Poster Abstract Details

Author(s):
Holly Jantz, Jim Armstrong, Todd Steury, Wendy Arjo

Affiliation:
Auburn University

Presentation Type:
Poster

Topic Area:
Monitoring and predicting human influences on landscapes and ecosystems

Abstract Text:
Coyotes (Canis latrans) have become dominant predators in many parts of North America, including the southeastern United States. More recently, they have become common inhabitants of urban areas. The process of urbanization changes a habitat from one that is unfragmented or hardly fragmented, to a highly fragmented or patchy area. This change in habitat substantially increases the risk of human-coyote interactions. As the southeast becomes more urbanized, there is a greater need for information on behavioral adaptations of the southeastern coyote so that appropriate management plans may be developed. This study examines the home range, activity patterns, and habitat selection of coyotes across an urban to rural gradient in Lee County, Alabama. We radio-collared and tracked 15 coyotes, living in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the county, at random times through 24-hour periods from March 2008-August 2009. The results of this study will broaden our understanding of urban coyote behavior and habitat usage in the southeast, allowing for proper management of the species.