General Information

Coyotes are not native to Ohio and were once only found west of the Mississippi River. Originally thought to be strictly a desert and grassland animal, they were forced to expand their range as their populations began to grow. Coyotes are very adaptable and now live in almost any habitat in North America. They first arrived in Ohio in 1919 and have since adapted to city, suburban, and rural living. Their populations continue to increase, and coyotes are now established in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Meet Our Coyotes

Four coyotes, Red, Tex, Ember, and Charcoal, live in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

We're updating! Please be aware that beginning April 12, 2024, the coyote exhibit located near the entrance to Perkins Wildlife Center—which houses two of the Museum's coyotes—will be off exhibit until renovations are complete.

Lifespan

Wild: 8–10 years
Captivity: 15–20 years

Fun Facts

• Coyotes are monogamous and have the same mate as long as both of the coyotes live. They have the ability to self-regulate their populations. As populations increase in an area, litter sizes decrease. In areas with smaller coyote populations, litter size is bigger.
• Coyotes have the ability to jump more than 8 feet into the air.
• Coyote attacks on humans are rare and seldom cause serious injury.
• Coyotes live on a diet of small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, as well as fruit, vegetables and nuts. Sometimes they will eat larger animals, such as white tailed deer, but these animals are usually already dead or lame when preyed upon by the coyote.