Coyotes: Wild and free on the urban interface Dana Sanchez Extension Wildlife Specialist Dana.Sanchez@oregonstate.edu 541-737-6003
Coyotes in legend and culture
Canis latrans = barking dog 20-45 lbs Males larger than females Eastern (U.S.) larger than Western Coyote Canis latrans Coat Mix of black, brown, & buff with black tail tip Lighter undersides (countershading) Highly variable among regions
Ecological role(s) and diet Predators Opportunistic omnivores Scavengers Diet: Small mammals: vole size to small fawns Fruits & vegetables Carrion Large insects Pet food, bird seed, & garbage, when available
Social behavior and communication Single, pairs, groups (up to 22), and territorial packs (3-7) Advanced communication Up to 11 vocalizations Secretive by nature Crepuscular (most active dawn and dusk, also at night) Easily adapt/habituate to humans and urban setting http://www.soundboard.com/sb/wild_coyote_sounds.aspx
Geographic range
Family matters Avg litter ~ 6 pups Pregnancies in OR anytime between January-end of April Peaks early March midapril 60 day gestation Pups esp. vulnerable to predation aged 3-10 weeks Raptors, other coyotes, roadkill (as they get more mobile) <50% might survive to their first July
Energy demands in the annual life cycle Breeding peaks Feb-March Pups nursing for 1 st month 2mo old pups moving around, needing meat diet + milk *Pup rearing is season of greatest demands & potential for conflict with humans 6 mos old Parents teaching pups to hunt Late summer- Pups most vulnerable to learning that humans might 1) provide food & 2)are not always scary Stay at home or disperse? Young coyotes strike out on own or join parental group in October-November
Coyote management through time Persecuted with goal of total elimination European settlement -1970s Poisons, hunting, explosives, burning, later-aerial gunning Costly, never achieved total control Artificially selected for more intelligent, wary animals Often created high birthrate populations of young, fertile animals
Coyote management through time Shift to more efficient means of reducing livestock losses Reduce deaths among non-target (other species) Target specific, problem animals or groups Reduce risk of INFLATING reproductive rate More sustainable methods to reduce losses: guard dogs, fence, herding Livestock costs still borne by individual operators Positive (?): Helping control overabundant urban deer
On the urban interface Concerns for: Human safety Safety of pets Effects on other wildlife Aggressive behavior Property destruction Disease
What have we created? The urbanized coyote High survival rates Small home ranges Avoid people & autos by shifting to night activity Relative avoidance of development (?) Opportunistic predators and scavengers Pet food & garbage as avail. NOT dependent on pred. of pets Select relatively natural areas for dens Have no natural predators or competitors Autos an unnatural but significant source of mortality
Habituation can be deadly, damaging, and dangerous Fed bears are dead bears A wild animal is always a wild animal Habituation often centers on food Decreased fear of humans Decreased flight distances Increased aggressiveness for food or space Competition/elimination of domestic competitors Disease or waste products Prey species attract predators Other risks
Signs of habituation that have preceded coyote attacks on humans Increased sightings on streets & in yards at night Increase in approaches to adults &/or taking pets Daylight observances Esp. chasing or taking pets and/or other humansubsidized food sources Attacking pets on leashes, or rushing joggers, or cyclists Daytime presence in children s playgrounds Coyote shows of aggression during day
Proactive coyote management Do not feed them Eliminate water sources Eliminate opportunities from bird seed spillage, etc. Secure all edible garbage Feed pets indoors &/or store all leftovers/supply indoors Eliminate low-to-ground shrub cover if coyote using area Fence yard, incl. 6 below surface Don t leave small children unattended if coyotes frequenting area Confine pets & walk on leash, esp. at night Be SCARY! Don t corner them! Make noise Be big/carry an object Throw rocks
Semi-rural tips Use net-wire &/or electric fencing Shorten birthing seasons (lambs, calves) Confine stock at night in coyote-proof corral Light corrals/pens Remove dead animals Don t provide carrion Decrease habitat near stock for other coyote food sources E.g., brush control near calving pens to decrease rabbits Use strobe lights & noisemakers Use guard animals Dogs, donkeys, llama
Why not just move them? Low survival Intra-specific aggression Vulnerable to predation & accidents Homing behavior = risks along the way Likely to starve, do poorly Disrupt resident population of natives Illegal Disease transmission Ethical issue of moving the problem
MANAGEMENT STATUS IN OREGON Unregulated predators, under OR Department of Agriculture Can be hunted or trapped at any time using approved methods Need hunting license on public lands and some private Must have furbearer tag to possess WHO TO CALL? Trained & certified Wildlife Control Operators http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/license _permits_apps/wildlife_control_operator_ contacts.asp Your ODFW District Biologist (800-720-6339 HQ) Problems in production agriculture situations, USDA-APHIS
Coyote Height 23-26 Length 3 5-4 4 Runs tail down Front track 2 ¼-3 ¼ long, 1 ½ -2 ½ wide, hind slightly shorter Stride 13 walk/24 trot/30 run Wolf Height 26-38 Length 4 3-6 9 Runs tail straight or down Front track 3 ¾ -5 ¾ long, 2 7/8-5 wide Stride 13-24 walk/20-23 lope/ 55-99 gallop Distinct howl http://www.soundboard.com/s b/wolves_audio_clips.aspx