no shedding of the underfur as yet. Thus the underfur gave
the tail its form. The month of March was represented by
two female and five male skins at the Museum. Two males
and one female showed signs of molting at the base of the
tail; one male and one female showed a general shedding of
overhairs on the tail; one male on rump and tail, another
male on rump and base of tail.

Thus far there had been no concentration of loss of
hair, but April brought a speeding up so that by the 25th
of the month both animals had regions that were completely
shed and the new coat had appeared. (See figure 8). The
sequence was first the shedding of the overhair, then the
underfur which exwosed the new hair. The new hair was
short, harsh, and devoid of underfur. In the male the front
legs had lost both coats of hair and the new coat was of
brighter fulvous color than the bleached one jist lost.

The lower five inches of the hind legs were in the same
condition, but the upper portions had not yet changed. Due
to the shortness of'tne new hairs and lack of underfur, the
legs looked much slimmer than previously. The overhair had
° gone from the rump exposing a large patch of underfur,and
all of the overhairs were gone from the tail except the
scent gland hairs. At this date the female also was showing
a rapid loss of both coats of hair on the legs and of the
overhair on the rump and tail. The front legs had lost the

winter coat and were in the same state as the male, but had

ll

«shed up to the knee region on the hind legs. The tail had
lost much of the overhair but was still quite full.

May 12 found both animals advanced to the same stage.
(See figure 9.) The molting of the forelegs had just started
to migrate on to the shoulders and had begun to move up on
the flanks of the hind legs. After the overhair had fallen
out, the underfur rolled off in mats. This was a character-
istic of the underfur wherever it was abundant. by this date
the tail of the female had lost the overhair so that both
animals had a tail with a roney appearance. The 25d of May,
the shed area on the hind legs of both had advanced to the
middle of the flank. The rump patch had lost the underfur
and the new hair had replaced it. (See figure 10.) The
tails had begun to widen due to the growth of the new hairs,
and the black tip was pronounced on each. The male from the
Museum showed a general loss of hair on tail and body with
'overhairs on rump completely gone.

With the coming of June the shedding process was ac-
celerated. Its path moved farther up the shoulders and back
along the sides from the forelegs and forward on the sides
from the flanks and rump patch. by the 17th, the female had
lost all the fur of the trunk except a band in the region of
the mane and the abdomen. (See figure 15.) The hairs of
the back and under surface were very slow to drop out, con-
sequently they were last to be replaced. In the male the
loss of.hair had not progressed very far down the sides, but

the shoulder had been completely shed. (See figure 12.)

 

ll

 

The tails of both had widened to 5.5 inches. A single skin
for the month of June was in a similar state. The new,
short, harsh, bright fulvous hairs were noted on the forelegs
and hind legs. The tail, however, was still in the process
of shedding. most of the overhairs had been lost but those
of the scent gland and ventral portion were still persisting.
The underfur gave the tail its shape.

No observations were made during July. On August 4,
shedding had been completed and the entire new coat was
possessed by both. In color the coat was similar to the
winter one. At this date the male was strikingly lighter
in color than the female. The bright fulvous color of each
had faded to a lighter shade. The overhairs were about half
the length of those from the winter pelage and the underfur
was extremely scant. The shortness of the overhair and the
lack of underfur on the legs and body gave the coyote a slim
appearance. The hairs of the tail had grown faster than
those of the body so that the tails of both had reached 4.5
inches in diameter. A skin of a male was in similar con-
dition except the overhairs of the body were longer. The
tail had the black tip and was 5 inches in diameter. Underfur
was very scant.

By September 20, the animals had the same appearance
as in the winter. The overhairs just behind the mane aver-

aged 60 mm. compared to an average of 62 mm. the preceding

January. The underfur was quite abundant and long. NO

changes were noted from this time on except the underfur

became denser as the fall progressed. The fur from September
to January on the live animals, also the skins, showed that
a coyote pelt is in its finest condition at that season.

The female was under observation throughout the next
molting period (spring 1959). In general the same sequence
of molt took place that was noted the previous spring. She
had her complete new summer pelage by July 14, 1959.

Charles K. Gunn (1952) noted in his study of muskrats
that the shedding process does not take place simultaneously
in the overhair and underfur, nor does it occur uniformly
throughout the different regions of the surface of the body,
but goes on over the various body areas at different inter-
vals of the molting season and follows a definite sequence.
He found in the muskrat that molting started in the spring.
The overhair was first to shed from the ventral regions of
the body surface, then the underfur followed. This process,
in this order, then spread to the lateral and finally into
the dorsal surfaces of the trunk of the animal. First to
appear in the new coat was the overhair on the ventral region,
then the underfur. Thus he noticed that the ingrowth of the
new coat followed the sequence of the molt. The last place
to become fully furred was the dorsal portion of the body.

