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New York Suburban Coyote Study: Home >> Behavioral Ecology Research

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Coyotes are highly adaptable animals. They are opportunists and consume readily available foods. Their diet is often diverse and may include anything from berries to deer and occasionally fast food wrappers. Coyotes can live solitarily, in breeding pairs, or even in small groups. They are very capable of living in a variety of habitats, including suburban areas. For more information about coyotes, please go to Coyote Information.

Behavioral Ecology Research

The purpose of the coyote ecology research is to document where coyotes live and how they behave in suburban landscapes. This information is necessary to understand coyote behavior and identify ways to reduce negative human-coyote interactions.

In spring 2006, the ecology field crew began documenting the behavioral ecology of a sample of coyotes in Westchester County by monitoring movement patterns to examine home range size, habitat selection, activity patterns, and den-site selection. To accomplish this, wild coyotes are safely captured and fitted with radio (VHF) and GPS tracking collars. Additionally, each coyote is marked with unique ear tags (color coded and numbered) for later identification by researchers and residents. While in hand, blood samples are collected for genetic analysis and to monitor for potential diseases that may impact other wildlife, pets, and people. After the short handling procedure, each coyote is released at the capture site and then located both day and night using the radio signals broadcasted by the tracking collars.

To date, we have monitored the movements of 42 coyotes in Westchester County. We will complete the collection of field data in spring 2009, followed by the final round of detailed analyses of the 3-year movement study.

In conjunction with the movement study, diet analyses are being conducted to determine food sources used by the local coyote population. Since January 2007, researchers sample transects each month for coyote feces (scat) deposited along trails. We analyze the composition of the scats to identify undigested food items. This information will identify the use of natural foods (e.g. rabbits, deer, mice, and berries) and anthropogenic foods items (trash, bird seed, garden fruit) in the diet of suburb-dwelling coyotes. Anthropogenic food sources can draw coyotes closer to people and increase the risk of negative interactions. If we frequently detect particular anthropogenic foods, we will recommend that these attractive food-sources be removed from the landscape in an effort to keep people and pets safe.

Community Involvement

Now that a number of coyotes have been collared and tagged, community members can help with coyote observations. Coyote sightings by residents are important to this study. Please contact us directly by email or phone if you have seen an ear tagged and radio collared coyote. Please remember to record and report the date, time, street address, ear tag color and number, total number of coyotes seen, and a brief description of observed behavior.

We offer our continued gratitude to everyone that has assisted with the ecology field research by volunteering their property, reported coyote sightings and inquired about the research. Thank you.

Data Collection and Field Research Status: Ongoing
Data Analysis and Final Reporting Status: Ongoing

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