Suchergebnisse

AbstractUrbanized areas contain fragmented landscapes and abundant resources, resulting in concentrated and increased wildlife populations in relatively close contact with other wildlife species, humans, and their domestic pets, thereby posing novel disease risks and facilitating inter-specific disease transmission. We trapped and radio-collared 15 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 14 coyotes (Canis latrans) in the urban landscape of Madison, Wisconsin, to determine the prevalence of disease among these canids and to examine how these canids were using the landscape. Using Fisher's exact probability tests, we found that coyotes had a significantly higher seroprevalence of Lyme disease (P = 0.002) and a higher prevalence of canine heartworm disease (P = 0.02) than foxes. Red foxes did not select specific habitat types in the urban landscape, but coyotes selected for forest and grass cover types, and avoided developed sites. Understanding the prevalence of disease in urban canid populations is important because diseases affecting urban canids cause morbidity and mortality and are transmissible to domestic dogs, and vice versa. Additionally, urban canids may serve as sentinels for zoonotic diseases such as Lyme disease and leptospirosis.

By the 1970s, government-supported eradication campaigns reduced red wolves to a remnant population of less than 100 individuals on the southern border of Texas and Louisiana. Restoration efforts in the region were deemed unpromising because of predator-control programs and hybridization with coyotes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) removed the last remaining red wolves from the wild and placed them in a captive-breeding program. In 1980, the USFWS declared red wolves extinct in the wild. During 1987, the USFWS, through the Red Wolf Recovery Program, reintroduced red wolves into northeastern North Carolina. Although restoration efforts have established a population of approximately 70–80 red wolves in the wild, issues of hybridization with coyotes, inbreeding, and human-caused mortality continue to hamper red wolf recovery. We explore these three challenges and, within each challenge, we illustrate how research can be used to resolve problems associated with red wolf-coyote interactions, effects of inbreeding, and demographic responses to human-caused mortality. We hope this illustrates the utility of research to advance restoration of red wolves.

The use of dogs and calls to take coyotes (Canis latrans) around dens and resting areas has been used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Animal Damage Control program for many years. This technique, when properly employed, is highly selective, humane, and very effective. In more remote, inaccessible areas it is one of the most cost-effective control methods currently available. Current and future public sentiment, as expressed in Legislative mandate, may oblige ADC to depend on methods perceived as more humane and selective. Dogs may become a more important control tool in the not-so-distant future. This technique and its applications are described.

In the presence of a predator, prey may alter their temporal activity patterns to reduce the risk of an encounter that may induce injury or death. Prey perception of predation risk and antipredator responses may increase in the presence of dependent offspring. We conducted a camera trap study during summer 2015 in North Carolina and Tennessee, USA to evaluate temporal avoidance of a predator (coyote Canis latrans) by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We analyzed activity patterns of bucks, does, and nursery groups (i.e., groups that included fawns) relative to those of coyotes to determine the coefficient of overlap (Delta) using a kernel density estimator. We found that bucks and does had similar Delta with coyotes [Delta(1) = 0.729 (0.629-0.890) and Delta(1) = 0.686 (0.558-0.816, respectively] and exhibited crepuscular activity patterns comparable to those of coyotes. However, nursery groups displayed a dramatically different activity pattern: unimodal activity was concentrated in the middle of the day with little overlap with coyote activity [Delta(1) = 0.362 (0.176-0.491)]. Because adult deer are rarely prey for coyotes, whereas fawns are common prey during summer, the shift in activity patterns of nursery groups demonstrates a behavioral shift likely aimed at avoiding coyote predation on fawns. ; Public domain authored by a U.S. government employee