There were a few points of simularity in the shedding
process of the coyote and muskrat. molting took place in the

spring in both cases. The overhair was lost before the under-

fur, and it also preceded the underfur on the ingrowth. In

both species shedding was confined to body areas that took

6.9..

 

 

 

14

place in a sequence. However, the sequence in which the
body areas were shed were not the same in both animals. The
sequence of molt in the coyote, listed in order, was the tail
and rump, legs, sides, back and belly. In the muskrat the
sequence was the ventral region, sides, then the back.

brom the study of live coyotes and museum skins of Speci-
mens collected in michigan, it was noted that molting takes
place in the spring in this region. This does not agree with
the statement made by J. Grinnell, J. S. Dixon and J. M.
Linsdale (1957). They claim coyotes have a complete annual
molt in the fall. Their studies, however, were mostly con-

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FOOD HABITS

All animal matter that was fed was obtained by trap ing
and by utilization of those that were accidentally killed.
These coyotes would not eat a chloroformed animal unless it
had been permitted to air for a long period. All food ani-
mals were offered dead with the exceptions of English sparrow,
house mouse, brown rat (albino), and leopard frog. Unless
otherwise stated, feedings were daily taking place in the
late afternoon.

Five coyotes were available for the food test on captive
animals.

Coyote No. l was a female from a litter found in April,
1937 in Crawford County, Michigan.

Coyote No. 2 was a male, a brother to the above animal.

Coyote No. 3 was a male that was brought to the campus
three years ago. Its history is unknown.

Coyote No. 4 was a male that was trapped in Ontonagon
County, Michigan in the fall of 1938.

Coyote No. 5 was an old female at the Jackson City Park,
Jackson, Michigan. Its age was estimated to be between 10
to 15 years. Its place of capture was not known.

Food Accepted and Rejected:

 

Foods Rejected

 

Mink (mustela vison.mink). Coyotes No. l and 2 were each
offered mink meat. The whole carcass was fed with the fur
removed. Each coyote smelled it over well then rolled on

it and rubbed his shoulder on it. No part of the mink was

11lgw3’n .

25

gas eaten by either animal after remaining in the cages for
24 hours.

New York Weasel (Mustela frenata noveboracensis).
Coyotes No. l and 2 were each tested twice with weasels.
They both rolled on the weasels, but never attempted to eat
any. Coyote No. 3 was offered weasel once. His reaction
was the same as that of coyotes no. 1 and 2.

Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginianus virginianus).

A full grown opossum was fed to coyote No. 1. It was left
in her pen for 18 hours but no part was eaten. On another
occasion coyote No. l was fed a half grown opossum. No part
was eaten after remaining in the pen all day. Coyote No. 2
was fed opossum.on two separate days. Each time the carcas-
ses were left in the cage for 24 hours but were not eaten.

Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda brevicauda).

 

Coyote No. l was fed shrews on three different days. She
always rolled on the shrews and played with them, but never
ate any. Coyote No. 2 was offered shrews four times. Two
times he only rolled on them. he ate one when it was tossed
to him, catching it in mid air. he also ate a shrew on an-
other date when it was mixed with five meadow mice. However,
he had been fed very little the previous day. Coyote No. 3
was offered a shrew once. he only rolled on it several times

after smelling it over thoroughly.

Common Mole (Scalopus aquaticus machrinus). Coyotes

 

No. l and 2 were offered a common mole once. ‘ach animal

rolled on it, but made no attempts to eat it. The mole was

24»

left in the cage of the male for three hours and with the
female over night. The same mole was used to test both
animals.

Star-nosed MOle (Condylura cristata) was fed once to

 

coyote No. 1. It was refused.

Coyote carrion (Canis latrans latrans). This coyote

 

flesh was three weeks old and putrefaction had set in by
the time of feeding. It was fed to coyotes No. l, 2, and 3.
None was eaten by any of these three animals. No. 1 only
smelled it; No. 2 rolled on it; and No. 3 urinated on it
several times.

Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens). Coyotes No. l and 2 were

 

offered living frog at two different times. Each time they
were killed and played with, but never eaten. On both oc-
casions the frogs remained in the cageover night and were
removed the next day at feeding time.

Foods Accepted

 

Meadow mouse (Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus).

 

Coyotes mo. 1 and 2 were fed meadow mice many times. Both
coyotes seemed to be fbnd of them judging by the speed with
which they were eaten. meadow mice were usually swallowed
with very little chewing.

