They include woofing, growling, huffing (high-intensity threat), barking, bark-howling, yelping (submission and startle), and high-frequency whining (usually given by a subordinate coyote).Ĭontact: Sounds include lone howling (one of the most common vocalizations), group howling (when reuniting or in response to lone or group howls or yip howls), and group yip-howling (which may announce territory occupancy and may help regulate density of population). Greeting: Sounds include low-frequency whining, wow-oo-wowing (often called a greeting song), and group yip-howling (when reuniting and greeting).Īgonistic: These are vocalizations used during aggressive interactions and when coyotes display submission. Some research shows the alpha, or high-ranking, males and females and pairs do most of the vocalizing.īased on extensive and detailed research that involved recording and playing back howls and yips and observing the behavior of captive and free-ranging coyotes, wildlife researcher Philip Lehner 40 years ago placed coyote sounds into three general categories:

There’s little evidence that vocalizations are used to coordinate pack hunting.

Some coyote sounds are used to defend their territory and dens and to tell other coyotes they’re around, but some vocalizations give away much more information. Researchers have identified around a dozen or so coyote vocalizations. It’s fun, it feels good, so why not howl? That was Marc’s impression when he and his students studied wild coyotes in the Grand Teton National Park for more than eight years. When you watch coyotes throw their heads back and sing to their heart’s content, they seem to enjoy it.

Howling coyote sounds