Coyotes are common nocturnal animals inhabiting diverse landscapes across North America, thriving in both rural and urban environments. Their presence is most noticeable at night through distinctive and complex vocalizations. These sounds are fundamental to their communication and define their presence in the nocturnal soundscape. Understanding these calls provides insight into their behaviors.
The Coyote Chorus: Decoding Night Sounds
Coyotes produce a wide array of sounds, each with unique characteristics. Howls are long, sustained calls that often begin low and rise in pitch, sometimes wavering. They serve as a primary form of long-distance communication, either individually or as part of a group chorus, creating an illusion of many animals.
Yips are short, high-pitched barks that frequently intermingle with howls, contributing to the well-known “yip-howl” chorus. Barks are sharp, abrupt sounds, typically shorter and less varied than those of domestic dogs, often used as warnings or challenges. The bark-howl is a specific vocalization that starts with a bark and blends into a howl, indicating a high-intensity threat or alarm.
Yelps are quick, sharp, and often high-pitched, expressing excitement, submission, or distress. Growls are low, guttural sounds heard at close range, signaling warning or aggression.
Communication and Purpose Behind the Calls
Coyote vocalizations enable complex communication within their social structures. Howls and yips help individuals locate other pack members and announce their presence, facilitating reunions after individual hunting forays. These vocalizations also function as territorial markers, creating an “auditory fence” to warn other coyotes away from a family group’s claimed area. Research suggests that coyotes can identify individuals by their unique howl patterns.
Group vocalizations can strengthen social bonds within a pack, fostering unity. Barks and growls often serve as alarm or warning signals, alerting others to potential dangers or expressing aggression towards intruders. While opportunistic hunters, coyotes do not typically use vocalizations to signify a kill. Instead, they might coordinate during group hunts to locate or disorient prey.
Telling Coyotes Apart from Other Nocturnal Animals
Distinguishing coyote vocalizations from other nocturnal animals aids identification. Domestic dogs have less varied and more distinct barking patterns than coyotes. While dogs can howl, their howls typically lack the intricate combination of yips, yaps, and barks characteristic of a coyote chorus.
Wolf howls are deeper, more resonant, and prolonged than coyote howls, often described as mournful, and lack the pronounced yipping element. Wolves also tend to hunt in larger packs, which can influence the perceived complexity and volume of their group vocalizations. Fox vocalizations are often higher-pitched, sometimes sounding like screams or shrieks, distinctly different from coyote barks and howls.
Responding to Nearby Coyote Vocalizations
Hearing coyotes nearby is normal, particularly in suburban and rural areas, and usually does not indicate immediate danger. Coyotes are highly adaptable, coexisting with humans and often becoming more active at night in populated areas to minimize interference. Their presence can even be beneficial, as they help control rodent populations.
Protecting pets involves keeping them indoors at night or supervising them closely when outside, especially small dogs or cats. If a coyote approaches too closely or exhibits bold behavior, “hazing” techniques can deter them. These include making loud noises, waving arms to appear larger, or throwing small objects in their direction without aiming to injure them.
Removing potential food sources such as pet food, fallen fruit, and securing trash cans can also reduce coyote attraction to residential areas. Contacting local animal control or wildlife authorities is advisable if coyotes display unusual behaviors, such as aggression or a lack of fear towards humans.