House mouse (Mus musculus musculus). Coyotes mo. 1, 2,

 

3, and 4 were fed numerous living house mice. All four coy-

otes ate them readily.

brown Rat (albino) (Rattus norvegicus). Coyote No. l

 

was fed living rats on six different days. She ate the entire

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rat each time. Coyote No. 2 ate rats on two occasions,
but on two other occasions he did not eat them within 24
hours. however, he would kill a rat immediately on its
being placed in his pen.

Southern Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus loquax).

 

Red squirrels were offered to coyotes No. l and 2 on two
occasions. Both coyotes ate the squirrels without hesitation.

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger rufiventer). Coyotes No. 1

 

- and 2 were fed six fox squirrels each. Only one was fed a
day. Both coyotes ate the squirrels, including the tails.
Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans volans). A.skinned
flying squirrel was fed to coyote.No. 1. It was eaten with-
out any hesitation.
Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsii).
All five coyotes readily ate rabbits. No parts of the rabbit
remained uneaten.
bear carrion (Euarctos americanus americanus). Coyote
NO. 3 was fed a shank which contained a little flesh. he
first rolled on the meat then cleaned the flesh off the bone.
The bone was then crushed by the carnassial teeth and eaten.
Venison (Odocoileus virginianus borealis). Coyotes
No. l, 2, 3, and 4 all ate venisoni The animal fed was a
fawn that had died of starvation. Coyote No. 3 did not eat
it the first day. However, he ate the venison on the follow-

ing days, but seemed reluctant to do so.

Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos). Coy-

otes No. l and 2 were each offered half of a mallard hen that

BO

had been killed the previous day. While observing them they

paid no attention to their portion of duck other than smell-

ing it. Both had eaten theirs when I returned in the evening
and only the feathers were found.

English Sparrow (Passer domesticus domesticus). All

 

 

five coyotes readily ate sparrows. The whole bird was swal-
lowed after very little chewing. Sparrows were fed alive.

Chicken. Coyote No. 1 had a steady diet of chicken for
four months. The chickens were skinned but the viscera were
not removed.

Chicken eggs. Eggs were fed to coyotes ho. l, 2, and 4.
All three animals ate the eggs. The method used in eating
the eggs by coyotes mo. 1 and 2 was to pick the egg up in
their mouth and crush it. They lapped up the contents but
avoided eating the shell. The young male rolled on the con-
tents of the egg before he ate it.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Dandelion greens

 

were fed to both coyotes No. l and 2 when they were in
season. -Both animals readily ate them.

Timothy (Phleum Pratense). Coyotes we. 1 and 2 were

 

observed on several occasions to crop off the grass that
grew into the runway through the wire.

Apples (Mglg§|§23). Apples were fed to coyotes mo. 1
and 2 on two occasions. Both animals ate them without

hesitation.

It was noted that when a carcass was fed to the coyotes

they usually played with it before eating. They would do so

by tossing the animal into the air and bouncing on it when
it hit the ground. Sometimes they would grasp the animal
with their teeth and shake it vigorously. It was also ob-
served that the carnassial teeth were used in cutting through
bones or cutting off chunks of meat. The food would be held
down with one paw and the head turned so that the carnassial

teeth could be used. (See figure 15).

28

 

 

|(\r' ‘f"~'1.!f> -" '_“ f,‘ l I“(' ‘ ’ If' a
' ‘ ~ -T
‘ I
, a ‘ n A\ I . I u I
_, 7 1 ‘-9
-L ‘
a K.
.A
1.4.
K

r” ”)6 J
r,“—
"I“
o oi ..
hm
‘ i ..

R
'\.J‘.
.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 15.

 

Food Preference:

Each coyote was placed in a separate pen for the food
preference test. The two types of flesh which were to be
tested were placed side by side in each coyote's pen. This
gave the coyote a chance to nose over both portions before
making a choice. The five coyotes observed smelled both
portions of meat before settling down to eating one. Both
pieces of meat were as near equal in size as possible. No
live animals were fed to the coyotes in this test. The car-
casses were all placed in cold storage in separate containers
until they were used as one of the test foods.

mutton versus cottontail rabbit:

All portions of the sheep carcasses were fed to each
coyote so that the cut of meat would not be the factor deter-
mining the choice. The mutton was sometimes older and some-
times fresher than the rabbit. The rabbits were skinned,
viscera removed and cut in two for feeding. Both the mutton
and rabbit were eaten on all trials except once then coyote
No. 5 buried the rabbit after eating the mutton.

On five occasions coyotes No. l and 2 were fed unskin-
ned rabbits and sheep. The rabbit fur was eaten, but the
wool was usually stripped off the mutton. Each time the

mutton was chosen first by both coyotes.

