Coyote ID

August 10, 2023

Question: How can I tell the difference between a coyote, fox and a wolf?

Answer: Coyotes (Canis latrans) are highly adaptable animals that can be found in a variety of habitats throughout Central and North America. Of all the wild canids in California, there are typically more coyotes in urban and suburban environments. They have adapted to surviving, and often thriving, alongside humans in many California communities. They are often confused with domesticated dogs, foxes and gray wolves.

Coyotes are larger than foxes but smaller than gray wolves. They typically weigh between 10 to 35 pounds with a shoulder height of 18 to 23 inches. A coyote’s coat is usually a mixture of brown, gray and tan with black strands. Coyotes have a bushy tail with a black tip that usually hangs downward. Coyotes are significantly smaller than wolves and have a sleeker build, narrower snout, smaller paws and proportionally larger, more pointed ears than those of a wolf.

Foxes are smaller than coyotes and have smaller, more pointed snouts. Identifying coyote pups can be challenging because they can look like baby foxes, called kits. However, coyote pups are usually larger than fox kits and have larger and more rounded snouts. California is home to gray fox, island fox, red fox and kit fox.

Each year, typically during spring and summer, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) receives reports of coyote pups that have been misidentified as orphaned or “stray” domesticated puppies and taken from their habitat. Separating a coyote pup from its mother can be detrimental. Once separated from its family group, a coyote pup may not learn natural healthy behaviors and the survival skills necessary to be safely returned to the wild. If you come across a coyote or other wildlife, it’s best to leave it alone and contact your CDFW regional office ( https://wildlife.ca.gov/regions ).

To learn more visit CDFW’s Keep Me Wild: Coyote web page ( https://wildlife.ca.gov/keep-me-wild/coyote ) or this fact sheet on Distinguishing Between Coyotes, Wolves and Dogs ( https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=102479&inline ).

They forgot to mention the most important distinguishing characteristic of coyotes: They are Wile E, and they like to chase roadrunners...