An investigation of Coyote (Canis latrans) habitat use, movement patterns, and mortality in developed and undeveloped land in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Authors(s): D. Wachob, S. Anderson and M. McGee

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Publication Date: 0000-00-00

Type: annual report

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Abstract: Objectives The overall goal of this project is to provide baseline information on the coyote population in Jackson Hole that can be used in the future to determine what if any impacts wolves, and human developments may have on coyotes. Study Objectives 1.Determine if fine scale habitat use (travel paths) vary in relation to topographic features (creeks, rivers, ridges, canyons, etc.). 2.Determine if fine scale habitat use (travel paths) vary in relation to vegetation types (aspen, sagebrush, conifer, riparian, or edge areas). 3.Determine if fine scale habitat use (travel paths) vary in relation to human developments (roads, trails, houses). 4.Determine the causes of mortality for marked coyotes and compare spatial habitat use characteristics of animals that were killed vs. animals that survived during the study. 5.Determine the causes of mortality for marked coyotes and compare gender of animals that were killed vs. animals that survived during the study. 6.Determine the causes of mortality for marked coyotes and compare social status (transient vs. resident) of animals that were killed vs. animals that survived during the study. 7.Determine the causes of mortality for marked coyotes and compare activity cycles of animals that were killed vs. animals that survived during the study. 8.Determine if wolf scent stations influence coyote home range locations. 9. Determine if wolf scent stations influence coyote locations within a 200 meter buufer zone around the scent station. Findings and Status Preliminary data analyses suggest that coyotes use mainly sagebrush-grasslands or forest-shrub-grass edge areas. Coyotes frequently used trails and roads in the undeveloped area when moving long distances. I also observed frequent use of riparian corridors to move between open meadows mainly in the suburban-agricultural area. There is some evidence that suggests coyotes selectively travel fences and irrigation ditches for long distances in agricultural areas. The movement data also suggests that coyotes avoid developed areas during the day and travel in these developed areas at night. The data on coyote locations suggests some avoidance of wolf urine scent grids in the undeveloped area, but not in the developed area. From August 1999 to present I have recorded 9 mortalities of marked animals, and 3 unknown lost signals out of 29 total marked animals for a total of 31 percent mortality of all marked animals. Including all mortalities for the life of the study May 1998 to August 2000 the total is 14 mortalities or 40 percent of the 35 collared coyotes. In the developed study area the mortality during the 1999-2000 research season was 47 percent . In the undeveloped study area the mortality during the 1999-2000 season was 7 percent . During the 1999-2000 season 6 male and 3 female coyotes died. In the developed area 5 males and 3 females died. In the undeveloped area 1 males and 0 females died. Overall 1998-2000 9 male and 3 female coyotes died. In the developed area 6 males and 3 females died, and in the undeveloped area 3 males and 1 female died. During the 1999-2000 field season 5 coyotes were shot, 2 were killed by cars, 1 was killed by coyotes, and 3 are unknown. Overall 1998-2000 9 coyotes were shot 3 were killed by cars, 1 died of natural causes, and 1 was killed by coyotes. The overall leading cause of mortality was being shot 63 percent followed by being hit by a car 25 percent , and being killed by coyotes 13 percent . The human caused mortalities made up 88 percent of the overall mortalities during the period from September 1999 to August 2000. During the May 1998 to August 1999 research season human caused mortalities made up 80 percent of all mortalities, so the data is roughly similar between the research seasons. Overall between both research seasons 64 percent of mortalities occurred during the pair formation-gestation biological season from 1 January to 30 April, 14 percent occurred during the pup rearing season 1 May to 31 July, and 29 percent occurred during the dispersal season 1 August to 31 December. A full report of results will be completed by January 2002.

Keywords: animal, mammal, canine, Canidae, Canis, Canis latrans, Canis lupus, coyote, wolf, habitat, migration, population, mortality, radio collar, suburban area, human activity, Jackson Hole, Teton County