Ereference g: Coyote fig. Mutton Rabbit

 

l. 9 1*
2. 8 2*
3. 9 O
4. 7 O
5. .2... .9...
Total ------------------------- 35 3

Out of the 38 trials mutton was eaten first 35 times.

*Both coyotes No. l and 2 preferred rabbit on the first
trial. On one of the two occasions when rabbit was chosen
first by coyote No. 2, the mutton used was a foot and portion
of the shank containing very little flesh.

Venison versus_rabbit:

Only one deer was available for this test. This was a
fawn that was believed to have died of starvation; neverthe-
less it was of medium weight and the flesh was in very good
condition. All portions of the skinned fawn were fed. The
rabbits were all cleaned and skinned before feeding. One
half of a rabbit was checked against an equal sized piece of
venison. Coyotes No. l, 2, and 3 ate the venison after the
rabbit. Coyote No. 2 did not eat his portion of venison the

first day, but did the following two days.

 

Preference of Coyote fig. Venison Rabbit
l. O 4
2. O 3
3. O 4
5. _Q_ 1

Total --------------------------- O 12

Fresh mutton versus carrion:

Two sheep were obtained for this experiment. One half
of each was placed in cold storage and the other half was
:ept at room temperature for ten days. The halves left at
room temperature had become foul and rare Sgfitted with col-
onies of bacteria. Corresponding cuts of fresh and carrion
were used. All four coyotes were often observed to roll on

the carrion, but never did so with the fresh meat.

 

Preference 3: Coyote fig. EIEEE. Carrion
l. 4 6
2. 3 7
3. 2 l
4- .4. .3...
Total ------------------------- l3 l6

mutton versus muskrat:

 

One half of a muskrat was used at each feeding. The
viscera were removed and the animal cut in two. On three
trials when the fur was left on, the muskrat was split down

the spine so that the flesh might be better exposed.

 

Preference gf_Coyote pp, Muskrat Mutton
1. O 5
2. .9. .2.
g Total --------------------------- O 10

Sheep liver versus sheep flesh:

 

The portions of liver and flesh that were fed were of

equal size. On several occasions the liver and flesh were

from the same animal, but this similarity of origin was not

always possible. All meat was fresh when fed. Coyotes No.
1, 3 and 4 ate liver after finishing the flesh, but it was

never eaten by No. 2.

 

Preference pg Coyote E23 £1232. Eigfifl
l. 3 5
2. 0 7
3. . 2 6
4. L ~9—
Total ___________________________ 7 18

‘Sheep lung yersus sheep flesh:

Coyotes No. l, 2 and 3 did not eat any lung after fin-
ishing the flesh. Coyote No. 3 was observed to be chewing
on a piece of lung but he soon drOpped it without swallowing
any. Coyote No. 4 was fed both lungs from a sheep that had
been killed the day previous to feeding. By feeding time

the next day one lung had been eaten and half of the other.

 

Preference 9f Coyote E9, Lung. §1§§h_
l. O 3
2. O 3

3- .9. .52.
Total --------------------------- O 9

Sheep flesh versus kidney:
The results of this combination were a preference for
flesh by both coyotes No. l and 2. After the flesh had been
taken, the fat was then eaten off of the kidneys. The kidney

proper was not eaten by either. Coyote No. 2 rolled on it.

This combination was tried only once.

 

pbr

Coyote No. 3 was fed three kidneys at one feeding. He
'first ate the fat from all three, rolled on then, then pro-
ceeded to eat them.

Sheep_§pleen versus flesh:

Coyote No. 1 ate the flesh first, then the spleen. Coy-
ote No. 2 ate the flesh but refused to eat the spleen within
48 hours.

Sheep_heart versus flesh:

Data for this combination were obtained for two days on
coyotes No. l and 2 and one day on coyote No. 3.

On the first trial coyote No. 1 ate the flesh, then the
heart. On the second trial she chose the heart first. It
was held down by the fore paws and all the fat stripped off
by means of incisors before the heart proper was eaten. Due
to the spongy texture of the heart it took her considerable
time to chew it. A piece of flesh the same size would have
been eaten in much less time.

The first day Coyote No. 2 ate the fat off the heart
and then the flesh. After the flesh was completely gone, the
heart proper was eaten. On the second test he ate the flesh
first, but within 48 hours he refused to eat any of the heart.

Coyote No. 3 chewed into the end of the heart, then drop-
ped it and proceeded to eat the flesh. After it was finished,
the heart was eaten.

