If you’ve ever seen a litter of adorable pups scampering after their parents, you may have wondered: what are baby coyotes called? Coyotes are wild canines native to North America known for their bushy tails, pointed ears, and signature high-pitched howls.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: baby coyotes are called pups or coyote pups.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we’ll provide an in-depth look at newborn coyotes, including what they’re called, their appearance, behaviors, development, and more. With helpful information and fascinating coyote facts, you’ll learn all about these wild dog babies.
Terminology and Nicknames for Baby Coyotes
Coyote Pups
The official term for baby coyotes is “coyote pups”. This is the proper name used by wildlife biologists and researchers when referring to newborn coyotes. Coyote pups are born blind and defenseless in dens dug out by their parents. A coyote litter usually consists of 4-7 pups.
The pups rely on their parents for food and protection as they grow over the first few months of their lives. By six weeks old, coyote pups emerge from the den and begin learning how to hunt with their parents.
Coyote pups have fluffy fur and oversized ears and paws when they are born, giving them an extremely cute and cuddly appearance.
Whelps
“Whelps” is another common term used to describe baby coyotes and other newborn canine species like wolves and foxes. The word whelp goes back hundreds of years and was originally used to mean the young of a dog or related animal.
Many wildlife experts and nature writers will refer to young coyotes as whelps when documenting their development and behavior. While slightly less formal sounding than “pups”, whelps is still an appropriate and accurate nickname for the offspring of coyotes before they mature.
Both whelps and pups accurately capture the small, vulnerable nature of baby coyotes when they first emerge into the world.
Other Nicknames
Baby coyotes receive many other informal and affectionate nicknames that speak to their appearance and behavior. Some common ones include:
- Yappers – for the high-pitched yapping sounds coyote pups make
- Squealers – another reference to their vocalizations
- Ankle-biters – for their small size and harmless nipping behavior while playing
- Pranksters – for their energetic, mischievous nature
- Look-alikes – for their physical resemblance to other baby canines like foxes
Coyote pups may also be called cubs, which is a general term for the young of many wildlife species. Less formal nicknames like fur-balls, fluff-butts, and fuzzies are sometimes used as well due to the bushy fur coats of newborn coyotes.
Whatever you call them, it’s hard not to be enamored by the adorable appearance and playful personalities of baby coyotes!
Identifying Traits and Appearance of Coyote Pups
Size and Weight
Coyote pups are quite small when born, weighing just over half a pound on average. They are around 9-10 inches long from head to rump. Over the first 6-8 weeks of life, the pups will grow rapidly, nearly doubling in size every week.
By the time they are 2 months old, coyote pups weigh 8-10 pounds and are about 2 feet long from nose to tail tip.
Fur Color and Markings
Newborn coyote pups have fluffy, thick fur that keeps them warm in the den. Their coat color can vary from light tan or gray to darker brown. They may have some darker markings on the face, back, and tail.
The pups’ fur changes as they mature, becoming coarser and taking on the coloring and patterns of adult coyotes by 4-5 months old.
Some key traits of coyote pup fur include:
- Thick underfur with longer guard hairs
- Fur color ranges from grayish tan to reddish brown
- Dark muzzle and streaks on face
- Bushy, black-tipped tail
Eyes, Ears, and Teeth
Coyote pups are born with eyes closed and ears folded over. Their eyes open at 10-14 days old, revealing dark blue irises. Their ears become erect within 2-3 weeks. Around 3 weeks old, the pups’ baby teeth start to come in.
By one month of age, they have a full set of sharp little teeth for eating meat.
Some key physical traits of newborn coyotes include:
- Eyes open at 10-14 days, revealing dark blue irises
- Ears become erect at 2-3 weeks
- Baby teeth emerge around 3 weeks old
- Full set of teeth by 1 month for eating meat
Behaviors andCharacteristics of Newborn Pups
Vocalizations
Coyote pups are born deaf and blind, so vocalizations are their primary form of communication from birth. They will whimper and cry when distressed, hungry, or in need of warmth or care from their parents.
Their vocal repertoire expands around 2-3 weeks as their hearing develops, adding yips, whines, and short howls. By 5 weeks old, pups join in the signature group howl of coyotes. These early vocalizations help pups bond with parents and littermates and are critical for getting their needs met.
Motor Skills and Movement
Newborn coyote pups have very limited motor skills and mobility. They are unable to walk or even crawl in the first couple of weeks. Pups can wiggle around to find their mother’s nipples for nursing but rely completely on parents to move them to the den for safety.
Around 3 weeks, pups will start trying to stand, walk, and explore their immediate surroundings in the den. By 5-6 weeks old, their motor skills have developed enough for the pups to emerge from the den and follow parents short distances.
Their coordination and stamina improve steadily, reaching adult-like mobility by 8-10 weeks old.
Suckling and Weaning
From birth until weaning, coyote pups are entirely dependent on their mother’s milk for nourishment. They nurse frequently, stimulated by warmth and scent of the mother. At around 3-4 weeks old, the mother begins regurgitating solid food to supplement the pups’ diet.
By 6-7 weeks old, nursing starts to decrease as the pups are weaned off milk and fed more regurgitated rodents, rabbits, and other prey by both parents. Complete weaning usually occurs by 8-10 weeks old, when pups are eating mostly solid food.
Playing and Interacting
Coyote pup play starts as early as 2-3 weeks old. Pups will wrestle, chase, nip, and bond with littermates while confined to the den. This play fighting helps develop muscles, coordination, and social skills.
