Meeting Abstract

P3-4   -   Impact of habitat variation on the behavioral ecology of Coyotes (Canis latrans): Can coyotes and community coexist? Gurin, KC*; Renn, S; Michaels, J; Reed College kitgurin@reed.edu

As some of the most resilient opportunistic foragers, coyotes (Canis latrans) have adapted well to the growing population of humans and the environmental changes that come with the expansion of urban habitats. City environments have become favorable to coyotes, especially when there are natural habitat patches nearby. While coyotes are thriving in urban neighborhoods, community members are less than pleased by their activity in backyards. To educate people about proper wildlife management and the importance of restoration and biodiversity in urban ecosystems, coyotes provide an exemplary focal species. In order for this education to have a real impact, a true understanding of their behavioral ecology is needed. Through camera trap analysis and scat dissection, I tested the hypothesis that behavior and diet differ between natural and urban habitat patches. Using camera traps and an event recorder, I collected and analyzed footage of coyote activity in the Reed College Canyon and two neighborhoods in Southeast Portland, OR. It was determined that coyotes display significantly more resting behaviors when in natural habitats, while they perform mostly locomotive behaviors in neighborhoods. Additionally, coyotes primarily spend the day time in natural habitats and are active in neighborhoods during the night time. Scat dissection and fecal float analysis showed more live animals as prey in the canyon than in neighborhoods, and this was supported by a higher presence of parasitic ova and larvae in scat samples found in the canyon. My preliminary data are consistent with the hypothesis that behavior and diet differ between habitats, providing insight into how and when coyotes are active in urban environments, and how their activity and dietary niche impact the humans and wildlife around them.