This winter I’ve put in a lot of miles in MA looking for coyote dens. I’ve found one den, which might not even be active this year, but with the amount of time and miles I’ve put in, I’m don’t know why I’m not finding more. Can anyone give advice on finding den sites for coyote or suggest locations to look around New England? I’m looking for den sites because they are high activity areas and I want to place some trail cameras nearby to record activity. I’ve always wanted to do this and decided this years the year.

I started looking in the wooded areas near my home and have been focusing my search within a half mile of a water source. I’ve been looking for steep banks with not too many rocks and compacted well drained soil for easy digging. Coyotes are breeding now but don’t seem to be using dens just yet. Soon the snow will be gone and it will be impossible to track them for long distances. Maybe I should try howling when they have pups and that will help me locate the den for next year? Once the shrubs start growing up in another month it will be impossible to find anything.

Normally they don't go to a den unless pups are in it, here they do use culverts and other things to get out of the weather
Oh, best way to locate a den, when pups are present, howl like a coyote, they should answer you from close to the den, try about day break

If you find one in pup season and put a trail cam there, chances are they will move the pups.
Strange for a first post.

X 2 Guaranteed

Mama coyote will pick a den site about 2 weeks before she is ready to pup. Usually an old previous den or a badger dig that she and the dog will dig out and spruce up so if you are looking in Feb. for an active den good luck. Better off checking around April 1st-15th as the fresh digging will give them away. Look on south facing or west facing slopes that shed rainfall well and don't forget any rock piles or tree brush piles in isolated field corners. Coyotes like quiet, undisturbed den areas and will move (like stated) the family if they suspect your presence. This is farm country deluxe and corn/soybean planting in May isolates a lot of big fields from human traffic so most den/pup sightings occur while spraying herbicides takes place in late May-June. Then, accept for occasional field scouting for pests, there is no other human interaction until harvest removes the cover. Very few pastures here but that (with a water source) is always a good place as nursing females need a lot of water. Post a picture if you get one. the mike

Welcome to the forum, green grass.

Eastern coyotes dens can be just about anywhere. I can take you to 2 active den sites right here In the village of Oregon WI. One Is just 3 blocks from my house. That den Is surrounded by 4 plexes and single family homes. I know that last year she raised 4 pups out of that den.
So you never know where they will set up shop.

I have only found 8 active coyote dens, with pups.

2 dens were under very thick blowdowns. 1 of those was in a mature woods and 1 of those was in a brushy area with lots of honeysuckle and small trees.

1 den was under the root ball of a large tree that fell over.

3 dens were on large dirt mounds in dug out groundhog holes. 2 of the mounds were on field edges 1 was in thick woods.

1 den was in an overhung creek bank, only a few feet from the water.

1 den was high on a creek bank and had 2 entrance holes. It appeared to be made from dug out groundhog holes too. The 5 pups at that den would let me get within 30 feet or so before going in and would pop back out in less than a minute, when spooked. If I stayed on the far bank, they would run around and play for an hour or more at a time.

I found most of the dens mushroom hunting. None of the dens remained active very long. Most did not have pups at them the next time I checked them. The last one was active for around 3 weeks.

If you want really good pictures of a coyote, buy a captive raised one this Spring and photograph it. Most of the best pictures of fox, coyotes and wolves online are pictures of captive animals. They are much easier to photograph.






Keith

A good dog would help In finding those dens.

Thanks all for the suggestions! I have found at least one den I think will be active and I'm hoping I can put a camera out now and check it in a few months without spooking them. You guys have some awesome experiences, I would've loved to watch those coyote pups run around for an hour. I do see lots of fake photos online, usually the captive animals are way too fat, but I'd like to get some pictures of wild ones, I've always wondered what goes on there and they spook so easily I think it's pretty hard to do. Out hiking all this week with no luck. Hopefully I can find a few more when they have pups this spring and can prepare better for next year.

I have been very close too a few but never actually investigated them. If you get out in yote country in early to mid April, the coyotes will tell you where their den is at. If you get to close the their home den they will let you know. LOL That is one way to find an active one. I have had them raise holy cane and actually follow me from a distance till I'm gone. I have found that they are very protective of their home den area.

I usually find at least a couple a year. Every one I've found they moved the pups to another den. And that with me being horseback and not directly leaving scent on the ground. They seem hyper sensitive when it comes to their dens in my area.

Kansas has oodles of round bale storage areas. I have found signs of cat and coyote dens from the spring while trapping in Jan and Feb frequently. Also found dens in old quarrys and under high and dry log/brush jams created from the previous high water runs. I agree they will move pups pretty fast if they suspect invasion to their comfort area.

Surprising how little they need to make do for a rearing site. Many are old blow down root areas and ghog burrows in thickets and briar areas.

I don't believe I would put my dog in that position. Would be trouble...

They do it every day in coyote control out west, spring and summer, decoy dogs lure the coyotes in to range of the rifle, you watch the dogs n coyote interact on the way in, take the timid ones first, you can almost always get the big male to come back, even if he sees 2 others go down with a loud crack!

If you are truly interested in wildlife you need to get out of Boston and into a more rural setting where you can meet the kind of people that frequent this site. Make friends with a few of them and they will teach you so much your head will hurt. It might seem strange to some but the people who really know wildlife are the hunters and trappers who spend time in the field and study their behaviors in order to outwit them.

Exactly, the decoy dogs know just what to do.

Anyone ever find active dens before they have pups? I found this one late last December and snared a pile of males of the trails. It went dead after I snared a female with a broke unused back leg. She had the same horrible smell as the den. I could smell the den 100' away if I was down wind lol.

Kind of a neat thread.