Dispersal

[snafu]

I prefer to call it, scattering of the yearlings. Many have pondered why & when this occurs. My own observations. I believe the trigger for this event. Happens when the adult female comes into heat. I have witnessed this event twice, by a pr of (local) older territorial coyotes. Both times it occurred during the 3rd wk in December. So I concluded she must be in heat.

As for the Red Fox. They not being a "family group"(some call them pack) animal. Being a singular (non-grouping) canine. Red Fox yearlings scatter much earlier than do the coyotes. Also what I have seen. Is Red Fox den, in clusters. Being tolerant of neighboring nearby den sites. I believe these cluster den sites. Are from young females from the old male. From the previous litters.

[FinsnFur]

I cant see the pics [emoji6]

Sent from my SCH-R830 using Tapatalk

[snafu]

No pics. However a few yrs ago. I did have some pics. Of a pr of coyotes submitting all of their yearlings. We had a computer virus. Et we lost all of my old predator pics.  The coyote family group was around 1/2 mile away on the move. They stopped amongst some open rolling foot hills. Then they lingered around for awhile. Playing, sniffing, scanning the terrain & horsing around.

Soon the adult male walked up to each pup. Took them by the scruff of the neck. Then he pushed their front torso down onto the snow. Holding them there for a short while. All the while the adult female sat nearby & watched.

When the male got to the "only" female in the litter of 5. She came over to the male & their pup. Then they both took that pup by the scruff of the neck. Then pushed her down onto the snow & held her there. All of the pups hind legs remained standing.

The following days. All of their pups had scattered. Time being the 3rd wk in December. I observe & learn. Rather than just go for the kill. A dead coyote never taught me much of anything.

Also what was else was interesting as per usual. The old female was the last to lay her head down when they all bedded down in a general area. Adult females being the wariest in my observations. Time & time again.

[Okanagan]

Interesting!

[snafu]

The older adult pr of coyotes. I spoke of above. On another hunt day 2yrs apart from the hunt/(dispersal) mentioned above. I seen them again with their yearling pups. That day also occurred during the 3rd wk of December. The following hunt days after that. Their yearlings were gone.

So with those two observations. I concluded that old female came into heat that wk. What else could've possibly been the  dispersal trigger, I thought. Anyway I can't prove it one way or the other. Other than the two various litters were scattered on the 3rd wk of December.

Obviously various females don't come into heat at the same exact time. I believe there is atleast a 2+ month window for most breeding to take place. Where most females come into heat. However there are rare anomalies that do happen in nature.

One occurred during the 1st half of October. I became aware of a litter of young Reds. They were still quite small in October. I (est) them to be around 8-9ish wks old. I've only seen that once in my life. Odd, very odd.

[Okanagan]

Fascinating observations!  thank you.

FWIW in south central British Columbia and WA State the peak of the coyote mating season seems to be in February, but that may be merely appearance due to how much daylight activity people see.   The Okanagan Indian word for the month of February means  "the month when coyotes run on top of the snow."    That's a descriptor of snow and weather conditions plus animal behavior.   In Feb. it is common to see coyotes running around in the open all day long, especially on frozen lakes, often in pairs or scattered clusters.  Maybe most are already paired up by Feb. though from fights and watching coyotes follow and threaten one another, not all of it is settled.

Feb. also seemed to be the mating season for coyotes in S. California when I hunted them there, though as you have said, with most animals there is considerable extension of females in heat a month or two early and late from the peak time. 

FWIW Feb. is also the primary bobcat mating season in the same areas but I have seen bobcats in midday acting like mating season was on as early as Dec. 26.

[snafu]

I have found on (average). Red Fox tend to start breeding in the latter part of November. The coyotes around a month later. Peak time for both (est) is the 3rd wk in January. Around that time & shortly afterwards. That is when I have seen groups of 3-5 coyotes running together. Two yrs ago I watched 3 fox litters at the same time. Best I could est. Their age variance ranged a month to 6wks apart. From the youngest to the oldest litter.

