Explain why dogs aren't the WHO of this passage. Many people believe that the dog is man's best friend. If this is the case, then the coyote is his worst enemy. The long, lean coyote can weigh 20 to 50 pounds. The bad reputation of the coyote goes back to his weakness for small animals. The coyote hunts at night and is particularly harmful to sheep, young pigs, and poultry. It is an intelligent animal. However, it is sometimes smart to have coyotes around. When valuable farm animals are protected, the coyote will often free the farm of other animals, like rabbits, which can ruin crops and certain trees. The coyote is especially helpful in keeping down the rodent population. Where coyotes have been allowed to do their work without interference from ranchers and fruit growers, they have found them so valuable that they would no more eliminate them than they would eliminate their own dogs.