Last thursday night, Jan 28th, Camilla Fox showed us how coyotes are already out there living among us. In particular she told some amazing stories about the 2000 some coyotes who live in Chicago. What’s amazing isn’t the number that are there per se, but how little conflicts there actually are between them and us.
Since 1890, the Coyote has expanded into three times the amount territory and has come to be the keystone predator in a lot of ecologies. As that they provide ecosystem services — controlling other predators like feral carts, raccoons; controlling rodents and lagomorphs; and cleaning up carrion.
Contrary to myth, even in cities, domestic animals don’t make up a large portion of their diet, and a certain times of the year, fruits and berries become part of their diet. They are the ultimate flexitarian.
Camilla gave an intro to coyote biology ecology and noted how and where conflicts can occur: often as coyotes are protecting their young in their dens (as were two coyotes who were killed in golden gate park), and as unattached juvenile coyotes disperse in search of new groups to join. Camilla’s organization Project Coyote tries to educate the public and their governments how to better manage Coyote populations.
Coyotes often come into conflict with humans in cities when they have been accustomed to taking food from humans, and when they are sick (often with mange). Feeding coyotes is often a death knell for them. One strategy for us is to make sure the Coyotes are properly wary of people. Scare them off if you can.
The other reason paying attention to coyote biology is important is how control strategies can fail. Some scientists think that control efforts have led to an increase in population of smarter coyotes. Usually groups have a single breeding pair, but deaths of that pair can lead to a pack that is suddenly all having cubs.
Despite the war that humans have waged on coyotes possibly as many as 400,000 year are killed. Coyote populations remain strong (other interesting things are happening as well, like coyotes interbreeding with wolves and dogs). Removing coyotes can also lead to an increase in populations of raccoons and feral cats which have repercussions down the food chain.
Stable packs though maintain territory, keep out the young juveniles (or absorb them presumably) and have a more stable population.
Camilla left us with a video documenting the Coyotes arrival in San Francisco, and more information about how they cope in Chicago.
Learn more at http://www.projectcoyote.org/
SF Natural History Series 
Lovely post, and happy to discover your blog. We have several coyotes in Manhattan right now (or coywolves, as some biologists maintain). At least one has been living in Central Park for several weeks, not bothering anyone. Unfortunately, we also have a serious raccoon rabies epidemic in the park, so there is some concern about the coyote(s) contracting rabies. I’ve been tracking it all pretty closely on my Manhattan natural history blog, and have links to videos & photos of the Central Park coyote. I think human-wildlife interaction/conflict is going to be a hot topic in the coming decades. Education will be key.
Thanks Melissa. Hoping you will post your web address as well would love to read your blog and link to it from the site.
Here is a link to Out walking the dog, a blog about NYC, urban wildlife and things you discover when you’re out walking the dog. If the html link doesn’t work, the address is: http://outwalkingthedog.wordpress.com.
All posts on coyotes are grouped in the sidebar under “Categories: Wildlife: Coyotes.” Also have info on NYC’s raccoons, including rabies epidemic, and squirrels. Will be posting more soon and regularly. Thanks for your interest. I’ve added your site to my blog roll.