That spine-tingling sound, starting with high-pitched yips and escalating into what sounds like a wild, almost laughing chorus, is unmistakable: coyotes howling. Often heard in the evening or nighttime, this eerie vocalization is becoming increasingly common across the Northeast, echoing not just in remote wilderness but also in towns, suburbs, and even the edges of cities. But Why Do Coyotes Howl?
“Howling serves as a fundamental form of communication for coyotes,” explains Gary San Julian, a professor of wildlife resources at Penn State. “It fulfills several key roles. One primary function is to reunite the pack – which is essentially a family unit – after they’ve been hunting individually. Another significant reason coyotes howl is to announce their presence to other coyote families, essentially acting as a warning against encroaching on their territory.”
While coyote howls have long been a familiar sound in the Western United States, San Julian, who has heard them in Wyoming and Colorado, notes their growing prevalence closer to home. “More recently, I’ve heard them right in my backyard in rural Centre County, not far from Penn State.”
Historically, coyotes existed in the East millennia ago, according to archaeological evidence. However, they were largely eradicated from the region due to trapping and hunting by European settlers. The 20th century witnessed a remarkable resurgence of these predators. Many wildlife experts believe that western coyotes migrated eastward to repopulate unoccupied habitats. Alternatively, some propose that coyotes persisted in isolated eastern wilderness areas, from which they expanded as human persecution lessened and the white-tailed deer population, a key food source for coyotes, surged.
Today’s eastern coyote is notably larger than its western counterpart. Adult male eastern coyotes typically weigh between 45 and 55 pounds, with some exceeding this range, while females average 35 to 40 pounds. In contrast, western coyotes generally weigh 25 to 30 pounds.
Genetic research has revealed that the eastern coyote is partially descended from wolves. “The concept of species is somewhat flexible in wild canines,” San Julian points out. “Different species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. However, behavioral differences usually minimize such cross-breeding.” The prevailing theory suggests that as western coyotes expanded eastward, they encountered lone wolves struggling to find mates due to human pressures. “Wolves typically kill coyotes,” San Julian states. Yet, it appears that some wolves, likely in regions like Quebec and southern Ontario, contributed their genes, influencing the genetic makeup of the eastern coyote.
“Coyotes are incredibly adaptable creatures,” San Julian emphasizes. “They can easily switch their diet from small mammals, like mice and voles, to fruits such as melons, apples, and berries. They are also known to consume garbage. Some even prey on domestic animals like dogs and cats. Coyotes are adept hunters whether working alone—catching rodents in freshly cut hayfields, for example—or cooperating to hunt larger prey, such as deer.”
The fundamental social unit for coyotes is the family group, typically consisting of an adult male and female, along with their offspring who haven’t yet established their own territories. “Coyotes don’t form large packs in the way that wolves do,” San Julian clarifies. “A typical family group might include four or five individuals.”
Coyotes demonstrate a remarkable ability to thrive in suburban environments. San Julian recounts observing a coyote navigating a six-lane highway in Illinois, amidst gas stations, large retail stores, and residential areas. As coyotes increasingly live and forage near human populations, they may become less fearful of humans. In densely populated parts of Southern California, coyotes have, in some instances, attacked people. San Julian advises against feeding wildlife (except for birds), as this “can unnaturally habituate animals to humans.”
Hunting and trapping remain permitted practices for coyote management in Pennsylvania, contributing to maintaining their wary nature. Despite an estimated 20,000 coyotes being harvested in 2005, their populations have continued to expand, reaching a point where coyotes are present in almost every area of the state. It is highly likely that more people will be hearing the distinctive and sometimes haunting sound of coyote howls in the years ahead.
Gary San Julian, Ph.D., is professor of wildlife resources and an extension wildlife specialist in the College of Agriculture at Penn State. His email is [email protected].
