It is the time of year again where the dominant male and female coyotes of a pack begin to mate. The female will use the same den from last year or dig out an old fox den or other suitable habitat to have her pups in. I discovered one such den on a farm here in Walton county that I trap. It is on the Southeastern facing slope of a hill to catch the morning sun, and it is near water. I have also discovered them living in abandonded buildings, barns and chicken houses in Urban areas. Approximately 63 days from the time of conception, the pups are born. Typically, a female coyote will have between 5-8 pups. After the pups are born, the male will begin hunting for any animal it can catch to feed them. Around the middle of March we should begin seeing and hearing reports of pets missing and livestock being killed. During most of the year, coyotes will take pets as a crime of opportunity. During breeding season however, the coyotes target any and all animals available and if the population of the prey species that they typically feed on is low, they will target pets and livestock on purpose. They are very aggressive this time of year. Here in the south, the main food source for coyotes is whitetail deer fawns. It is no coincidence that the fawns begin to drop at approximately the same time the coyote pups are born. Rabbits, voles, turkeys also make up the prey list. But one of their preferred foods is housecats and small dogs. While coyotes will eat fruit during some periods of the year, they are Carnivores and meat is their primary food source. They are also roaming and feeding during the colder weather now to maintain their caloric intake and keep their body heat regulated. This is also the prime time to trap them. I have just finished setting traps on the Farm again in efforts to remove as many as possible before the cattle birthing begins. Newborn calves are a delicacy to coyotes and it is not uncommon for them to take the calf as it is being born. Protecting nearly 300 head of cattle on this landowner's farm is quite a challenge. We'll just have to see what the new year brings......

http://www.easternwolferscoyotetrappers.com/