coyotes – Page 3 – For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue

What kind of wild puppy did I find?

If you’re lucky, you may spot a wild “puppy” of some kind in the wild one day. I’m the first few weeks of life, wild coyote pups, fox kits, and raccoon kits can look very similar and sometimes lack the very distinct traits that make adults fairly easy to tell apart. All four of theseContinue reading “What kind of wild puppy did I find?”

Should you move urban foxes to their natural habitat?

No one is shocked when they see rabbits, squirrels, mice, chipmunks, frogs, deer, and birds in the suburbs. Yet, when their natural predators— even the smallest of them— exist in the same environment, it nearly always leads to someone requesting that they be moved somewhere they perceive as more appropriate. Native predators like red foxes,Continue reading “Should you move urban foxes to their natural habitat?”

How Big Are Coyotes? Smaller Than You Think!

Many people who have seen coyotes estimate that they’re at least the size of German shepherds, but coyotes are actually pretty small, weak animals. Out West, a typical coyote weighs a puny 16-18 pounds. Here in Tennessee, where they owe much of their ancestry to red wolves and feral dogs, coyotes are larger, but stillContinue reading “How Big Are Coyotes? Smaller Than You Think!”

Pet Body Armor Protects Against Wildlife

Hawks, coyotes, bobcats— and in some areas, wolves and bears— can be scary for owners of pets and working animals. But killing wildlife is inhumane, ineffective, and often illegal as a method of protecting pets. So what’s a pet owner to do? The best way to protect pets is to keep them either indoors orContinue reading “Pet Body Armor Protects Against Wildlife”

Do Coyfoxes Exist?

I’ve gotten a number of calls, comments, and texts from people who believed they had found a coyfox, a hybrid between a coyote and a red fox. It’s an understandable mistake to make. Many people, especially here in the Southeastern U.S., might encounter an animal that looks too big to be a fox but hasContinue reading “Do Coyfoxes Exist?”

Red Fox, Grey Fox, or Coyote?

Quick: if you saw all six of these animals scurry across your yard, would you know what each of them is? If the answer is “no,” that’s nothing to be embarrassed about and doesn’t mean you’re uneducated. Believe it or not, the majority of people can’t tell these critters apart easily, particularly when the animalContinue reading “Red Fox, Grey Fox, or Coyote?”

Suburban Coyotes Save Lives

In the entire recorded history of the United States, coyotes have killed exactly two people. While these deaths are horrific tragedies, they are extraordinarily unusual… especially when compared to the 150 Americans who die every single year as a result of car accidents involving deer, and the dozens of people who are attacked by bucksContinue reading “Suburban Coyotes Save Lives”

Grey Fox or Coyote Pup?

Grey foxes are sometimes killed because of a case of mistaken identity. This shy and elusive animal may look similar to a coyote pup at first glance, but can be distinguished by its very long tail with a black tip, its orange ears, and a black stripe that runs down most of its body. TheyContinue reading “Grey Fox or Coyote Pup?”

Is a Coyote Likely to Have Rabies?

Fear of rabies are one of the most common reasons that people kill coyotes. While it’s certainly not a good idea to approach, provoke, or handle any wild animal, coyotes are actually one of the less likely carriers of rabies in the United States. In the 1970s, mass vaccination helped to eradicate the strain ofContinue reading “Is a Coyote Likely to Have Rabies?”

Predators Aren’t Evil

We don’t call rabbits cruel when they eat clovers. We don’t call squirrels cruel when they eat acorns. We don’t call our children cruel when they eat cereal, or even call our dogs cruel when they eat beef bones. Yet predators, in nature, get a bad reputation. I have seen people who consider themselves toContinue reading “Predators Aren’t Evil”