THE COLOR OF THE COYOTE'S PELT VARIES FROM GRAYISH-BROWN TO YELLOWISH-GRAY ON THE UPPER PARTS, WHILE THE THROAT AND BELLY TEND TO HAVE A BUFF OR WHITE COLOR. THE FORELEGS, SIDES OF THE HEAD, MUZZLE AND PAWS ARE REDDISH-BROWN. THE BACK HAS TAWNY-COLORED UNDERFUR AND LONG, BLACK TIPPED GUARD HAIRS THAT FORM A BLACK DORSAL STRIPE AND A DARK CROSS ON THE SHOULDER AREA. THE BLACK TIPPED TAIL HAS A SCENT GLAND LOCATED ON IT'S DORSAL BASE.

DURING PURSUIT, A COYOTE MAY REACH SPEEDS UP TO 43 MPH MAKING IT ONE OF THE FASTEST TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS IN NORTH AMERICA, AND CAN JUMP A DISTANCE OF OVER 13 FEET.  THOUGH COYOTES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED TO TRAVEL IN LARGE GROUPS, THEY PRIMARILY HUNT IN PAIRS.

COYOTES ARE PRIMARILY NOCTURNAL, BUT CAN OFTEN BE SEEN IN DAYLIGHT HOURS. COYOTES HAVE BE KNOWN TO LIVE A MAXIMUM OF 18 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY; THE MAXIMUM LONGEVITY IN THE WILD IS 14.5 YEARS. FEMALE COYOTES ARE MONOESTROUS AND REMAIN IN ESTROUS FOR 2 TO 5 DAYS BETWEEN LATE JANUARY AND EARLY MARCH, DURING WHICH MATING OCCURS.  THE GESTATION PERIOD LASTS FROM 60 TO 63 DAYS. LITTER SIZE RANGES FROM 1 TO 19 PUPS; THE AVERAGE IS 6. THE CALLS A COYOTE MAKES ARE HIGH-PITCHED AND VARIOUSLY DESCRIBED AS HOWLS, YIPS, YELPS AND BARKS. SOMETIMES LABELED AS CARNIVORES BUT MORE OFTEN AS OMNIVORES, COYOTES ARE OPPORTUNISTIC, VERSATILE FEEDERS. PART OF THE COYOTE'S SUCCESS AS A SPECIES IS ITS DIETARY ADAPTABILITY. AS SUCH, COYOTES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO EAT HUMAN RUBBISH AND DOMESTIC PETS. URBAN POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO ACTIVELY HUNT CATS, AND TO LEAP SHORTER FENCES TO TAKE SMALL DOGS. YET, CONFIRMED REPORTS OF COYOTES KILLING A HUMAN HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED.  A 2011 TRAIL CAMERA VIDEO UNCOVERED TWO TO THREE COYOTES KILLING A LARGE DEER. COYOTE ATTACKS ON HUMANS ARE UNCOMMON AND RARELY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE OF THE COYOTE, BUT HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY FREQUENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE 30 YEARS LEADING UP TO MARCH 2006, AT LEAST 160 ATTACKS OCCURRED IN THE UNITED STATES, MOSTLY IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY AREA.

THERE ARE SEVERAL METHODS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED FOR TRAPPING COYOTES. THE CAGE TYPE TRAP WITH A DOOR THAT CLOSES WHEN THE ANIMAL STEPS ON A PLATE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GRAB AND EAT THE BAIT INSIDE. AT ANIMAL BOY TRAPPING SERVICES WE ALSO USE A DEVICE KNOWN AS THE COLLARUM WHERE A LOOPED CABLE IS THROWN AROUND THE ANIMAL'S NECK AND AUTOMATICALLY CINCHES TO A WEDGED STOP SO AS NOT TO KILL OR HARM THE COYOTE. 

SNARES AND LEGHOLD TRAPS ARE ILLEGAL IN CALIFORNIA, AS THEY ARE SEEN AS INHUMANE.