How to Identify a Coyote and Signs of Coyotes
You might hear a coyote, see a coyote, see coyote scat, or see coyote tracks in natural areas, the streets of your neighborhood, or in parks.
Kamala Englin
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Norman Edelen
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Was it a Dog? A Wolf? A Fox? A Coyote?
How do you know if what you’ve just seen is a coyote?
A flash of gray out of the corner of your eye could have been a coyote, but it also could have been a cat, a dog, or something else. When an animal rushes by you may never be certain, but if you have a chance to look for a little longer at the furry stranger in your neighborhood, there are a few simple things that can help you distinguish a coyote from similar animals.
A flash of gray out of the corner of your eye could have been a coyote, but it also could have been a cat, a dog, or something else. When an animal rushes by you may never be certain, but if you have a chance to look for a little longer at the furry stranger in your neighborhood, there are a few simple things that can help you distinguish a coyote from similar animals.
Ashley Roach
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Chuck Carey
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The Tail Tell
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First, look at the tail of the animal. Is it big and bushy? Held high and wagging? A short little bobtail?
A coyote’s tail can be full or slim. It’s general appearance is like a paintbrush, the tip often dipped in black ink. A coyote’s tail does not touch the ground. Instead, it is held straight or low and often ends around the ankle (or hock). You’ll never see a coyote’s tail held high or wagging. If you see that, you are probably looking at a dog. |
Molly Sultany
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The Tail Tell: Compare
Slide the bar back and forth to see how the coyote's tail compares to the fox's tail.
(optimized for desktop)
(optimized for desktop)
https://unsplash.com/@caleb_woods
The Tail Tell: Compare
Slide the bar back and forth to see how the coyote's tail compares to the dog's tail.
(optimized for desktop)
(optimized for desktop)
https://unsplash.com/@caleb_woods
Canid Silhouettes
Coyote (Canis latrans)Note the upright ears, slender snout, and low, full tail that hangs toward the ground (but does not touch it).
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Fox (Vulpes vulpes)While the ears and snout are similar to a coyote, a fox's tail is much bushier and much longer (note how it drapes all the way to the ground and is much longer in proportion to the animal’s body). The fox also has shorter legs and is smaller than a coyote. |
Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris )You can tell this is a domestic dog by the docked tail, sharp ears, and stocky body type. Note that the tail is held upright. Even coyotes with a missing or shortened tail won’t hold it high above their back.
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Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris) While this looks a lot like a coyote in proportion, ears, and snout, the tail is skinny and held high, curved above the animal’s back. A coyote won’t run through the neighborhood with their tail held high, so even if the animal otherwise resembles a coyote, it’s likely a gray copycat (or, copyDOG).
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Coyote Ears
Coyotes use their ears not only for their acute hearing, but also to communicate their feelings. Low ears can indicate anxiety or submission, while ears held high might indicate focus and intensity.
Coyote ears are large and triangular. You might see a coyote with their ears up high on their head like a bunny, low and straight out from the sides of their head, or even pinned back.
Coyote ears are large and triangular. You might see a coyote with their ears up high on their head like a bunny, low and straight out from the sides of their head, or even pinned back.
Mark Wyckoff
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Norman Edelen
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Norman Edelen
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Coyote Size
Walking through a neighborhood, we all have certain expectations. We might see a squirrel, a dog on a leash, a parent with a stroller, a scrub jay; many of us do not expect to see a coyote. When we do see one, it can be quite the surprise. Fair enough, it’s the largest wild animal many of us will see in our neighborhood (unless you have deer, and that’s a whole other...animal). Perhaps because they are unexpected, it is common to think coyotes are bigger than they actually are.
Watch this video taken by a Portland family's security camera. Think about it: how much do you think a coyote weighs?
Watch this video taken by a Portland family's security camera. Think about it: how much do you think a coyote weighs?
Video courtesy of the Nebrenskys
Coyotes in this region are between roughly 25 and 40 pounds—think Whippet or small Border Collie, not German Shepherd.
Even though we have been studying coyotes for years, we are often surprised by how big they seem when we see them in person. Part of that is probably their fluffy coat and part of it may be how unexpected it is to see a wild canid in an urban or suburban environment.
