Eastern Coyote
This is a really good article on the Eastern Coyote, written by: Dan Bogan, Ph.D., in the magazine; New York State Conservationist. June 2014 edition. You can link here to the entire article: Rise of the Eastern Coyote. It is an animal that has always fascinated me. How it adapts to the ever changing landscape and human infringement of it's territory. Now and then we hear the sound of yips and howls descending into the valley from up on the mountains. And even more infrequently we are treated to a sighting. But you can be sure it is a brief encounter as they don't like the company of humans. My husband and I are fortunate to live in an area that is used by wildlife as a crossing intersection, so to speak. We walk it daily in the summer and as often as possible in the winter with our little terrier Molly. It is along this corridor that leads from the mountains to the river that we encounter traces of wildlife such as foot prints, scat and occasional sightings.
Coyotes in New York
Historically, wolves inhabited the heavily forested lands of New York. However, as increased logging and farming claimed more habitat, and unregulated hunting and trapping took more wolves (bounties were paid for wolves into the early 1800s), wolf numbers dropped until they were no longer found in the Northeast. Such drastic changes to the state's habitat and wildlife community primed the stage for an unexpected animal-the coyote-to fill the niche left vacant by wolves.
Coyotes were once limited to Midwestern prairies and the arid southwest. However, today, they can be found from the boreal forests of North America to nearly the Panama Canal and from coast to coast. Throughout their range, they inhabit numerous biomes (or ecological communities), including deserts, grasslands and forests-no small feat for any animal. This remarkable range expansion is an increase of 40% from their historic range, and is primarily in response to anthropogenic (manmade) changes. No other carnivore has experienced as large a range expansion.
While coyotes are now widespread in New York, they only recently became established here. Interestingly, they did not enter from the west as one might expect, but instead passed through Canada north of the Great Lakes before turning south into northern New York. By the late 1930s and '40s, coyotes were established in Franklin County, and by the 1980s, coyotes were found throughout the state except in New York City and on Long Island.
In the 1990s, coyotes continued spreading, quietly backfilling suburban areas passed over during their initial surge. Today, sightings of coyotes make headlines in many cities and suburbs. Coyotes even inhabit the Bronx; the only New York City borough attached to upstate and the mainland. On occasion, these stealthy explorers permeate other island boroughs, and when detected in places such as Central Park or the campus of Columbia University, their presence garners a hail of media and police attention. In 2011, someone photographed a coyote in Queens, and in 2013, black-and-white photographic evidence showed a solitary coyote as far east as Bridgehampton, Long Island. Hustling to keep pace with this elusive canid, biologists are preparing to study the implications of a new carnivore on Long Island: the last frontier for coyotes in New York, and the last large landmass unoccupied by coyotes in the east.
Historically, wolves inhabited the heavily forested lands of New York. However, as increased logging and farming claimed more habitat, and unregulated hunting and trapping took more wolves (bounties were paid for wolves into the early 1800s), wolf numbers dropped until they were no longer found in the Northeast. Such drastic changes to the state's habitat and wildlife community primed the stage for an unexpected animal-the coyote-to fill the niche left vacant by wolves.
Coyotes were once limited to Midwestern prairies and the arid southwest. However, today, they can be found from the boreal forests of North America to nearly the Panama Canal and from coast to coast. Throughout their range, they inhabit numerous biomes (or ecological communities), including deserts, grasslands and forests-no small feat for any animal. This remarkable range expansion is an increase of 40% from their historic range, and is primarily in response to anthropogenic (manmade) changes. No other carnivore has experienced as large a range expansion.
While coyotes are now widespread in New York, they only recently became established here. Interestingly, they did not enter from the west as one might expect, but instead passed through Canada north of the Great Lakes before turning south into northern New York. By the late 1930s and '40s, coyotes were established in Franklin County, and by the 1980s, coyotes were found throughout the state except in New York City and on Long Island.
In the 1990s, coyotes continued spreading, quietly backfilling suburban areas passed over during their initial surge. Today, sightings of coyotes make headlines in many cities and suburbs. Coyotes even inhabit the Bronx; the only New York City borough attached to upstate and the mainland. On occasion, these stealthy explorers permeate other island boroughs, and when detected in places such as Central Park or the campus of Columbia University, their presence garners a hail of media and police attention. In 2011, someone photographed a coyote in Queens, and in 2013, black-and-white photographic evidence showed a solitary coyote as far east as Bridgehampton, Long Island. Hustling to keep pace with this elusive canid, biologists are preparing to study the implications of a new carnivore on Long Island: the last frontier for coyotes in New York, and the last large landmass unoccupied by coyotes in the east.
Evolving Ecology of Eastern Coyotes
Not long after coyotes appeared in New York, researchers noticed that these arrivals differed slightly from western coyotes in size and appearance. Using genetic analyses, researchers found that eastern coyotes are roughly 64% western coyote, 26% wolf ancestry and 10% domestic dog.
