The language of coyote

If you've lived with a dog long enough, you learn to understand their communication queues. Cute puppy barks soon translate to "I want to go outside, or we're both going to be sorry." An adult's warning of a trespassing person sounds much differently than the reprimand given an interloping fox squirrel. That's learned as you share your time with your furry best friend. You begin to read their actions while they learn to interpret yours. It's a symbiotic relationship; you take care of their everyday needs and they return their everlasting adoration and a willingness to lay down their life to protect you. Whether a cocker spaniel or Bernese Mountain dog, it has little to do with the dimensions of their body, but the immeasurable size of their hearts. They display a devotion to duty that would pale the knights of King Arthur's table. While we can take credit for yard commands and insuring that Rover practices good manners, most of the dog's communication skills came with the original canine packaging. In fact, many of their vocalizations can be traced back to their wild relatives. In Ohio, one of their most common cousins is the coyote. It was Lewis and Clark that wrote the first description of the coyote during their 1804 western expedition. At that time, the animal's range was limited to the Great Plains. Settlers called them cased wolf, prairie wolf, medicine dog, phantom wolf and song dog, but coyote is the name that's stuck. It comes from the Aztec "coyotl," though I'm especially fond of that song dog tag — and for good reason. If you've ever heard them serenade the night sky, I know that you understand. As part of the canine family, coyotes still display some of the same communication characteristics of their domestic relatives, while adding a few twists of their own. Like dogs, the coyote's version of language can be complex and it depends on the social situation. It includes body posturing, the intensity it displays, and other factors facing the animal. We see the same thing in our yard. A dog playfully growling while wrestling with another canine buddy is quite different to the ear-flattened, threatening growl of aggression, situations most of us easily recognize. In his research "Coyotes: Biology, Behavior and Management", Philip Lehner wrote about his coyote observations and how they communicate among themselves. "The vocal repertoire of the adult coyote contains eleven vocalizations," Lehner explains. While Lehner admits that categorizing their sounds may be a bit subjective, placing them into the categories may help us to understand their language and their intents. Growl: No mystery here. This warning is used as a threat for something nearby. "Stay back!" Huff: An expulsion of air through the nose and mouth, this is also a threat and is often pitched up in volume. It's often used while a group is positioning for a meal. "Mine!" Woof: This can be a low-intensity threat or an alarm. This coyote may have been startled or is unsure of what's happening around it. "What? Who? Be careful." Bark: A long-distance threat or alert of low to medium intensity. "Something's up." "I see you!" Bark-Howl: This coyote is seriously threatening. It's used as a long-distance high-intensity threat or alarm, sort of like a homeowner announcing their armed presence to a burglar. It starts with a bark and turns to a howl. Research indicates that these vocalizations contain individually specific information. It's likely that coyotes use this information to identify individuals they are familiar with and warn trespassing coyotes of their presence. "I am here! You don't belong!" Whine: Submissive sounds given by a subordinate to a more dominant coyote. "Yes, dear." Yelp: Think of it as a whine with attitude; a high intensity submission. It can also be the response of being startled. "All-right, all-ready!" Woo-oo-wow: Lehner calls this one the coyote's greeting song, normally used during high-intensity greeting displays. It modulates in frequency and can fluctuate from whine to growl. "Hello world!" Lone Howl: A howl by a single coyote which is often started by a series of "herald barks" followed by that eerie, most often nocturnal, howl. This coyote is looking for his family group, "I am here, where are you?" Group Howl: The result of two or more coyotes coming together after being separated or in response to a lone howler. Think of it as an answer, "We're here," or "Come here." Group Yip-Howl: This is the coyotes' signature call that can send chills up the uninitiated's spine. It's used when a group reunites or just before separating to hunt individually. The more coyotes that join in, the more it intensifies. This ghostly chorus helps strengthen social bonds, synchronize the mood of the group, and reaffirms individual status and pecking order of the pack; cautioning others of strong presence. "We are together and strong! This is our turf! Stay away!" This is the howl that often triggers other packs to join in; leapfrogging their serenades across many miles. "A feather fell from the sky. The eagle saw it. The deer heard it. The bear smelled it. The coyote did all three." — Native American proverb Along the way The Ohio Division of Wildlife wants hunters and anglers to apply now for special spring 2025 trout fishing dates and wild turkey hunts. The application period is open until Monday, March 31. Hunters and anglers can apply for special turkey hunts and trout fishing access online via the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, available at wildohio.gov or through the HuntFish OH mobile app which can be downloaded onto your smartphone. Successful applicants will be selected through a random, computer-based lottery system. A nonrefundable $3 fee is charged for each application. Applicants need all required licenses and permits prior to submitting their information. People can also apply over the phone by calling 866-703-1928 with an additional service fee of $5.50. Mail-in applications are not accepted. Wild Turkey: Youth hunts are held at Eagle Creek (Brown County), Killbuck Marsh (Wayne County), Killdeer Plains (Wyandot County), Lake La Su An (Williams County), Mosquito Creek (Trumbull County), and Woodland Trails (Preble County) wildlife areas. Mentor style and general applicant hunts are available. Hunting dates vary depending on sites and the length of the specific permits. Interested hunters can visit the Controlled Hunting Access Lotteries page at wildohio.gov for more information. All hunters are required to have a valid Ohio hunting license and wild turkey permit prior to applying. Applicants for youth wild turkey hunts must be 17 or younger and accompanied by a nonhunting adult. Trout Fishing: Cold Creek in Erie County is one of Ohio's most productive and unique waterways. A half-mile section of the creek located at Castalia State Fish Hatchery is open to lottery winners on select dates between Monday, May 5 and Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. One season is available for adult anglers, and another for youth anglers between 4 and 15 years of age. Up to 96 adult and 84 youth permits are available. Selected individuals may bring two adults and three children under the age of 16, no more than six people total. All anglers aged 16 and older must have a valid Ohio fishing license. More information is available on the Controlled Fishing Access Lottery page at wildohio.gov. Step outside • The Ohio Department of Natural Resources wants high school juniors and seniors to consider applyin for the agency's Job Shadow Program. This year's spring job shadow day will be held Friday, May 2. To apply for the ODNR Job Shadow Program, visit the Job Shadow webpage: https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/support-odnr/jobs/job-shadow-odnr. • March 28: Deadline for non-Ohio State students and high school students to apply for scholarship support to attend classes at Stone Laboratory, The Ohio State University's Island campus on Lake Erie. To see scholarship requirements and to apply, got to: www.go.osu.edu/aid. • March 28: Deadline for non-Ohio State students and high school students to apply for scholarship support to attend classes at Stone Laboratory, The Ohio State University's Island campus on Lake Erie. To see scholarship requirements and to apply, got to: go.osu.edu/aid. • April 6: Primitive Blackpowder Muzzle Loader Shoot, round ball only, 1 p.m. Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders Club, 8831 Township Rd. 19, McComb. Email: roadkill4u@hotmail.com • April 6: Trap Shoot, 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186. • April 12: Black Swamp Bucks Premier Annual Banquet, The Cube · 3430 North Main Street · Findlay. 3 p.m. Doors open for games, raffles, and social hour. Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Tickets not available at the door. For tickets: https://blackswampbucks.com/Banquet/. To learn more: www.blackswampbucks.com. Jim Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.