Even though we have been studying coyotes for years, we are often surprised by how big they seem when we see them in person. Part of that is probably their fluffy coat and part of it may be how unexpected it is to see a wild canid in an urban or suburban environment.
Saint Bernard
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German Shepherd
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Whippet
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Miniature Schnauzer
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Coyote size varies regionally. Coyotes can be broadly divided into eastern coyotes and western coyotes. Here in Portland, we have western coyotes.
Western coyotes are a little smaller, weighing about 25-40 pounds. Eastern coyotes are a little larger, but still relatively small (compared to a large dog or wolf). Eastern coyotes typically weigh more like 30-50 pounds.
The differences between western and eastern coyotes can be difficult to spot. Watch a few moments of each video to see a western and eastern coyote in action.
Western coyotes are a little smaller, weighing about 25-40 pounds. Eastern coyotes are a little larger, but still relatively small (compared to a large dog or wolf). Eastern coyotes typically weigh more like 30-50 pounds.
The differences between western and eastern coyotes can be difficult to spot. Watch a few moments of each video to see a western and eastern coyote in action.
Western Coyote |
Eastern Coyote |
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To grasp the size of a coyote, it's helpful to look at coyotes in the context of other familiar animals. Take a look at how an average coyote's size compares to a wolf, a German Shepherd, a Miniature Schnauzer, and a cat.
Coyotes Around Town
Community members have sent us photos of coyotes from all over the Portland metro area. Take a look through the following images to see coyotes in the wide variety of landscapes we call home. Notice that they sometimes appear large and fluffy, sometimes slim and scruffy, sometimes dark gray, and sometimes orange.
Please share your photos and videos with us by tagging us on instagram (@portlandcoyote) or emailing [email protected]
Identifying Coyote Scat (Poop!)
Even if you don't see a coyote, there are other ways to tell if coyotes are in your neighborhood: scat, tracks, and howls.
Here's what to look for when identifying coyote scat.
1. Location: Coyotes often leave scat in the middle of a trail as a signal to other coyotes.
2. Shape: Coyotes tend to have narrow, twisted, and tapered scat.
3. Contents: Coyotes eat rodents and fruits (among other things) and their scat often has evidence of their diet. Coyote scat can have visible berries or seeds in it, and often has animal fur.
Here's what to look for when identifying coyote scat.
1. Location: Coyotes often leave scat in the middle of a trail as a signal to other coyotes.
2. Shape: Coyotes tend to have narrow, twisted, and tapered scat.
3. Contents: Coyotes eat rodents and fruits (among other things) and their scat often has evidence of their diet. Coyote scat can have visible berries or seeds in it, and often has animal fur.
Coyote Prints
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Coyote tracks can be found in snow, mud, dust, and dirt. Learn to identify coyote tracks so that you can find them in your neighborhood.
A coyote print measures about 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 inches from heel-to-toe. You can differentiate a coyote print from a dog print because the pads of a coyote paw point inward, forming an oval. Notice how the toes in a dog print point outward. A coyote print is much more compact and oval-shaped. |
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Below you will find examples of coyote prints on different types of ground. Notice how the prints look different depending on the texture of the ground. Pay attention to the recognizable oval shape found in each set of prints.
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Mud/dirt/gravel photos by Brian Washburn
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Coyote Sounds and Songs
One sure sign of coyotes is hearing their distinctive song. Coyotes in urban environments don't always sing, but when they do it can be quite the performance! Coyotes use vocalization to communicate with one another—they might be maintaining contact with their families, identifying their territory to other coyotes, hoping to attract a mate, or simply celebrating being together. Often, just a few coyotes sound like a large group because of the way they overlap their yips, yowls, and howls. Watch and listen to the videos below to get familiar with the song coyotes sing.
In this video, coyote pups hear an adult coyote calling to them and respond with enthusiastic howls. |
In this video, the coyotes' howls are prompted by a siren—a common sequence of events in urban areas. |
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Listen to more coyote sounds from Yellowstone's sound library here.
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