Editing Coyote (section)

===Territorial and sheltering behaviors===
{{image frame
|caption=[[Scent marking]]
|content=
{{CSS image crop
|Image = LA_River_Camera_Project_(30730459477).jpg
|bSize = 450
|cWidth = 210
|cHeight = 170
|oTop = 70
|oLeft = 130
}}{{CSS image crop
|Image = Coyote_pair_in_Wheeling_%288530485951%29.jpg
|bSize = 500
|cWidth = 210
|cHeight = 130
|oTop = 170
|oLeft = 200
}}}}
Individual feeding territories vary in size from {{convert|0.4|to|62|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}, with the general concentration of coyotes in a given area depending on food abundance, adequate denning sites, and competition with conspecifics and other predators. The coyote generally does not defend its territory outside of the denning season,<ref name="gier1974"/> and is much less aggressive towards intruders than the wolf is, typically chasing and sparring with them, but rarely killing them.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mlot|first=Chris|year=1998|title=The Coyotes of Lamar Valley: In Yellowstone, the master adapter learns to deal with wolves|journal=Science News|volume=153 |issue=5|pages=76–78|doi=10.2307/4010114|jstor=4010114}}</ref> Conflicts between coyotes can arise during times of food shortage.<ref name="gier1974"/> Coyotes mark their territories by [[raised-leg urination]] and ground-scratching.<ref name="WellsBekoff1981"/><ref name="Gese1997"/>

Like wolves, coyotes use a den, usually the deserted holes of other species, when gestating and rearing young, though they may occasionally give birth under sagebrushes in the open. Coyote dens can be located in [[canyon]]s, [[Washout (erosion)|washout]]s, [[coulee]]s, [[Bank (geography)|bank]]s, rock bluffs, or level ground. Some dens have been found under abandoned homestead shacks, grain bins, drainage pipes, railroad tracks, hollow logs, thickets, and thistles. The den is continuously dug and cleaned out by the female until the pups are born. Should the den be disturbed or infested with fleas, the pups are moved into another den. A coyote den can have several entrances and passages branching out from the main chamber.<ref name="young82">{{Harvnb|Young|Jackson|1978|pp=82–90}}</ref> A single den can be used year after year.<ref name="bekoff2003"/>