I read some time back. Coyotes are so social. When a group makes a large kill. They'll call in neighboring coyotes for the feast. I laughed at that one Haha! I didn't know coyotes were liberal/socialists? Whudja know

[snafu]

However, IF the neighboring coyotes ARE related. I can agree that may/could happen. Like any other territorial canine. They are just that, territorial. Not readily inviting/allowing non-related canines onto their territory & sharing the food source.

[FinsnFur]

Very interesting, I agree.
Snafu how much time you got under your belt studying coyotes to gather info like this? I think you got an encyclopedia in your head and I would love to read it.

[Okanagan]

Very interesting, I agree.
Snafu how much time you got under your belt studying coyotes to gather info like this? I think you got an encyclopedia in your head and I would love to read it.

Ditto dat!

[snafu]

This is my 50th yr Jim. No encyclopedia, just a bunch of useless canine info. I started out on the Reds, then merged into the coyotes. Unfortunately my boy never got into any hunting. Thus, I tend to yap when there is an opening. Beats talking to myself? 

[snafu]

I've read much about canine predators from hunters on various sites. One thing I'll never agree with. Is a coyote or a Red Fox doesn't use their old den. Other than for rearing their pups. I've seen just the opposite for many yrs.

Both canines will or may use their old den on/off all yr around. Also it is not too rare that either canine will not have more than one den site.

In the Fall & Spring specifically. Both canines do what I call a "clean-out" They'll clean/dig out their den. Mainly the entrance hole & tunnel. I've also seen where they may also add another tunnel & an exit or two. However not all of them will do a clean-out, but most will. If that den site is active. Dens that don't get clean-outs. Tend to get vacated that yr.

[Okanagan]

snafu, I know of two coyote dens that produced pups for several years. 

Also, one Fall when hunting elk (probably in October) I came on a fresh fox track in snow and within a few steps of following it saw where it had gone into a den hole under a big stump.  Not sure what possessed me but I crawled into the den up to my hips and let my eyes adjust to the near dark.  The tunnel curved out of sight just a few feet farther and nothing interesting was within view.  Then I got to thinking about what I would do if the fox came at me and I backed out. 

Anyhoo, two examples to confirm multiple use of a den and going into it at times other than spring pup time.  A friend wounded a coyote that crawled into a den and died in Nov. or Dec. 

Keep posting.  Good stuff.

[snafu]

I've seen during the latter part of the yr. The yearlings often hang around the outer area of their parents territory. At one time I had some pics, showing this.

Some say border areas separating two territorial pairs territory, overlaps. I call that area, a buffer area. From what I have seen a certain degree of trespassing is tolerated in those areas. In my old hunt area. This buffer area ranged around 1/4 mile +/- in width. From what I figured form observing territorial pr's over consecutive yrs.

I've seen trespasser & single nomadic/(unknown origin) coyotes. Wonder deep onto another pr's territory. I've seen the local pr see that trespasser & advance in its direction. The trespasser quickly leaving, as it took short pauses to look back. Trespassing coyotes are very wary. Often looking 360, when they are bedded down. However the local territory coyotes do not typically do this. They scan to their cross & down-wind areas mainly. Unless of course they hear or scent something to their up-wind. Which is often hid from their view.

My fascination with Red Fox & coyote behaviors has consumed me since I was young. As the yrs rolled on & I observed more, I killed less. I didn't care so much for the kill, as I did to learn what I could.

[snafu]

I've had the opportunity. To watch 3 coyotes over the yrs clean-out or dig a den hole. These observations were around 3/8 -1/2 mile away. Two of those digs were done by the male from the pr. As the females sat nearby. The other dig I didn't hang around long enough to determine. Whether the digger was a male or not.

With my limited observations on this matter. I believe the female initiates where she wants her den. Then the male does the main excavating. (See humans) female boss...male laborer as per usual?

As for Red Fox, the female does the digging/clean-outs. From what I have observed.

Not to say my limited observations are the total end all truth of the matter. Just my observations/opinions is all.