COYOTES!

COYOTES! Who? What? Where? When? Why? Arriving in the 1980s and now found in all 100 counties in North Carolina... Their name translates to the "barking dog" and they are also known as the "song dog" due to having one of the largest ranges of vocalizations of North American mammals... Filling the ecological niche previously occupied by wolves and cougars... Revered by indigenous people for their intelligence and adaptability...reviled by Anglo colonizers as cowardly and untrustworthy...hundreds of thousands are killed each year across the country... Colorblind and seeing only in shades of blue and yellow just like their domestic and wild relatives the dog and wolf... Who is the most adaptable mammal in North America? What do coyotes eat? Where can you see coyotes in Durham? When do coyote packs begin to disperse from the current years litter? Why are coyotes more nocturnal in urban areas? Join Falyn Owens, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Wildlife Extension Biologist, to learn more about the Wile E. Coyote! Falyn Owens is the Wildlife Extension Biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. She works with organizations, businesses, and communities to find ways for people and wildlife to coexist in our shared world. Her main goal is helping people understand the wild species that live all around us––from birds and beavers to coyotes and bears––and use that knowledge to prevent problems or address them responsibly if they do occur.

Last updated November 3, 2026