Weighing approximately 24 to 45 lbs., adult eastern coyotes are heavier than western coyotes (20 to 25 lbs.), yet much smaller than wolves (50 to 100 lbs.). Eastern coyotes have long ears and slender bodies. They have broader heads and larger teeth than western coyotes. These factors may contribute to coyotes' success filling the niche formerly occupied by wolves.
Once dominated by rodents, diets of New York coyotes are now dominated by deer. Although people suspect coyotes kill lots of deer, recent research conducted by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry biologists has shown that the majority of adult deer coyotes eat are scavenged. Tracking coyotes with GPS collars, researchers located 62 deer carcasses visited by coyotes. Cause of death was determined in 39 of the carcasses: 36 were scavenged, and only 3 were killed by coyotes.
In fact, less than 10% of adult deer mortalities are caused by coyotes. Further, deer killed by coyotes had previous injuries, perhaps making it easier for coyotes to kill them. Coyotes did kill fawns during spring and summer; around one-third of coyotes' summer diet consists of fawns. However, coyotes in the Adirondacks currently consume more beaver than fawns.These results are preliminary; researchers are finalizing their study of the impacts of coyote predation on adult white-tailed deer and fawn recruitment.
Not long after coyotes appeared in New York, researchers noticed that these arrivals differed slightly from western coyotes in size and appearance. Using genetic analyses, researchers found that eastern coyotes are roughly 64% western coyote, 26% wolf ancestry and 10% domestic dog.
Weighing approximately 24 to 45 lbs., adult eastern coyotes are heavier than western coyotes (20 to 25 lbs.), yet much smaller than wolves (50 to 100 lbs.). Eastern coyotes have long ears and slender bodies. They have broader heads and larger teeth than western coyotes. These factors may contribute to coyotes' success filling the niche formerly occupied by wolves.
Once dominated by rodents, diets of New York coyotes are now dominated by deer. Although people suspect coyotes kill lots of deer, recent research conducted by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry biologists has shown that the majority of adult deer coyotes eat are scavenged. Tracking coyotes with GPS collars, researchers located 62 deer carcasses visited by coyotes. Cause of death was determined in 39 of the carcasses: 36 were scavenged, and only 3 were killed by coyotes.
In fact, less than 10% of adult deer mortalities are caused by coyotes. Further, deer killed by coyotes had previous injuries, perhaps making it easier for coyotes to kill them. Coyotes did kill fawns during spring and summer; around one-third of coyotes' summer diet consists of fawns. However, coyotes in the Adirondacks currently consume more beaver than fawns.These results are preliminary; researchers are finalizing their study of the impacts of coyote predation on adult white-tailed deer and fawn recruitment.
Reduce Risk
People and coyotes can coexist. Conflicts between coyotes and people can occur year round, but are most likely to occur in spring when coyotes are denning, feeding their young, and are exhibiting territorial behavior against other coyotes and domestic dogs.
Here are some recommended steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of conflicts from occurring:
Don't feed coyotes. Discourage others from doing so. Unintentional food sources attract coyotes and other wildlife and increase risks to people and pets: don't feed pets outside; make garbage inaccessible; fence or enclose compost piles.
Don't feed birds. Concentrations of birds and rodents that come to feeders can attract coyotes.
Don't allow coyotes to approach people or pets. Teach children to appreciate coyotes from
a distance.
If you see a coyote, be aggressive. Stand tall and hold arms out to look large. If a coyote lingers, make loud noises, wave your arms, and throw sticks and stones.
Don't allow pets to run free. Supervise all outdoor pets to keep them safe from coyotes and other wildlife, especially at sunset and at night.
Contact your local police department and DEC regional office for assistance if you notice that coyotes are exhibiting "bold" behavior or have little or no fear of people. (Simple occasional sightings are not necessarily evidence of bold behavior.)
People and coyotes can coexist. Conflicts between coyotes and people can occur year round, but are most likely to occur in spring when coyotes are denning, feeding their young, and are exhibiting territorial behavior against other coyotes and domestic dogs.
Here are some recommended steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of conflicts from occurring:
Don't feed coyotes. Discourage others from doing so. Unintentional food sources attract coyotes and other wildlife and increase risks to people and pets: don't feed pets outside; make garbage inaccessible; fence or enclose compost piles.
Don't feed birds. Concentrations of birds and rodents that come to feeders can attract coyotes.
Don't allow coyotes to approach people or pets. Teach children to appreciate coyotes from
a distance.
If you see a coyote, be aggressive. Stand tall and hold arms out to look large. If a coyote lingers, make loud noises, wave your arms, and throw sticks and stones.
Don't allow pets to run free. Supervise all outdoor pets to keep them safe from coyotes and other wildlife, especially at sunset and at night.
Contact your local police department and DEC regional office for assistance if you notice that coyotes are exhibiting "bold" behavior or have little or no fear of people. (Simple occasional sightings are not necessarily evidence of bold behavior.)