How High Can A Coyote Jump? Can They Jump Fences?

Coyotes are very well-known for their cunning features but there are very few people who know about their extraordinary agility. Coyotes are not very heavy but medium-sized dogs have weight lies between 25 to 35 pounds. Coyotes are very well adapted to a variety of environments in North America. You can witness them running at very high speeds in the deserts and mountains.

The physiology and the anatomy of the coyotes is also incredibly agile which makes them good jumpers. Coyote comes with large feet, long hind legs, and very lean body which reduces air resistance while jumping and running. In this article, we are going to explore the overall physical build and the leaping capabilities of the coyote. We will also explain in detail how high can a coyote jump.

How high can a coyote jump over fences — How high can a coyote jump? Let’s find out!

Can coyotes jump fences?

Yes, coyotes can jump fences with the help of strong legs and lightweight but strong bodies. Normally, they jump small obstacles having heights between 3 to 6 feet but they are also capable of jumping very high fences. For this purpose, they might need some thrust from the ground or some track for running. Overall, you can witness coyotes jumping different kinds of obstacles and fences in their daily life. Owing to their extraordinary jumping ability, they have also teased human beings by crossing their territories and damaging their properties, and killing their pets and livestock.

YouTube video — Can Coyotes Climb Fences? Watch This!

Are coyotes good jumpers?

Yes, coyotes are considered good jumpers as they can easily jump as high as 16 feet off the ground. They are not only good jumpers but also capable of maintaining a good balance after jumping on the ground. That’s why you can witness them walking on the roof confidently without having any fear of falling on the ground. Overall, they can maintain very good stability while running and jumping.

How do coyotes jump?

The jumping happens in actually two phases. First of all, they try to hold the upper edge of the fence with the help of their front paws. They do it with the help of abrupt vertical momentum. At the same moment, they also try to bring their back paws on the top fence for maximum strength and stability. In this way, all four paws of the coyote come in contact with the top edge of the fence. They do it very quickly. After that, they spring off the fence by full force with the thrust of their hind legs. For landing on the ground, they utilize their front paws. The coyote roller is designed by keeping all of these things in mind. They make it impossible for the coyote to grab the upper edge of the coyote roller.

Also read: Can coyotes swim?

How high can a coyote jump over a fence?

The coyote might be a very giant wild dog but it is not as big as wolves. They have padded paws and long legs which are extremely helpful in running very fast even on rugged terrains. As far as the jumping height of the coyote is concerned, they can easily jump up to the maximum height of 8 feet without having any helping stool but this jumping height could reach a maximum of 16 feet if they also get any thrust from the ground.

They can jump up to a distance of 15 feet and they can jump multiple times in a single leap. With this jumping ability, they can easily cross most of the fences, wires, and other obstacles around your houses. The jumping ability of the coyotes could also be impacted by multiple factors like age, health, and overall fitness of the coyotes.

Why do coyotes jump?

Coyote jumping after the mouse in deep grass.

Coyotes jump for various reasons. Most of the time, they jump to keep them safe from their predators. They utilize their jumping capabilities once they are cornered by dangerous animals. They also jump too quickly and efficiently hunt their prey. They like to catch birds, voles, and other small animals with the help of their strong hind legs.

Sometimes they also jump to catch grasshoppers just for the sake of fun. They can cover a lot of distance by jumping. Thus, it is important to keep a safe distance from them if they are moving towards them as they can cover this distance very quickly by making a lot of jumps.

Physical capabilities of the coyotes

Coyotes are physically very fit and that’s why they are very agile in the field. They can jump and run very fast with the help of their strong hind legs and acrobatics skills. Let’s have a look at these physical features of the coyotes which enables them to jump very high.

Physical build

Coyotes are extremely fit and naturally acrobatic which makes them super jumpers. They come with very powerful back legs and also very flexible front legs. The back legs are helpful in giving them a thrust while the front legs are helpful in safe landing on the ground. They can also turn their legs while in the air. Coyotes can easily twist in the air, jump over big hurdles, and also jump on ledges and sometimes trees. They do a lot of complex maneuvers to show off their leaping capabilities.

Leaping capabilities

A coyote leaping in a field full of snow

The leaping capability of the coyote mainly comes from their strong legs and overall body strength. Both of these things are extremely helpful in propelling them off the ground. This help moves them at maximum speed and reaches the maximum height. Their body strength along with their lightweight body frame also makes them adept at jumping.

Different types of fences for coyotes

With the increasing population, coyotes are also expanding their territories day by day. They have expanded to their fully urban and semi-urban areas. It causes several problems for human beings as coyotes could target their livestock, pet, or defenseless children. Several methods were introduced to deal with this problem. The most prominent has been the fencing around the houses. Let’s have a look at some of the typically used fences for dealing with coyotes.