An epidemic of canine rabies transmitted by coyotes (Canis latrans) began in 1988 along the Texas-Mexico border. The disease spread rapidly throughout southern Texas and resulted in two human deaths and >2,000 rabies exposures in which prophylactic treatment was required. To combat this epidemic, the Texas Department of Health conducted an oral vaccination program that targeted free-ranging coyotes and offered free immunization of pets. However, the latter program met with resistance from the public. We hypothesized that the general public lacked knowledge as to the seriousness and spread of rabies, which resulted in their apathy for taking precautionary measures. To test our hypothesis, we surveyed adult residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas to assess their knowledge of rabies and to determine their reasons for lack of compliance with the pet vaccination law. We approached 560 adults (i.e., >21 years old) and asked them to take an oral questionnaire concerning their knowledge of rabies; response rate was 40% (223 out of 560). Mean score of respondents was 59% of the maximum possible score. Adults lacked general knowledge of rabies transmission and mortality. Although the majority (89%) of respondents knew that it was unlawful to own unvaccinated dogs and cats against rabies, only 23% (n=52) claimed to vaccinate their pets. Of those who responded that they regularly vaccinate their pets, 50% did it to promote pet health and the remaining 50% of respondents admitted to being fearful of repercussions if they did not obey the law. Reasons for not vaccinating pets included laziness (n=46, 27%), liability of claiming pet ownership (n=31, 18%), cost (n=29, 17%), lack of law enforcement concerning unvaccinated pets (n=26, 15%), unaware of rabies epidemic in area (n= 19, 11%), "dime-a-dozen" attitude [i.e., can always get another pet] (n=l5, 9%), and governmental conspiracy to locate illegal aliens in the United States (n=5, 3%). Educational programs are needed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas to increase the general public's awareness and knowledge of rabies.

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are now recognized as a permanent feature in urban environments across much of North America. Behavioral aversion conditioning, or humane hazing, is increasingly advocated as an effective and compassionate alternative to wildlife management strategies, such as trap and removal. Given a growing public interest in humane hazing, there is a need to synthesize the science regarding methods, outcomes, efficacy, and other relevant considerations to better manage human–coyote conflicts in urban areas. This paper was prepared as an outcome of a workshop held in July 2019 by Coyote Watch Canada (CWC) to synthesize the literature on aversion conditioning. The paper also includes the deployment experiences of members of the CWC Canid Response Team. Herein, we propose best practices to enhance the efficacy of aversion conditioning for the management of urban wildlife, particularly coyotes. We detail recommendations concerning: the importance of consistency, adaptability, humaneness, and clear goals; training and proactive implementation; and the need for a comprehensive wildlife coexistence program. We further detail additional considerations surrounding domestic dogs (C. lupus familiaris), public perceptions, and defining behavior and conflict. We hope this synthesis will assist wildlife managers and local governments in identifying and deploying nonlethal human–coyote conflict mitigation strategies that are effective, humane, and community supported.

In 1990, the Legislature passed a bill that would have allowed year-round hunting of coyotes (Canis latrans) in New York's Northern Zone, as opposed to the current system of open and closed hunting seasons established annually by Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulation. The bill generated such controversy that it was withdrawn pending a study by DEC. The objectives of the study were to: (1) assess the role of the coyote in northern New York in relation to people, wildlife, and livestock; (2) provide adequate opportunity for citizens to express their opinions concerning coyotes; and (3) prepare a status report with coyote information and management recommendations.

Context Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations have declined across most of North America. Wolf (Canis lupus) predation on adults is partially responsible for declines; however, caribou declines also can be attributed to low calf survival. Wolves and invading coyotes (C. latrans) may contribute to mortality of calves. Aim We assessed wolf and coyote food habits and population and individual level selection for caribou-preferred habitats (bogs and fens) during the caribou calving season (15 April to 30 June) in north-eastern Alberta, Canada, to determine what role these predators might play as a mortality factor for caribou calves. Methods We deployed global positioning system and very high-frequency (VHF) radio-collars on 32 wolves and nine coyotes in January 2006 – January 2008, and VHF collars on 42 adult female caribou individuals in 2003–08. We assessed wolf and coyote habitat selection using used-available resource-selection functions, and spatial overlap of wolves and coyotes with caribou using logistic regression to estimate coefficients for latent selection-difference functions. We collected and analysed scats to assess wolf and coyote food habits. Key results Wolves generally avoided caribou-preferred habitats, particularly bogs. Most coyotes selected caribou-preferred habitats (bogs and/or fens); however, relative to caribou, they were found closer to upland forests. Hair from adult and calf caribou was uncommon in wolf and coyote diet and caribou is likely to be an uncommon alternative prey for these predators. Conclusions We found that >25% of wolf packs and most coyotes selected caribou-preferred habitats during the calving season. Although caribou was not an important prey, limited secondary predation, by these predators and black bears (Ursus americanus), on adult and calf caribou is likely to be contributing to caribou population declines. Implications We caution that predation on caribou is likely to escalate as coyotes expand into this region and increasing human disturbance continues to create habitat for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which is an important prey for both wolves and coyotes.

