Not long ago, during a gathering at Babulya’s house to celebrate cousin Stella’s birthday, our family was unexpectedly serenaded by the untamed voices of the Texas plains coyotes. As dusk settled over the grass and trees, a chorus of howls echoed across the land. It was not a frightening sound, but rather something deeply stirring—a reminder that the wild remains near us, even when we are surrounded by family laughter and birthday cake.

Leon, still young and wide-eyed, listened intently to the cries. He was amazed, his small voice rising in imitation, calling out “woof” and even trying “wolf” as if naming the sound could give him a deeper grasp of what he heard. It was one of those ordinary-yet-extraordinary moments when a child’s first awareness of the natural world begins to take root in wonder.

This, perhaps, is the essence of nature study—living encounters with creatures in their rightful places, the joy of hearing, seeing, and remembering, all while gently weaving in the threads of knowledge that science provides.

Description of the Plains Coyote

The Texas plains coyote (Canis latrans latrans), a subspecies of the wide-ranging coyote, is among the most adaptable predators of North America. Slightly smaller than the gray wolf, the coyote has a slender build, long legs, a narrow muzzle, and a bushy tail tipped in black. Its coat is typically tawny-gray, mingled with shades of russet and cream that allow it to blend perfectly into grasslands and prairies.

An adult plains coyote usually weighs between 20 and 40 pounds, though size varies depending on habitat and available food resources. Keen eyesight, sharp hearing, and a remarkable sense of smell equip it to thrive in a variety of conditions, from Texas prairies to the outskirts of cities.

Mating and Breeding

Unlike many carnivores, coyotes form monogamous pairs, their bonds often lasting a lifetime. Courtship begins in the chill of late winter, when males and females engage in playful chases, nipping, and vocalizations. Breeding typically occurs between January and March, with the female’s gestation lasting about 63 days.

In early spring, she prepares a den—sometimes a burrow dug herself, though often she reclaims the abandoned den of another animal, such as a badger. There, she gives birth to a litter of 4 to 7 pups. For several weeks, the male diligently hunts and brings food for his mate, while the mother nurses and guards the young.

By three weeks, the pups begin to emerge, playing clumsily near the entrance. Play is not mere frivolity—it is the training ground for survival. Wrestling, chasing, and mock hunting all serve to hone the coordination and instincts needed for adult life. Parents, too, join the lessons, demonstrating calls at dusk, howling so that the young may mimic and strengthen their own voices.

Diet and Feeding

Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, meaning their diet spans both animal and plant matter. In Texas grasslands, they prey heavily upon small mammals such as rabbits, ground squirrels, and voles. Birds, reptiles, and even insects may supplement their diet, while wild fruits, persimmons, and mesquite beans provide nutrition when meat is scarce.

This dietary flexibility is key to their survival. It allows coyotes to thrive in landscapes altered by human development, where other predators have vanished. Farmers once regarded coyotes as mere livestock thieves, but research has shown that they primarily consume rodents—natural control for species that otherwise devastate crops.

Their Natural Habitat

The plains coyote favors open terrain—prairies, scrublands, and desert edges—though it is equally at home on the fringes of human settlement. Texas provides an ideal stronghold, with its vast expanses of grassland, interwoven with streams, forests, and agricultural areas.

Coyotes are not bound by wilderness alone. Increasingly, they live alongside humans, navigating suburbs, golf courses, and even city parks. Their adaptability allows them to exist where wolves no longer roam, filling a vital ecological role.

The Role of Coyotes in the Ecosystem

Ecologically, coyotes are keystone predators. Their presence shapes the balance of prey populations, which in turn influences plant growth and habitat health. By keeping rabbit and rodent populations in check, coyotes prevent overgrazing and soil erosion, indirectly supporting biodiversity.

Furthermore, coyotes act as scavengers, consuming carrion and cleaning the landscape of decay. Their wide-ranging diet means seeds are dispersed in their droppings, aiding in the regeneration of native plants.

Without coyotes, ecosystems often tip toward imbalance—rodents multiply unchecked, crops suffer, and the intricate web of predator and prey unravels. Thus, even in places where their howls unsettle livestock owners, their importance to the health of the land cannot be overstated.

The Voice of the Wild: Bioacoustics of the Coyote

Coyotes are as much heard as they are seen. Their vocalizations—yelps, barks, and howls—are a form of bioacoustics, the study of how living beings produce and use sound. Each call carries meaning: to declare territory, to reunite a pack, to warn of threats, or to train the young.

At dusk, when the air cools and sound carries farther, a coyote’s howl can travel over a mile. These sounds create what naturalists call a “soundscape”—a living layer of the environment, as essential to the identity of a place as its grasses, trees, and streams.

It was this soundscape that so captivated Leon at Babulya’s house. His mimicry, calling “woof” into the fading light, was more than childish play. It was his first participation in the bioacoustic dialogue of the natural world.

Living with Coyotes

Coyotes have long stirred mixed feelings in human hearts. They are celebrated in Native American folklore as tricksters and teachers, yet vilified in frontier tales as cunning thieves. Today, Texans often encounter coyotes near ranches or in suburban neighborhoods, leading to tensions about safety and livestock.

Yet coexistence is possible, and indeed necessary. Coyotes rarely pose a threat to humans, and simple measures—such as securing garbage, protecting small pets at night, and maintaining respectful distance—allow both species to share the land.

In a Charlotte Mason spirit, learning to observe and understand rather than to fear is the higher calling. When children hear the howl and recognize it not as menace but as wild beauty, a bridge of understanding is formed.