Coyote

Fox

They are considered one of the most adaptable canines on the earth. These animal species are present in various habitats, including deserts, prairies, woodlands, sagebrush-steppe, open ponderosa pine forests, alpine meadows, subalpine forests, oak savannahs, temperate forests. 

Although foxes are present in deserts, grasslands, and mountains, they appear to live in forested areas, making their homes by digging burrows in the ground. These burrows, also known as dens, help provide a safer place for their pups, a better location to store food, and a cooler area to sleep.

Almost 19 recognized coyote species are present, including Northern, Honduras, Mexican, California valley coyotes, etc. They all vary by physical appearance and geographical range. In addition to this, these species are seen in Central America, Alaska, Canada, and the United States. 

There are almost 30 recognized, but 12 true species of foxes present throughout the world, including Arctic fox, Fennec fox, Blanford’s fox, Pale fox, Corsac fox, Cape fox, Swift fox, Tibetan Sand fox, Kit fox, Bengal fox, Ruppell’s fox, and Red fox. They are present in Europe and other countries.

These animal species possess 30 to 40cm long tails, 3.3 to 3.4 feet long bodies, standing about 24 inches at the shoulders. Their average females weigh almost 15 to 40 pounds, while males weigh between 18 and 44 pounds. 

The size of foxes varies from species to species. For example, arctic foxes are 25 to 30 cm, Red foxes are 35 to 50cm, and Fennec foxes are 20cm. However, these animal species weigh as much as 24 pounds and as little as almost 1.5 pounds.      

As coyotes are omnivores, they rely on eating anything. Their dietary choices include snakes, birds, rabbits, lizards, rodents, insects, flowers, mesquite beans, and cactus fruits. But this diet varies with the seasons in the Sonoran Desert coyotes. 

Foxes are considered expert hunters, feeding on carrions, earthworms, frogs, birds, rodents, and rabbits. These animal species also eat fruits and berries, hence they are omnivores, not carnivorous. The urban ones also appear to scavenge in the dustbin for food.

Although it is difficult to confirm mating in wild populations, they mate for life. The adult ones breed between February and March, having a gestation period of about 63 days and giving birth to pups. Their females can give birth to litters of about twelve pups. 

These animal species mate between late December and March, with most matings occurring in January and February. In addition to this, the female foxes appear to give birth to litters varying in size from approximately one to eleven, also reaching up to six. 

Coyotes are not considered nocturnal. They are usually seen more after sunset and at night than during the day. People can see and hear them when dispersed from family groups or during mating season. 

Foxes are considered nocturnal animals that sleep all day and hunt at night. According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of Ireland, a fox pack may hunt during the daytime if they live in a safer place. 

Researches have shown that coyotes are called the most vocal of North America’s mammals. They make various sounds, including loud howl, lone howl, woof, huff, growl, whine, group howl, yelps, songs, and bark. Barks ranging from low to high intensities are used for long-range threats or warnings.

These animal species appear to make various sounds, including gekkering, squeals, howls, screams, and barks. Several researchers have shown that their screams and barks are the most commonly heard calls, as they can be heard for some distances and are the loudest.

These animal species are considered good swimmers that can swim to longer distances of about 0.8 kilometers. They are often sighted along the edges of Adirondack hamlets and towns during late summer. 

Foxes with sharp claws and teeth are considered good swimmers. The Arctic foxes can swim about 2km distance in a single journey when moving across rivers or lakes and the Ice Sea. 

The main predators of these animal species include eagles, mountain lions, black bears, and wolves. 

The young ones are being attacked by coyotes and eagles, while larger animals prey upon mature foxes.  

Like other animals, they also live for a specific time. For example, they can live for about three years in wild and almost 13 to 15 years in captivity.

Some pups stay close together, whereas young ones remain with their parents until fall. They live an average life of 33 years in captivity and three years in the wild.