Compound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) is a uniquely selective predacide for controlling coyotes, compared to other predacides. In addition to discussing the biological aspects of 1080, the reasons for the current emotional-political status of 1080 are also reviewed because the biological rationale concerning 1080 has been largely determined by a conspiracy orchestrated in 1972 by an individual of the Council on Environmental Quality but assisted by others from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. Many of the distortions about 1080 can also be traced to environmental organizations which still use 1080 as an issue which they can be "anti" in order to solicit funds from the public. This paper is an attempt to clarify the true biological facts about 1080 and to expose the political conspiracies against 1080 by government and environmental organizations.

This study traces how the coyote (Canis latrans) has interacted with the differing culture groups which sequentially occupied the Los Angeles basin. The coyote's relationships with the aboriginal, the Spaniard, and the early American are compared, as well as the variance in which it was perceived by each group. Since the coyote survived urbanization to become the major predator within the Los Angeles basin, the present attitudes of urban dwellers toward the animal are also briefly assessed. The coyote's capacity to survive is being aided by an increasing public awareness of the aesthetic value of wild nature, thus its survival within one of North America's largest urban areas is relatively assured.

A passive tracking index method that has been successfully applied to dingoes
(Canis lupus dingo) in Australia was shown to have more
general applicability to wild canids by monitoring coyote
(Canis latrans) populations in southern Texas. The index
was calculated simultaneously for multiple species of animals from
observations on the number of intrusions onto a series of tracking plots over
several days. We found that the index reflected changes in coyote activity
before and after a trapping program on each of 2 ranches. We also were able to
simultaneously monitor bobcat (Felis rufus) and
white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations,
producing some interesting (and unexpected) insights. In our study area, we
found it difficult to distinguish the number of rabbit and rodent intrusions
into the plots, but these animals might be indexed in other habitats. Analyses
of the data as binary responses (presence or absence of spoor on each tracking
plot), as has been done in scent-post surveys, reduced the sensitivity and
accuracy of inferences.

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are currently common in most of New York State with an apparent increase of coyotes in urban areas. Coyotes can potentially cause a variety of effects and impacts. Urban coyotes can impact the general public by causing safety concerns for children and pets and by causing feelings of grief for attacked and missing pets. Politicians and government agencies can be impacted by calls from constituents to "do something". Licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators can be positively impacted by significant business opportunities. Pets are impacted by coyote diseases and by being chased and consumed by coyotes. Efforts to identify and measure the effects and impacts of coyotes include a Standardized Coyote Incident Reporting System and human dimension studies. New York is also cooperating with two other studies researching urban coyotes and coyote foraging ecology and statewide population status.

Since the fatal coyote (Canis latrans) attack on a 3-year-old girl in Glendale, California in 1981, government agencies have emphasized developing coyote management programs to increase public safety. This presentation will focus on the success of numerous programs including: small neighborhoods, industrial sites, parks, large city and county-wide projects. Local environmental conditions attracting coyotes, specific problems caused by the coyotes, public reaction, and the role of public relations including public education emphasizing environmental management, will be discussed. Coyote population monitoring regarding behavior patterns, aversive conditioning, and coyote population reduction methods will be reviewed. Trapping remains the most effective tool in removing problem coyotes and re-instilling the fear of humans in most cases; however, calling and shooting by well trained personnel are also a very important tool and sometimes the only option. However, factors in the environment influenced by human behavior must be changed to prevent re-occurrences of urban coyote conflicts with humans and pets. Wildlife must always be considered to be wild, not cuddly friends!

AbstractAchieving human–carnivore coexistence is a growing challenge in an increasingly crowded world. In many cases, humans are already sharing landscapes with carnivores, but conditions promoting coexistence are not well understood. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are adaptable meso carnivores and their activities increasingly overlap with those of humans in urban environments. Does this overlap constitute coexistence? How do social variables situated within their rightful ecological contexts influence the potential for conflict? In this study, we explore aggregated social and land cover variables contributing to coexistence between humans and coyotes. We surveyed residents in four North Carolina cities on their perceptions, interactions and preferred management actions related to coyotes. We then modeled spatial patterns in urbanite interactions with and perceptions regarding coyotes and investigated how land cover characteristics may correlate with those perceptions. Our results suggest prior interactions and select land cover types may drive human coexistence with coyotes and contribute contextual understanding of urban socio-ecological systems to prevent conflict and effectively promote coexistence. Additional research that expands upon this study and explores spatial as well as temporal dimensions of human–wildlife coexistence is needed in diverse contexts.