The coyote (Canis latrans) is a medium-sized canid native to North and Central America, generally smaller and more lightly built than the gray wolf. Historically most associated with the Great Plains and western North America, coyotes expanded their range dramatically during the 20th century and are now widespread across the United States and Canada, including many urban and suburban areas. Coyotes are highly adaptable and omnivorous/opportunistic: they commonly eat small mammals (such as rabbits and rodents) but may also hunt deer, birds, insects, reptiles, and plants such as fruit and berries. They communicate with a wide repertoire of vocalizations (howls, yips, barks) to signal territory occupancy and coordinate with other coyotes. In parts of North America, genetic studies show evidence that expanding coyotes hybridized with wolves, contributing to the ancestry of some northeastern populations.