Red Squirrel versus New York weasel:
This combination was tried once on coyote No. 1. She

smelled both carcasses well, then rolled on the weasel three

times. The red squirrel was eaten, but the weasel was rejected.

Common mole versus meadow mice:

Coyote No. l and 2 were each fed five meadow mice and

a common mole.

Both ate all the meadow mice but neither ate

the mole. Each coyote rolled on the mole.

34

 

h. 10"...

BURYING OF FOOD

On December 4, 1938, the young female was fed a large
portion of mutton. She ate about half of it and the remain-
ing portion was buried. She did so by digging a hole in the
sawdust with the forepaws, pressing the meat firmly into the
depression with her teeth and then covering it by pushing
sawdust on it with her nose. The forepaws were not used in
covering with sawdust. The next day, the buried flesh had
been removed. She no doubt had eaten it as no traces of it
could be found.

On June 9, 1938, the young female was fed the front half
of a cottontail rabbit. She ate all but the head and this
was buried under sawdust in the corner of her pen. She also
buried fox chow on two occasions, using the same method as
in burying the flesh. The three males were not observed to
bury any of their food.

On March 4, 1939, a piece of:mutton and one half of a
rabbit were fed to a female in the Jackson City Park. The
mutton was chosen first and eaten. All of the rabbit was
buried. She placed it in a hole which she excavated with her
forepaws. The hole was about 8 inches deep. The meat was
then covered with the loose soil by side and forward strokes
of the nose. A mound of loose soil marked the spot where the
surplus food had been buried. She returned to the spot to
examine the job and then paid no more attention to it while
she was being observed.

L. R. Dice (1919), while making a study in the State of

5

ab ,,

 

K.ul.§ 4 ‘2‘.

x

...; I.h

. 1!.

Washington, observed tracks indicating a coyote had removed
a jack rabbit from a trap. The coyote ate the fore parts of
the rabbit and buried the remainder, returning the next day

to the cache. This coyote was Canis latrans lestes.

 

HOWLING

Howling was noted to take place more often at dawn or
dusk. If the coyotes did howl at all during the day, the day
was usually cloudy. However, on a few occasions they were
heard to howl on clear days. A person's voice pitched high
or a train whistle would inspire them to do so. One animal
would start the howl off and the other three would raise
their heads and join in. These sessions usually lasted less
than a minute and would terminate abruptly.

The young coyotes were not heard to howl until they were
a year old. On the morning of May 3, 1938, they were heard
for the first time. This pair was born the last week of

April, 1937.

 

 

’ .1‘11

...tlw

u-\.\

WEIGHTS AND MEASUREHENTS

Weights and measurements were taken on the pair born
the last week of April, 1937, from uovember 4, 1937 to August
4, 1938. In August of 1938 it was believed advisable to dis—
continue this part of the study as the animals became upset
from the necessary handling. The male still showed some of
his wild nature and was much harder to handle than the female.

Weight:

At first it was possible to weigh the coyotes on a tray,
but in time they refused to stand. .A weighing cage was then
constructed and the animals baited into it. This means was
quite disturbing to both the male and female. by September
of 1938 they refused to enter the weighing cage so it was

thought best not to force them in.

 

 

Q§t§_ .Male Weight Eamale Weight
11/4/37 20 lbs. 5 oz. 19 lbs. 3 oz.
11/23/37 20 lbs. 7 oz. 19 lbs. 10 oz.
12/17/37 22 lbs. 15 oz. 21 lbs. 8 oz.

l/7/38 25 lbs. 8 oz. 24 lbs. 11 oz.

3/9/38 26 lbs. 23 lbs. 4 oz.

4/3/38 21 lbs. 1 oz.

5/16/38 21 lbs. 13 oz.

6/2/38 21 lbs.

6/17/38 27 lbs. 1 oz. 20 lbs. 3 oz.

8/4/38 27 lbs. 5 OZ. 25 lbs.

u ...-.... .,

PI.’ ill

 

:33..on Md. 4 .

Measurements 2£.Male:

 

 

2332 Total length
11/4/37 46"
11/23/37 464"

1/7/38 46"

3/26/38 48"

ieasurements of Female:

 

 

Q§§§_ Total length
11/4/37 45%"
11/23/37 45%"

1/7/38 46"
3/26/38 47"
5/16/38 48"
6/17/38 48"

 

233;.
13%"
13 5/8"
13%"
13%"
13-;
13%"

Hind foot

 

7%"
722."
17%."

7%"

Hind foot

 

I7"

7"

7 1/8"
17%"

7%."

