The Canis Latrans a.k.a. The Trickster continued...

Coyotes are predators. They have stereo vision and hearing, and the right set and variety of teeth for dealing with killing, and eating meat. Part of their incomparable success as a species, however, stems from the fact that they are opportunistic omnivores. They will eat roots, berries, bugs, and vegetation as the need arises. This trait allows them to survive in areas, and under conditions that other animals cannot tolerate.

In metropolitan areas such as Tucson, even the full-blooded coyote freely overlaps into, and shares, human areas. The coyote is a frequent site in Tucson suburbs, and is often seen in downtown Tucson – most frequently late at night. Little wonder, the downtown Tucson area offers a real cornucopia of easily taken 'prey' for the coyote. Spillage from dumpsters and easily accessible trash receptacles are much easier for the coyote to dine on than a deeply burrowed field mouse, or a speedy ground squirrel – which must be stalked, caught, and killed.

Coyotes are also seen quite often – day and night – in Marana, the town just to the north of Tucson. Marana is a very rapidly growing community, with lots of residential and commercial construction going on, and more started every day. This construction activity is bringing the coyote out in larger numbers, and also causing them to constantly seek new undisturbed habitat. They are happy to leave you your space, and appreciate you leaving them theirs.

The scientific names of species were created to ensure there was no confusion about various flora and fauna. It's a relatively simplistic system, save for the use of Latin (dead language) words – which tends to leave most laypeople feeling a bit ignorant. But sometimes the system experiences other failures. The complete scientific classification of the coyote is as follows: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Canidae. It should be noted, however, that there is some dispute as to the classifications of some animals in the family Canidae, which includes dogs, wolves, jackals, and foxes.

The disputes over classification of the coyote extends into the classification of the domestic dog, canis familiaris, which is, by some, classified as canis lupus familiaris, which makes it subspecies of the wolf family. This second classification should not be taken lightly as it is used by such venerable scientific groups as the Smithsonian Institution and the American Society of Mammalogists. In any event, even with the advent of DNA scrutiny, this dispute is destined to be around for some time to come. Herein, as necessary, we'll use the older, more traditional classification for the crafty coyote, canis latrans.

The coyote is approximately the size of a medium-sized dog. It has a narrow face that is angular and pointed. It has long, thick, fur that is tawny in color. Its tail is bushy and has a black tip. Adult males stand about twenty-one inches at the shoulder and weigh in the neighborhood of 30 pounds. They measure approximately thirty-five inches in length: measured from nose tip to tail tip. But it should be noted that there is great variety in the stature of this animal – depending on where it is living, and what its food sources are. You can see coyotes at The Desert Museum.

In the arid Sonora desert areas surrounding Tucson, the coyote tends to be similar in size to the aforementioned specifications, and have a light, thin coat. However, in other areas of the continent, they can be twice as large, and have a much, much thicker, longer, and plusher coat. These larger animals with their more attractive coats were those that were most sought after by professional trappers and hunters.

The coyote figures prominently in the folklore and mysticism of many Native American tribes. It is most often referred to as "The Trickster." The Trickster sort of figures into the mythological landscape as something between Satan and a practical joker – more or less. The Trickster is most often, for accurate comparison, compared to the Norse god, Loki. You could make an entire research project out of just studying what The Trickster was really all about – and it would be interesting time spent.

The coyote is also mentioned in several Native American creation myths. In one such myth, the coyote kicked a large ball of mud and/or feces and it became man. In another myth, it was the coyote that was responsible for giving names to animals including buffalo, deer, elk, antelope, and bear. The coyote is also frequently mentioned as a messenger – from the Great Spirit to a tribal war counsel, for example. This is especially prevalent in the northwest area of the United States, where it was believed that the true name of the Great Spirit could not be uttered unless done at a special ceremony. The name itself was simply too powerful. His words were brought to counsel by the coyote to protect the tribal members, and to show respect for the animal selected as the messenger.

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