Chain link fencing

It is the most commonly used fencing. It is sturdy and quite easy to install and maintain under different circumstances. It is also very much economical.

Electric fencing

Electric fencing has been highly helpful in keeping the coyote at bay. The electric fencing is like once bitten twice shy. Once the coyotes feel an electric shock, they don’t visit the same house.

Metal fencing

It is the most widely used fencing in residential and commercial areas. It is durable, affordable, and quite easy to maintain.

Vinyl Fencing

It is highly durable and affordable. You can also recycle this fencing several times. Thus, it is also environment-friendly at the same time. It shows great resistance against chemical sun rays and termites as it has been made from PVC material.

Have fences proved helpful in keeping coyotes out?

Fences are the primary hurdles you can establish in the way of coyotes. But these simple fences have failed in the case of coyotes as they are very smart and cunning and they could easily cross these fences. You need to do something rather than just make fences. There must be some layers of invisible protection and electric wires.

Can a coyote jump a chain link fence?

Yes, coyotes can jump-chain link fences quite easily than normal fences. Chain link fences provide them extra help while climbing over the fence. Chain link fences come with some gaps and spaces in the fences which are helpful for the coyote to climb on the fence.

Coyotes are capable of climbing very chain link fences having a height between 14 to 16 feet. Coyotes actually very readily jump over these fences once they know they can get a very good food source on the other side of the fence.

Can coyotes jump wooden fences?

It wholly depends upon the size and overall height of the wooden fence. Generally, people utilize 6 feet tall wooden fences which coyotes can easily cross without having any serious difficulty. But if the wooden fence is very tall and it is almost 8 to 12 feet in height then it might be difficult for the coyotes to cross without any outside help. Wooden fences also don’t have any holes for making any grip to cross the fences.

Can coyotes jump a 6 feet fence?

Coyotes are capable of jumping very high fences. Some people think the 6 feet wall or fence is enough to keep coyotes away from their property but they have underestimated the coyotes jumping abilities. Coyotes can easily jump over 6 feet fence.

Some experts have even predicted that the coyotes have a lightweight body frame but very powerful body strength. They could not only single-handedly move over the fence but could also bring with them an animal having a maximum of 25-pound weight.

Will a coyote jump a fence to get a dog?

Yes, it is quite common for a coyote to jump over the fence to get a dog. They occasionally do it by passing the fences of houses and attacking small pets like dogs, cats, etc. Coyotes eat these animals regularly while living near urban areas.

Coyote jumping comparison with other animals

Coyotes are very impressive jumpers. Let’s compare the jumping of other animals with the jumping capability of coyotes.

Bobcats

Bobcats are medium-sized wild cats that mainly reside in the North American continent. These wild cats can jump up to the height of 10 to 12 feet which is almost the same as the jumping height of a coyote.

Wolves

Wolves are also members of the canine family but they are much larger in size than coyotes. However, wolves can also jump up to the height of 10 feet which is a good leaping ability.

Tigers

Tigers are very agile and excellent runners. They also utilize their speed for making improvements in their jumping capability. They can jump up to the height of 25 to 30 feet which is considered an ideal jumping for any animal. Source.

Foxes

Foxes are small omnivorous mammals that are much less in weight and overall size. They can jump up to the height of 2 to 4 feet. This is not a very high jump.

Frequently asked questions

As you already know coyotes are capable of jumping most of the fences and obstacles you can have around your houses. Sometimes, they have also been able to cross the coyote rollers around the houses. The best solution we have found in this regard is the fence material having very high tensile mesh wire. It is not only helpful in keeping the coyotes at bay but also some other large animals like cattle and deer.

It depends upon the height of the wall. If the wall is just 6 feet then the coyote might cross it easily but if the solid wall is more than this height then the coyote can’t cross this wall as it also doesn’t have a place for gripping or setting foot.

Yes, coyote rollers have proved quite good in dealing with crossing the boundaries of your territory. They are actually installed at the top edge of the fence and resist getting space for the animal’s paw at the top edge. In this way, wild animals like coyotes could not easily reach the top edge of the fence let alone cross it. These not only prevent the coyotes from crossing the fence but also keep the pets indoors and don’t let them pass through the fence from inside.

Conclusion

By going through this article, you can easily understand the question of how high can a coyote jump. We have answered this question in detail and covered all the aspects of coyote jumping. We have also made a comparison of the coyote with other good climbers like tigers, bobcats, and wolves. In a nutshell, we can say coyotes are good jumpers and you might not stop these animals by just installing a simple fence. To prevent these animals from crossing your territory, you need to install coyote rollers for chain link fence and you may also use electric wires with the fences.