This time on The Children’s Hour, we learn about a canine that is thriving across North America: coyotes. They may look like wild dogs, but we learn from biologist Zoe Rossman that they are quite different from our friendly house pets.

Coyotes are thriving across the Americas, including where we are in New Mexico, and our guest Zoe Rossman helps us understand why. Part of their success is because they have learned to adapt to human encroachment into their traditional territories. People misunderstand coyotes, and fear them. Zoe unpacks the myths from the facts in a conversation with our Kids Crew at the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Coyotes are opportunists, and will eat whatever they can: from garbage to cats. Originally from the desert southwestern United States and Mexico, coyotes are now found in every city in America.

Their haunting barks, yips and eerie howls sound spooky at night. But coyotes serve an important role in our ecosystem, including helping keep rodents in check.

The wily ways of coyotes have inspired stories for thousands of years, and one from the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico has been turned into a story by Emmett “Shkeme” Garcia, illustrated by Victoria Pringle. Beth from our Kids Crew reviews the book, Coyote and the Sky: How the Sun, Moon, and Stars Began.

This episode is mixed with music that celebrates and educates us all about coyotes. 

The Children’s Hour is written and produced by a team at The Children’s Hour Incorporated. Chad Sheer and Andrés Martínez at the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque, New Mexico helped us engineer our recording. Christina Stella is our Senior Producer, and Katie Stone is our Executive Producer. Many thanks to Zoe Rossman for being with us on the show.

© 2023 The Children’s Hour Inc.