By: Ben B. (Bowdoinham Community School, Grade 4)
I picked the coyote because I like dogs, and the coyote is part of the dog family. The coyote is a very interesting animal.
The coyote's fur is thick and colored orangish, grayish, or even black sometimes. They have 42 teeth: large incisors, powerful canines, sharp premolars, and crushing molars for consuming meat. They have an elongated skull perfect for seizing, biting and holding prey. They have an extended snout and a keen olfactory organ.
They live in extremely diverse areas, they are found in some plains, mountains, deserts and broken forests. They live in most areas of the united States, Canada, Mexico, and in some parts of North America.
The coyote is a carnivore. He eats : deer, elk, sheep, rabbits, mice, rats, birds, amphibians, lizards, snakes, fish, crustaceans, insects, and carrion. They eat some plant material including fruits and grasses.
Most female coyotes first mate when they are about two years old. They have their pregnancy period of 60 to 30 days. In the spring they usually give birth to 5 or 6 pups. A newborn coyote weighs from 7 ounces to [200 to 275 grams! The pups are born blind, but their eyes open within two weeks.
These are some interesting facts I found along the way. Some people don't like coyotes because they kill sheep and livestock. Some people think they're good because they kill rodents. The coyote can run up to 30 miles per hour. Coyotes live up to 14 to 16 years.
Hope you liked my presentation on the coyote. It was fun learning about the coyote.
1. World Book Encyclopedia
World Book Inc.
copyright 1983-1993
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2. Netscape 1.12 Atlas
[San Diego Zoo]
Coyote U.of Michigan Animal Diversity Web