7%"

Ear

4n

4"

4"

4n

Egg,

3 13/16"

3 13/16"

3 27/32"'

3 27/32"
4"
4n

BREEDING HABITS

In this study of breeding habits of coyotes in captivity,
the young pair was observed. This pair was born the last
week in April, 1937 on the Hanson Came Refuge, Crawford County,
Michigan.*

The reproductive cycle in the genus Canis is divided
into three periods. These are prooestrum, oestrum and an-
oestrum. The prooestrum is the period extending from the
first appearance of a bloody discharge from the vulva of the
female, to the time of first acceptance of the male. The
vulva becomes much enlarged during the last few days of this
period. 'Prooestrum is followed by heat or oestrum. This
period lasts from the time of first acceptance of the male
to the last acceptance. The resting period between the breed-
ing seasons is termed anoestrum.

The first observations were in the winter of 1937-'38.
The pair was born the preceding April. Thus observations
were made throughout their first breeding season. Both ani-
mals were kept in the same cage that year. On February 12,
1938, the female was noted to be discharging blood from the
vulva. This discharge continued until February 26. The
vulva was not swollen during this time. At no time during
this period was the male observed to show any interest in
the female and copulation did not take place to my knowledge.
No pups were born, so perhaps one or both animals were not
sexually mature their first year. A pair at the Museum of

*According to records of A. M. Stebler

Zoology, Ann Arbor, Michigan did not breed their first year,
but did so in their second year, (February, 1939). This pair
was from the same litter as the pair under my observation at
Michigan State College.

The question as to whether coyotes breed their first year
is still debatable. Vernon Bailey (1926) states that coyotes
may breed the first year. Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale (1937)
report that a California trapper, J. 0. Miller, had caught
numerous one year old females which showed no signs of bleed-
ing. Therefore, he concluded that many females do not breed
until they are nearly two years old. A year old female caught
on February 20, 1938, in Whiteoak Township, Ingham County,
Michigan, snowed no signs of external bleeding nor did it
contain any embryos. This animal was examined by Dr. Carl
Gower of the Michigan Game Divison and myself.

In the fall of 1938 the female was placed in one cage
and the male in another. At intervals they were allowed to-
gether in the runway for exercise. The vulva of the female
was examined several times each week. On December 11, 1938,
the blood was first seen on the vulva. The urine was also
tinged with blood. From this day on the male and female were
permitted to be together in the runway for an hour each day.
With the starting of bleeding, the male was attracted to her.
On this day he mounted her and made feeble attempts to cop-
ulate, but the female resisted. She would either roll over
on her back or keep moving. Previously the male had not shown

any interest in her in this way. From the onset of bleeding

I 1].... "L11 . L;

I1|J|ll||t It.
II. ii!"- liiilr'"uiq.ulbvfl. . a. , I 2'

to the 19th of January, the loss of blood was not profuse

and was a very dark color. During this time the male made
numerous feeble attempts to copulate. On January 19, the
blood became a brighter red. By the 24th, the color was very
bright and bleeding more rapid. On the 24th when the male
was placed with the female, he made vigorous attempts to cop-
ulate for the first time. Until this time all attempts were
feeble. He became vicious and would snap and growl at the
female when she refused to stand. The female was still hos-
tile and would turn and snap at his forepaws when he mounted.
With the increase in bleeding the female urinated more often.
As soon as she was allowed in the runway she would urinate
several times in two definite spots. Attempts were always
made to cover the spots by a few backward strokes of the hind
paws and forepaws. The male was always attracted to these
spots and he always urinated in the same two places that the
female used. On February 6, the vulva of the female was ob-
served to be swollen for the first time. Its increase in size
was rapid, so that by the 8th, and until she bred, it was 3
to 4 times the normal size. During the last week of January
and the first 3 weeks of February, the male was very impatient,
becoming vicious at times. Fights were frequent.

On February 24 she stood for him for the first time and
copulation took place, lasting for 20 minutes. This termin-
ated her prooestrum which lasted for 74 days. The two follow-
ing days she failed to stand, but was not hostile. On the

27th of February copulation again took place and lasted for

L .

I'Hw

35 minutes. They were placed together for the next five days,
but the male would only smell the genitals. He made no more
attempts to mount. The oestrum in the case of this two year
old female lasted for 4 days. By the first of March the swol-
len condition of the vulva was just a little above normal, but
still contained a little blood.
A female at George Reserve, Ann Arbor, Michigan, had an
8 day oestrum. She accepted the male from January 24 to 31,
1938. F. F. Gander (1929) bred a coyote which took the male
from January 26 to 29. Thus the oestrum lasted for 4 days
in this case. Evans and Cole (1931) found the oestrum to
average 9 days in the dog with a variation from 4 to 13 days.
It is believed that the coyote is monoestrous in its
breeding habits. The female observed came into heat only
once a year. G. W. D. Hamlett (1938) after making a his-
tological study of both testes and ovaries came to the con-
clusion that in general the male is sterile during at least
8 months of the year, the female during 10 months. Mr.
Hamlett concluded that, "the limited period during which
the ovaries are functional and the excessive degeneration
of the ovarian cortex that takes place in the presence of
corpora lutea means that a second litter the same year is
not possible except under unusual circumstances." He also
states that observations of captive animals may be necessary

to settle the point definitely.

