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.
Red, Tex & Ember
On April 22, 2015, an adult female coyote was struck and killed by an automobile while crossing a Texas highway. The vehicle's driver, who had a medical background and tried to provide assistance to the animal, noted her large belly upon examination and determined that she was pregnant. Acting quickly, he used his knife to deliver four healthy pups via C-section on the side of the road. The pups, two males and two females, were taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Despite the efforts of the rehabbers to prepare them for the wild, the little coyotes became too tame for release and were in need of a permanent home. Red, Tex, and Ember were three of those pups. For their safety, they were deemed not releasable and placed in their permanent home in the Perkins Wildlife Center.
Charcoal
Charcoal is one of our coyotes, born in Michigan in spring 2012. Shortly after birth, she and her family were caught in a controlled burn of the forest in which she lived. She was found without her parents and with burn marks on her tail. Charcoal was soon taken in by a rehabilitator outside of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who raised her until she was old enough to be on her own. Unfortunately, during her time at the rehabilitation facility, she became accustomed to having people as her playmates and companions. Since Charcoal was not raised by her coyote parents, she did not learn all that she needed in order to survive in the wild. For her safety, she was deemed not releasable and placed in a permanent home in the Perkins Wildlife Center.
Lifespan
Wild: 8–10 years
Captivity: 15–20 years
Fun Facts