Date of Award:

5-1995

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Fisheries and Wildlife

Committee Chair(s)

Michael R. Conover

Committee

Michael R. Conover

Committee

Frederick F. Knowlton

Committee

Kimberly A. Sullivan

Abstract

The effect of mechanical sterilization on social and territorial behavior among captive coyotes (Canis latrans) was studied from November 1989-November 1990. Experimental treatments included control, tubal-ligation, and vasectomy and were replicated 4, 2, and 3 times, respectively. Focal animal sampling was used to estimate the frequencies of 6 social and 6 territorial behavior over 3 seasons: nonbreeding, mating/pregnancy, and pup-rearing. Frequencies of social and territorial behavior were analyzed by summed social behavior, summed territorial behavior, and by individual social and territorial behavior. I found no evidence that sterilization treatments affected social or territorial behavior exhibited by captive coyotes, but low statistical power precluded a definitive determination.

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