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Location
Saratoga Springs, NY
Start Date
4-5-2009 12:00 AM
Description
In recent years, both human and coyote populations have expanded in the southeastern United States bringing the question of what makes suitable coyote habitat in urban areas to the forefront. Home range size is based on population density, minimum resource requirements of the individual, and availability of resources; typically, the smaller the home range size, the better suited an area is for a coyote. We are investigating variation in seasonal home ranges throughout an urban to rural gradient in Lee County, Alabama, in order to determine coyote adaptation to areas with different levels of urbanization. Although coyotes in rural areas have been known to change home ranges seasonally due to variability in food, it has been hypothesized that urban coyotes may have a constant home range size throughout all seasons. We expect urban home range sizes to remain small and similar in size all year because of the stable resources these areas provide, while rural home ranges will be larger and vary throughout the seasons. We radio-collared and are tracking 15 coyotes, living in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the county, at random times through 24-hour periods from May 2008-May 2009. Preliminary data shows that urban home ranges are smaller than suburban and rural home ranges. This suggests that urban areas may provide more suitable habitat for coyotes than rural areas and that coyotes are adapting to these areas.
Recommended Citation
Jantz, H., Armstrong, J., & Arjo, W. (2009). Southeastern coyote home range size across an urban to rural gradient. In Boulanger, J. (Ed.), The Thirteenth Wildlife Damage Management Conference (261-262). Saratoga Springs, NY: Thirteenth WDM Conference.
Included in
Southeastern Coyote Home Range Size Across an Urban to Rural Gradient
Saratoga Springs, NY
In recent years, both human and coyote populations have expanded in the southeastern United States bringing the question of what makes suitable coyote habitat in urban areas to the forefront. Home range size is based on population density, minimum resource requirements of the individual, and availability of resources; typically, the smaller the home range size, the better suited an area is for a coyote. We are investigating variation in seasonal home ranges throughout an urban to rural gradient in Lee County, Alabama, in order to determine coyote adaptation to areas with different levels of urbanization. Although coyotes in rural areas have been known to change home ranges seasonally due to variability in food, it has been hypothesized that urban coyotes may have a constant home range size throughout all seasons. We expect urban home range sizes to remain small and similar in size all year because of the stable resources these areas provide, while rural home ranges will be larger and vary throughout the seasons. We radio-collared and are tracking 15 coyotes, living in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the county, at random times through 24-hour periods from May 2008-May 2009. Preliminary data shows that urban home ranges are smaller than suburban and rural home ranges. This suggests that urban areas may provide more suitable habitat for coyotes than rural areas and that coyotes are adapting to these areas.