ORANGE COUNTY ZOO
Photo courtesy of
Irvine Park Railroad
At the Zoo
Live Web Cameras
Animals at the Zoo
Plants at the Zoo
Zoo Information
Zoo hours, location, contact
Events, classes, programs
New at the Zoo
Volunteer opportunities
Support the Zoo
Membership
Adopt-an-Animal
Donation information
The Orange County Zoo is
owned and operated by the
County
of Orange, California.
Web page produced by the
Orange County Zoological Society,
Copyright 2005.
Coyote
Canis latrans
Description: Slender, long-legged canine from 20-30 lbs. Tawny with a bushy tail.
Range: North Alaska to Costa Rica, throughout
Mexico, continental Untied States
and much of western and central Canada.
Habitat: Open country and grassland. Deciduous, mixed coniferous and mountain forests.
Diet: Rabbits, rodents. Occasionally deer fawns. Also feeds on fruit, beans, reptiles, insects and carrion.
Reproduction: Gestation 63 days.
Average of 6 pups per litter.
Life Span: 14 years in the
wild. 18 years in captivity.
General Information: Chiefly nocturnal. Eats approximately 200 pounds
of food annually. Can leap 14 feet. Cruises 25-30 mph. Can run up to 40 mph for short distances. Scientific name means “barking dog”. Common name comes from the Nahuatl
Indian name coyotl.