The breeding season of the coyote in the west has been

worked out by G. W. D. Hamlett (1938). The records for the

I 053,? m I

 

Ju:

fi‘i

,p.
()3

state of Washington show that the coyotes started to breed
the first 7 to 10 days of February, the number of breeders
increasing for about a month. Similiar information is lack-
ing for Michigan. The female here bred on February 24 and 27,
1939. The one at George Reserve, Ann Arbor, Michigan bred
from.January 24 to 31, 1938. A female in the Jackson City
Park was dropping blood on.March 4, 1939. The female at the
University'Museum, Ann Arbor, Michigan, bred the last week in
February, 1939. The exact date of breeding was not recorded.
The result of the mating that took place on February
24 and 27, 1939 at Michigan State College, was one male pup.
(Vernon Bailey (1936) states that in 110 litters he found an
average of 6 2/3 pups to a litter.) The pup was born on
April 27, 1939. Thus this particular female had a gestation
period of 62 days. This figure was derived by counting from
the first day copulation took place. E. C. Brown (1936) re-
ports the gestation period of a captive female at the Philadel-
phia Zoo to be 64 days. Vernon Bailey (1936) reports the
gestation period to be about 63 days. G. W. D. Hamlett (1938)
concludes that it is from 60 to 63 days.
Mariana
On the day previous to the birth of the pup, the female
removed all the straw from her sleeping box, exposing the bare
ground. The straw was replaced in her box, but she removed
it immediately. The pup was born and raised on the bare ground.
The mother refused to let anyone handle the pup until

May 6 (10 days). On that day he weighed 1 lb. 5 oz. His

 

‘!‘ u

-
.._

 

 

J r“~
Saki). . (.11
R V r

. ‘ '.
J ‘_ 9 a. 1A ‘

fi’l' '1 ‘5 f\

aISSUM

11 ‘JL
ETRQ 369 813311
wrn 81 923191

A P
Fjdd’ I“ F?

I r.
-}f-Yr~fi .Nv
.I'1,..'.x. .

QJFI

f‘.
u

.2 sew a an quq

s benedtznei

.doexe bnsda

0

H+ (VP
«1 ..~

3

k

. r

.Jiuh

CO

'r’u'

.VI emup.1

 

 

Figure 16.

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 17.

pelage was very dark in color with a darker streak down the
middle of the back. His ears were limp and nose pug. On
May 9 (12 days) his eyes Opened.

On May 23 (27 days) the pup weighed 3 lbs. 2 oz. The
measurements were total length 19 in., tail 3 in., hind foot
3 3/8 in. and ear 1 3/4 in. At this age he was still very
shy and would crawl into the darkest corner of his box when
anyone would approach. He would snap and growl when attempts
were made to pick him up. .His color was turning from black-
ish to a brown with a few intermingled black hairs. The
black markings of the front legs, below the eyes, tip of tail
and scent gland were quite distinct. The ears at this date
stood erect and the nose was becoming a little pointed.

(See figure 17.)

May 30 (34 days) he weighed 3 lbs. 12 oz. At this date
he had just started to take meat.

June 9 (44 days) he weighed 5 lbs. 4 02.; June 24 (59
days), 6 lbs. 14 oz. The measurements were: total length
28% in., tail 7 1/16 in., hind foot 5 3/16 in. and ear 2 7/8
in. On this day he was separated from his mother as she
was consuming all the food.

By October he was almost 2/3 grown and possessed all the

characteristics of an adult.

46

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Seasonal Change i§_Pelage

 

This living pair of coyotes had a complete annual molt
taking place in the Spring. The onset of shedding occurred
the last of February and March; however, the loss of hair
in these months was little. Throughout April and May there
was a gradual increase in degree of molt, so that by June
the loss of hair was profuse. Each completed its molt in
July, thus requiring about four months to lose the old coat
and acquire the new one.

