How long between the time a female coyote's mate is killed

S

Silverfox

New member
and she takes on a new mate? Some fellow (says he's the son of a championship coyote caller) says she will have a new mate in 24 hours or less. Anyone know the real story?
 
Silverfox,
I keep hoping that someone who is really "In the know" will answer that question for you. I can only guess. I believe that it would be rare for a coyote to choose a different mate within 24 hours, but anything is possible they say. I would think that a coyote would be looking for his original mate for several days most of the time. Maybe even longer than that.
 
I tend to agree with Rich on that one. Besides coyotes have a mating season that may have something to do with it too, but who knows for sure /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Im sure that it has a lot to do with time of seperation and other enviromental conditions.

If its during the actual time of needing to go behind the bushes matched with a fellow companion that just so happens to be in the area, I could see it happening. But if its during the denning or early winter, I could see them holding out and testing the gene pool for a companion with a little house on the hill and a 3 car garage. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I strongly doubt that they will practice celibacy for very long either way, but 24 hours seems a little fast.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am very, very skeptical about the female taking up with another male coyote in 24 hours for the reasons you gentlemen have stated. The chances of another male being in the area for her to cavort with, unless it is one of her pups, would be pretty slim. I too believe she would be searching for her lost mate for at least 24 hours and maybe quite a long time more.

Here in North Dakota, I believe the average size of a coyote family's territory is something around 30 plus square miles. Let's say that the grieving widow's territory is straight south of the lonely bachelor's territory. If the widow is in the south end of her territory and the bachelor is in the north end of his, that could put them 10 to 12 miles apart at the get-go. I know a coyote can travel a long distance in a short time, but I would think the bachelor probably knows that the territory to the south belonged to another male and may be hesitant to cross over into that area until he is somewhat sure he won't get his butt beat by the now deseased male.

I don't know that I'll ever get a chance to talk to this young dude or his father, but if I do, I'll be sure to ask them for their sources of information.
 
That would probably all depend on how soon you can get back to the area to kill the bitch . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I think it could be very reasonable, reading trapping books they say that after the younger males get ran out they are on a constant tear to find a mate and new hunting grounds, if she was in heat, the younger males that were kicked out of other packs would be lurking in the wings, she may not take to him quickly if the male just vanished, but if she knows he not coming home, she may take him on pretty quickly. Probably to many factors in mother nature to say yes or no, but it could happen. Now I have read that a female, if killed will be replaced by another female, even if she has pups. Anyway my 1 cent.

But that's just what I have read and some opinion.
 
The National Audoboun Society, Encyclopedia Brittanica, Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources all say coyotes are monogamous, meaning they mate for life, meaning she will not take another mate.

Don't shoot the messenger...LOL
 
...about three years ago, my son killed a female in the edge of a field, on Christmas morning. Three days later, I killed a male at almost the same spot, and he was just wandering around, like a lost pup. Neither one of us was calling, just a "target of opportunity".

Both of these coyotes were mature, about 30 pounders.

I have always thought that if I killed a coyote, that I would go back to the same spot a couple of days later, and howl, just to see if the other would come looking. So far, no luck, but who's to say that one didn't come in, and I didn't see it???

I think that if she was in heat, she would mate with another male, instead of waiting for her true love. The reproductive urge is very strong, and it may override her loyalty to her ex, if he seems to be out of the picture. Of course, if a new male comes near her, and doesn't get whipped by her mate, he will probably hang around for a few hours or days, hoping he will get lucky. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
A justified/accurate answer would have to come from biological studies of this "exact" scenario. Coyotes mate for life. If she was still in estrus after her mate died. Then I'd say it would depend on local "single male" availability, and this female's receptiveness. For her to mate back-up, in this same period of time.

Other than that, I think she would stay single, until next mating season.
 
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