![]() ![]() However, all dens I have examined (over 20) have been devoid of prey. “I have heard reports of dens surrounded by cat collars, cat remains, or deer fawns. This is what he had to say about whether adult coyotes bring prey back to their dens. There is a good article on his website on the “ Eastern coyote/coywolf life cycle in southeastern Massachusetts,” which answers many commonly asked questions about coyote behavior. Jonathan Way operates Eastern Coyote Research and has been studying coyotes in Massachusetts for more than ten years. Do Coyotes Bring Prey Back to their Dens? This is usually in an open area and near water. Once the pups are 8-10 weeks old, the coyotes will move the pups to a rendezvous site. While the pups are nursing, the female will make short excursions from the den for food and the male may also provide her with some food. If a den site is disturbed, the coyotes will move the pups to one of these other dens, and they will often move the pups every few weeks presumably to avoid parasites like fleas infesting the den (Parker 1995: 63-66). Several weeks before the pups are born, the coyote pair will excavate multiple possible den sites. The coyote breeding season runs from mid-January to early February (in Massachusetts), and the pups are born 60-66 days later in mid-March to early April (Way 2012). “After that, even young pups generally sleep in the woods – even on nasty, rainy days” (Way 2012). Den Use by CoyotesĬoyotes actually only use dens when they are raising their pups and stop using them when the pups are 8-10 weeks old. There is unfortunately a lot of misunderstanding and myth when it comes to coyote behavior. As a pet detective for over ten years, I have often been asked the question: “Do coyotes carry cats back to their dens to eat them?” Of more concern, I’ve occasionally heard from people that a tracking dog team led them to a presumed predator den and they were told that the resident coyote (or fox or fisher) had killed their cat and taken it into the den. When a cat or small dog goes missing, pet owners/guardians are often concerned that s/he could have fallen prey to a coyote or other predator. ![]()
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