Talk:Coyote

Coyotes in Nova Scotia

I don't know how to edit the map in this article but it ought to include Nova Scotia, which has Eastern coyotes (I heard a pack unmistakably while camping once.) The government has a Q&A page about coyotes in NS: https://novascotia.ca/natr/wildlife/nuisance/coyotes-faq.asp — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.138.64.202 (talk) 22:40, 28 November 2020 (UTC)

How long were they around?

Sorry if this might be off topic, but how long were coyotes around? The dire wolf study said they moved into North America during the late Pleistocene. However, it says here that they existed here since the middle Pleistocene. There is some conflicting data here. Unless coyotes were in Eurasia, to which there is no source to back that up. 2001:1970:48AA:8100:7964:64D7:D44E:7071 (talk) 00:43, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

You are not off-topic. DNA inference indicates that coyotes may have entered North America from Eurasia. There are Pleistocene wolf fossils in northern Siberia which, going back in age, reveal more coyote DNA in their mix! However, there is no coyote fossil evidence found in Eurasia to support this proposition. Other DNA studies indicate that the North American wolf clade and the coyote split from a common ancestor only 50,000 years ago, location unknown but assumed to be North America. Yet another says that the entire modern wolf clade only came into being 25,000 years ago and originated in Beringia. These DNA studies differ depending on the specimens and the technology being used. Given what we know today, all that we can say is that there is fossil evidence of a canid in North America dating back to the middle Pleistocene that matches the morphology of a modern coyote. Once scientists can extract DNA from one of these ancient canid fossils then we will know whether they are coyotes or not. William Harris (talk) 09:29, 22 March 2021 (UTC)

Subspecies articles to be merged into the main article

The list of subspecies shows links to the Plains coyote, Mearns coyote, and the Northeastern coyote. These articles have been around for quite some time, are still very small in size, and there is not enough referencing to meet WP:GNG. Therefore, I suggest that the relevant information be merged into the "Subspecies" section of the Coyote article and these three be made into redirects. William Harris (talk) 11:20, 10 June 2021 (UTC)

• As per standard handling of subspecies with little additional material and low chances of substantial expansion, yes, these should be merged. --Elmidae (talk · contribs) 13:31, 10 June 2021 (UTC)

Now actioned, with the Eastern coyote maintaining its own article. This is appropriate given that canine's taxonomic debate, article size, and the number of WP:RELIABLE sources contributed. William Harris (talk) 08:06, 11 June 2021 (UTC)

The coyote was sighted in eastern Panama (across the Panama Canal from their home range) for the first time in 2013.

This sentence before the table of contents section would need a reference. Gimly24 (talk) 18:45, 23 August 2021 (UTC)

Predation Method

I call into question the way it states Coyotes hunt large prey (at the moment, it is listed as from the front). I question it primarily because all video and documentation i could find of coyote predation dictates that, they always prefer to attack from the behind, tearing open leg muscles to cripple and slow the prey until it falls, before gorging. From what I can see, they only approach the front to stop the deer from advancing, not to actually inflict any damage. For those whom added or believe what the article currently says, may you provide me with sources? if not, I'll change it to stating "from behind" rather than from the front in a bit. I'll also provide my own sources, as below. Unfortunately I cant find too many as of the moment, however I'll post more when i find them. Additionally, if somebody has actual academic proof (I currently cannot access nor find any), please provide it as well.

https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/content/articles/coyote-kills-buck-on-camera#:~:text=When%20attacking%20adult%20deer%2C%20a,deer%20while%20it's%20still%20alive.

The above Article itself may be dubious, however all the photos indicate that the Coyotes attack from the rear.

https://www.facebook.com/GrowingDeer/videos/coyotes-take-buck-down/365242564488326/ WL Enthusiast (talk) 15:37, 28 September 2022 (UTC)