By 5-6 weeks old, pups emerge from the den and engage in more vigorous play while under supervision of parents. Play becomes more complex incorporating behaviors like hunting techniques, which help pups develop skills for survival.
Interactions with parents also increase through play, food provisioning, and vocal exchanges, all helping to strengthen family bonds.
The Developing Life of a Coyote Pup
Birth and Litter Size
Coyote pups, also called coyote cubs or pups, are usually born between March and May after a gestation period of 60-63 days. The average litter size is 4-7 pups, though litters as small as 1 and as large as 19 have been reported, according to wildlife experts (The HSUS).
The pups weigh around 250-500 grams at birth and initially have closed ears and eyes. Mothers give birth in dens which offer protection and seclusion for rearing young pups.
Growth Milestones
Coyote pups grow incredibly fast in their first few months of life. Their ears and eyes open at around 2 weeks old. They first emerge from the den and start playing outside at 3-4 weeks old. By 5-6 weeks old, the pups are being weaned off their mother’s milk and start eating regurgitated food.
Their permanent teeth come in at around 9 weeks and the pups reach 90% of their adult weight by 6 months old. Dispersal from their pack usually occurs by late fall or early winter when the pups reach 9-12 months old.
Weaning and Hunting Training
Around 5-6 weeks old, coyote pups start the important process of being weaned off their mother’s milk. Parents and other pack members bring back small pieces of regurgitated food at first. By 8 weeks old, pups begin learning how to hunt small prey like mice and rabbits under supervision.
Both parents and other pack members participate in training the coyote pups on hunting and scavenging skills which are crucial for their survival. This process accelerates through summer and fall as the pups continue developing coordination and stamina.
Dispersal from the Pack
Once they reach 9-12 months old, juvenile coyotes are driven away from their pack’s territory. Lone dispersing coyotes face high mortality rates up to 60-70%. Many are hunted by predators or human hunters during this risky period.
Those surviving eventually find vacant territories and often form packs by breeding at age 2-3. Solitary adult coyotes may remain independent if they fail to locate a mate. Most coyote pups successfully adjusting to life outside the pack can live 6-10 years in the wild.
Threats and Mortality Rates of Coyote Pups
Natural Predators
Coyote pups face threats from a variety of natural predators. Some of the main predators that hunt coyote pups include wolves, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, hawks, owls and eagles. Coyote dens are frequently raided by these predators seeking an easy meal.
Wolves pose one of the biggest threats, often killing the adult coyotes defending the den before preying on the pups. Bears are also known to be significant predators of coyote pups, using their powerful sense of smell to track down dens.
Eagles and hawks will swoop down to snatch up vulnerable pups playing outside the den.
In areas where these larger predators have been eliminated, coyote populations tend to increase due to reduced predation pressures. But in many parts of North America, coyote pups must contend with these lethal natural enemies.
Hunting and Trapping
In addition to natural predators, coyote pups are threatened by human hunting and trapping. Some states allow unlimited harvesting of coyotes throughout the year. This can lead to the intentional killing of adults at or near den sites, leaving pups orphaned.
Trapping is also detrimental, as pups remaining in the den can be inadvertently trapped or die of starvation if parents do not return. According to wildlife experts, an estimated 430,000 coyotes are killed each year in the U.S. through hunting and trapping (source: Humane Society).
While these control methods may slow coyote population growth in some areas, coyotes are very resilient. Their litter sizes tend to increase in response to hunting and trapping pressures. Still, hunting and trapping do raise mortality rates, especially for more vulnerable pups.
Disease and Parasites
Coyote pups are susceptible to various diseases and parasites, especially in their first few months of life before becoming fully immunized. Some common diseases that may afflict pups include canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, rabies, sarcoptic mange and canine parvovirus.
Internal parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and heartworms are also a potential threat. Young pups with underdeveloped immune systems are most at risk of succumbing to these diseases and parasites. Proper nutrition from nursing mothers helps strengthen pups’ immunity.
While disease outbreaks do not normally limit coyote populations, they can temporarily depress coyote numbers in localized areas. Diseases tend to spread rapidly when coyote densities are high.
Starvation and Abandonment
Orphaned coyote pups face extremely high mortality rates due to starvation. Pups rely completely on their parents for food for the first several weeks after emerging from dens. If both parents are killed through hunting, trapping or natural causes, the pups are unlikely to survive.
Coyote pups may also be abandoned if food is scarce and the parents cannot produce enough milk. Malnourished pups are more prone to disease and predation as well. Lack of food is one of the leading causes of death for coyote pups, especially in the first eight weeks of life.
While coyote pups face substantial threats, those that survive into adulthood are resilient and clever. They play important ecological roles helping to control pest rodent and rabbit populations. Though sometimes seen as a nuisance, coyotes are fascinating wild canines.
Conclusion
In summary, baby coyotes are referred to as pups, whelps, and other nicknames. As soon as they’re born, coyote pups start developing rapidly and take on the features of adult coyotes within a few months.
During this vulnerable time, the pups stay close to their parents for care, protection and training. With high mortality rates from various threats, the pups that do survive eventually leave their pack once mature.
Whether you catch a glimpse of them playing outside a den or hear their high-pitched yips, appreciating the fascinating process of coyotes raising their young in the wild allows you to better understand these amazing creatures.
We’ve covered the key facts about newborn coyotes, from terminology to development to mortality. With a better understanding of the coyote’s life cycle, you can identify what the wild dog babies are called the next time you cross paths with these intelligent canines.
