Coyote's Den

DeadEyeGuy

DeadEyeGuy

New member
Where do coyotes den up in the rain forest (heavy timber) or in desert sage landscape. I have looked for denning areas in the western part of Washington and haven't seen and thing that looks like a coyote's den. Do the hang up under brushy areas, ding holes under large rocks, or just stay dry under trees? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
A couple weeks ago a buddy and I thought we had found a den or maybe they where just chasing a rabbit or something. It was an old house of some sort all fallen in on itself. As we walked upon the site I thought I heard some sort of growl in there but, I could have been hearing things or maybe it was just my stomach after a long day of hunting without eating lunch. All around there was holes going in and on the outside was yellow snow and feces all around. The snow was fresh that day so all the sign was fresh. On the ridge just above was a spot where it looked like three coyote had had their nap. Tried calling in the area with no luck. Plan on going back now that I know its there. This was in a open sagebrush landscape close to alot of wheat fields.
 
Let me clear up a great misconception. Coyotes do not LIVE in "dens". Coons maintain some sort of shelter, as do foxes. Tree squirrels, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, ground hogs, all maintain a year-round "home". Coyotes do not. They are well adapted to living in the elements, and do not require a "roof over their heads".

About 3 weeks, or so, before giving birth they will excavate a suitable "nest". It can be a brush pile, an old badger hole, a collapsed barn, rock pile, or whatever they can find that they feel secure in.

This, and only this, is what's refered to as a coyote's "den".

The breeding pair of coyotes are the only inhabitants of this den. Unpaired, non-breeding coyotes DO NOT DEN. They have no reason to, since denning is ONLY a function of pup rearing. Once the pups reach about 7 weeks, the entire family abandons the den, never to return.

The following year, the breeding pair "may" return to the same area. They "may" even use the same den, but usually not. Most will prepare a fresh new den for the new litter of pups.
 
Were you planning to kill a pregnant female or just observe her? If you're just looking for an easy opportunity to kill any coyote it's still a little early for denning activity. Killing wet females "just for fun" isn't considered a very sporting or noble undertaking. If you do, at least have the decency to drag the puppies from the den and give them a merciful death, rather than let them suffer from starvation.
 
All predators like brush piles. They like to hunt them. Rabbits, mice, rats, birds, and reptiles use brush piles for shelter. It's the predator's grocery store.

Bobcats will den in dense brush piles only if there are no rocky ledges anywhere in the area. High rimrock is their preference. Bobcat denning season can be anywhere from January to March, depending on latitude. Probably mid to late February in your area.
 
When I read DeadEyeGuys question and my reply I didn't get the impression the we were planing on killing a pregnant or wet female "just for fun". Thats not what I want to do.

I have always thought that coyotes use some sort of shelter or den so I call it all year to get out of the bad weather or the heat. I thought if I could find such a place it would be a good place to try calling.

Now I know after NASA's reply that coyotes only use a den or shelter for pup rearing. Thank you for the info.

I only hunt coyotes when their fur is in its prime and can be sold. That means I do not hunt them once they start breeding because of the rubbing and I want more to hunt next season.

Good luck on finding a Bobcat DeadEyeGuy.
 
Deuce, I'm glad you understood my post. An aweful lot of people are under the same impression you were. That's why I felt it important to bring it to (everyone's) attention.
I'm no degreed biologist, but I have spent many years studying coyotes and their behavior. The more you learn about these critters, the more you realize there's a lot more to learn.
 
This winter we followed two seperate sets of coyote tracks in fresh snow into "Holes" in the ground. There was fresh scat also. We later saw a coyote going into one of these small draws twice. It is more than obvious they are spending time in there.
 
You're positive they were coyote tracks? Also, did you get a very good look at the one you saw? What was the condition of it's fur? Were you able to see signs of mange? It gets real cold for a coyote with a dose of the mange. Without that fur coat he'll need someplace to get out of the wind chill.
 
Positive on the tracks and they were the only tracks in the draw. Saw the coyote once naked eye and once in the scope but didn't get the shot. Hair looked fine but that is no guarantee. I have not seen mange here for many years and again no guarantee. This is a first for me too but it shows that they will hole up to save energy or hide from me when it is zero deg and snowing. These were in two seperate draws about 1/4 mile apart. This was in December and we checked one of them last week finding fresh tracks and scat again. We were thinking of a way to get them out. That could be exciting.
 
That just goes to prove you can never say "never", when it comes to coyotes. These could be recently dispersed YOY's that are feeling a bit insecure. Some non-threatening calls, pup whines, cottontail, bird distress, just might be tempting enough to get them to come out and investigate. Sunrise might be a good time to try.

(edit) Hold on. Your post said they were going into a "draw". Now, in my mind that would be like a wash, arroyo, or ravine. In your case, probably densely filled with brush and scrub, right? Only as a "stretch" could that be considered a den. Out behind my place we have something similar. No coyotes, but that's where our local deer go to bed down when the snow flies and the wind blows. No reason a normal coyote wouldn't do the same thing. But it wouldn't be considered "denning up".
 
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I can tell you for a fact that Coyote's do use shelter in the winter. Maybe not everywhere but they certainly do here and not just during breeding season but during the whole winter for sure.

They will hole up in the drain tiles along drainage ditches which is much easier than digging their own holes. You just have to shine a light into the tile and look for the glowing eyes. They also hang out in the caulverts in the field driveways.
 
denjahn,

Don't be alone there. I've seen the [same] here in Iowa. It appears to me anyway. This thread is talking the same thing, just different lingo & time's of yr.

It's been mentioned many times before. When you think, you've got them figured out. You then find out, how little ya know /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

I read a [phrase] on a bathroom wall...Many moons ago.
"The last living creatures on Earth,...Will be Coyote's & Cockroach's".

Very adaptive,eh /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I have never seen Coyotes in drainage pipes but I see fox using them for dens in the winter all the time. I have no doubt Coyotes would do the same especially in extreme weather conditions. I would have to agree with what Kirby implied in his post. There are no hard fast rules with Coyotes because they have proved they are the most adaptive mammal on the planet.
 


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