The coyote, or Canis latrans, is indigenous to North and Central America and belongs to the species canid. There are 19 subspecies of coyote, also known as jackals or prairie wolves with all but three species living in Mexico, Canada and North America. The word "coyote" means barking dog.

Coyotes come in various colors from a gray brown to a yellow gray. They sometimes have small patches of white on their stomach or neck area. The coyote sheds its fur once annually. Those coyotes that live in the dessert have lighter fur than those than live in the mountains.

An average coyote can be as long as 50 inches in length (including the tail) and measure approximately 25 inches in height. When chasing down prey, a coyote can reach a speed of 43 miles per hour. Coyotes can hear 20 kHZ higher than the domestic dog and communicate using high pitch howls.

Typically considered pack animals, most coyotes live and hunt in pairs. Most experts consider them to be nocturnal animals as they sleep during the day and hunt at night although some coyotes are awake and hunting during the day. Coyotes typically dine on small mammals such as squirrels, rabbits, mice and birds. They eat both fresh meat as well as carrion (road kill).

Humans consider coyotes a pest and hunt them frequently. Despite this, the number of coyotes continues to increase and they are well adapted to the human environment. On the rare occasion that a coyote attacks a human being, the injuries aren't usually fatal.