Overhair and underfur were not shed simultaneously,
but the loss of overhair preceded the loss of underfur. The
ingrowth followed the same sequence. Shedding did not take
place over the entire body at one time, but was confined to
body areas in a definite sequence. The loss of hair on the
tail and a patch at the base of the tail were first to in-
dicate the onset of molting. Next to shed their hair were
the lower portions of the legs. From.here the shedding pro-
cess proceeded up the legs onto the sides and then the back.
The belly region was last to shed.

The new pelage was composed oi’short, harsh overhair
with a scant coat of'underfur. The individual hairs of the
underfur were also short. During the months of.August and
September the overhair lengthened and the underfur became

longer and denser. Thus by fall these coyotes possessed a

long warm coat which they kept through the winter.

Food Habits

 

Foods accepted

 

MeadOW'mouse
House mouse
Brown rat
Southern red squirrel
Fox squirrel
Flying squirrel
Cottontail rabbit
Bear carrion
Venison

Foods rejected
Mink
New York weasel
Coyote carrion

Opossum

Mutton

Mutton carrion
Mallard duck
English sparrow
Chicken egg
Chicken

Dandelion

Short-tailed shrew
Common mole
Star-nosed mole

Leopard frog

The members tried of the Family Mustelidae and the

Order Insectivora were not accepted.

No.
Coyotes
tried

Food preferences

 

Foods

Mutton

vs.
Rabbit

Rabbit

vs.
Venison

mutton carrion
vs.
Fresh mutton

mutton

vs.
Muskrat

Sheep flesh

VS.
Sheep liver

Sheep‘flesh

vs.
Sheep lung

Sheep flesh
VS.
Sheep spleen

Sheep flesh
vs.
Sheep heart

Red squirrel
vs.
New York weasel

MeadOW'mice
vs.
Common mole

' %
times chosen
first

92.1

7.9

100
O

55.17

44.83

100

72
28

100

100

80
20

100

100

These coyotes made definite choices of mutton over rab-
bit, mutton over muskrat and rabbit over venison. Hutton car-
rion was preferred just a little over the fresh meat. Con-
ltrary to general belief the sheep entrails were not preferred
to the flesh.

Breedinggfiabits

 

This pair of coyotes did not breed at the age of one
year although the female was noted to drop blood for fifteen
days in February.

At two years of age the pair bred for the first time.
Copulation took place on February 24 and 27. This four day
oestrum was preceded by a 74 day prooestrum. The vulva
became much enlarged during the last 19 days of the pro-
oestrum. It gradually decreased in size after the oestrum,
to become about normal by the last of March. One male pup
was born on April 27 as the result of this mating. The
maxium gestation period was 62 days.

A year old pair at the Museum of Zoology, Ann~Arbor,
Michigan, did not breed the first year but did the second
year. The mating took place in the latter part of February.

The pup, which was born to the female at Michigan
State College, was very dark at birth. His muzzle was pug
and ears limp; on the 12th day his eyes opened. At the age
of four weeks he was losing the puppy pelage and acquiring
one with the markings of an adult. At this age the ears
stood erect and the muzzle had lengthened a little. At

five weeks he was eating meat. By October he was almost

2/3 grown.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It is to be kept in mind that the following conclusions
are drawn as the result of data gathered on only nine captive
animals and 31 museum skins.

Ianichigan coyotes, an annual shedding takes place in
the spring. The overhairs are lost before the underfur. Shed-
ding is confined to body areas instead of the whole body sur-
face shedding at one time. The areas are shed in a definite
sequence.

These captive coyotes made a definite preference of one
food over another in most cases, and totally refused to eat
some animals that were offered them. However, in the wild
the availability would be an important factor in determining
the individual's food habits.

The study indicated that the coyote does not become sex-
ually mature until almost two years of’age. They are mono-
estrous in their breeding habits. This yearly mating takes
place in February and early March.

Since so much is still unknown about the habits of the

coyote, this problem1merits more extensive studies.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adams, Charles C. 1925. The conservation of predatory
mammals. Jour. Mamm. Vol. 6: 83-93.
Bailey, Vernon. 1905. A biological survey of Texas.
Bur. Biol. Survey, North American Fauna 25:
174-178.
1907. Destruction of wolves and coyotes. Bur. Biol.
Survey. Circ. 69: 1-11.
1909. Key to animals on which wolf and coyote boun-
ties are often paid. Bur. Biol. Survey.
Ciro. 55: 1-3.
1926. A biological survey of North Dakota. Bur. Biol.
Survey, North American Fauna 49: 156-160.
1931. Mammals of New Mexico. North American Fauna
53: 312-321.
1936. The mammals and life zones of Oregon. North
American Fauna 55: 276-279.
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Leaflet 132: 1-8.

 

   
   

 

 

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