About Coyotes in Yellowstone Park

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Coyotes are an abundant predator in Yellowstone National Park. They can be found throughout, but are most prevalent in the northern regions. Coyotes are often seen alone or in packs. Their average life span is 6 years and up to 13 years in the park. Coyotes primarily eat voles, mice, rabbits, other small animals, and carrion—and only the very young elk calves in the spring. Being one third the size of a wolf, they are not a threat to wolves but have preyed on wolf pups.

Wolves were officially eradicated from Yellowstone Park by 1926 as part of a state and federal effort to control predators. During the 1900s, coyotes partially filled the niche left vacant after wolves were exterminated. They lived in packs or family groups of up to seven animals. Until wolves were restored in 1995, coyotes faced few predators in Yellowstone other than cougars, who will kill coyotes feeding on cougar kills. After wolves were restored, however, dozens of coyote pups and adults were killed by wolves. On the northern range, the coyote population decreased as much as 50%. With the reintroduction of wolves, Yellowstone coyotes have returned to a more typical social organization—pairs with pups. We saw mostly lone coyotes. They looked large and healthy and as I note in some of the images below, the profile of a coyote makes it look like it is smiling.