The Sonoran Desert of North America is home to many fascinating and unique species of animals, including the kit fox and the coyote. While both of these animals are canids and share some similarities, they also have distinct differences in their appearance, behavior, and ecology.
The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a small, slender fox that typically weighs between 2 and 4 pounds and stands about 12 inches tall at the shoulder. Its most distinctive feature is its large ears, which help it to dissipate heat and locate prey in the desert environment. Kit foxes are primarily nocturnal and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, insects, and plants.
The coyote (Canis latrans), on the other hand, is a larger and more robust canid that typically weighs between 20 and 50 pounds and stands about 2 feet tall at the shoulder. Coyotes have a grayish-brown coat and a bushy tail, and they are omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of prey including small mammals, birds, insects, and plant material.
While kit foxes and coyotes are both predators, they also have been observed cooperating in the wild. In some cases, kit foxes have been known to share their dens with coyotes, allowing both species to benefit from the shelter and protection provided by the underground burrow. Additionally, some studies have suggested that kit foxes may benefit from the presence of coyotes as a form of protection from other predators, such as raptors or larger carnivores.
However, while there may be some instances of cooperation between these two species, they are also known to compete for resources such as food and territory. Coyotes are larger and more dominant than kit foxes, and they have been known to prey on kit foxes when food is scarce. In areas where their ranges overlap, the competition between these two species can be intense.
In the 1981 Disney movie, “The Fox and the Hound”, the canids end up going their separate ways. But here it looks like they may be together, and it has been known to happen. This is one possibility of what we see in the video. If you have any insight, let us know in the comments below!