Coyotes rubbing.
 

Was going to post this in the other thread but figured it warranted a new one.
Guys are always talking about coyotes being "rubbed" or the fur is "rubbing off" does this mean coyotes are physically finding a tree or scratching stick in -30 and rubbing off protective gaurd hairs?
My understanding of the reason for fur quality degeneration in the hips and rump was from coyotes lying down to sleep and when they rise a portion of fur gets stuck to the snow/ice.
I know if I shoot a coyote then leave him in the snow I run the risk of the body temps melting the snow a bit and gaurd hairs sticking to that snow/ice layer and pulling out when I pick it up.

My understanding of a "rub" is a spot where the guard hair has all broken or been pulled leaving a spot where there's only the underfur that gets woolly. I think that some guys just use the term "rub" to describe the overall decline of the fur from wear and tear. I use the term "rub" to describe what I previously mentioned and, to me, general wear and tear is just the decline of the quality of the fur (ie. shorter guard hair due to breaking).

To me, when I start seeing the flanks getting that wooly look, that's rubbing.
Those bald/ thin spots between the shoulders are not a " rub".

Just a natural progression .

yup; wear and tear from living in the wild......fences, bushes, laying in the snow, etc, etc.

whatever causes deterioration of their prime coat......probably some scratching going on there too, and probably some wear and tear from screwing!

Rubbing is from a all of the above posts. Some have the odd rub on side but "rubbed" usually refers to the coyote fur quality during their mating season.

Bill