Above all, coyotes are adaptable. They thrive in all kinds of environments from Alaska to Belize, and from wilderness to urbanized areas like Altadena. There are 19 recognizable sub-species, ours are a small desert breed — 25 pounds or less. Omnivores, they subsist largely on rodents and some larger animals, carrion, fruit, berries, insects, domestic animal dung, roadkill, garbage, fresh grass.

Coyotes mate for life, a couple raises 3 to 7 pups in winter in a burrow the pair excavates, a hollow log, or some other sheltered spot. Parents bring food to the den and regurgitate it for the pups In fact, the male brings food in the same manner to his mate when she’s pregnant. Some pups remain to help take care of the next litter, but at 6 to 10 months most disperse to find their own territory; they mature fully by three years. All coyotes can breed with wolves and domestic dogs and produce fertile offspring; DNA studies show that there is a little of each in most coyotes. Coyote-domestic dog crosses are rare because male dogs don’t help with child-rearing, and estrus differs. “Coydogs” are way more intelligent than dogs and have a reputation as difficult pets.

Coyotes scent-mark their territories to let other coyotes know to keep away. But they are gregarious, too. Unrelated individuals, young animals without territory, non-breeding females for the most part, form packs for companionship and to hunt large prey. Packs work together with tactics of distraction and harassment to bring down animals much larger than themselves such as deer or large dogs. With 11 recognized “vocalizations” plus an expressive body language and scent markings, coyotes have a large vocabulary to communicate with each other.