Coyotes in the US

Summary

This lecture explores the fascinating story of coyotes in the United States, focusing on their survival and adaptation despite numerous eradication efforts. Initially targeted for removal like wolves due to their impact on livestock, coyotes have thrived, expanding their range and adapting through unique survival strategies, such as increased litter sizes during persecution. The script highlights the shift in American attitudes toward coyotes, their growing presence in urban areas, and the challenges of managing their populations in modern cities. Coyotes, once persecuted, are now a resilient and iconic species in American landscapes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Coyotes have been in North America for about a million years and evolved as a distinct species around that time.
• 😀 Despite numerous attempts to eradicate them, coyotes have survived and even expanded their range across the United States.
• 😀 Coyotes' original range before 1700 was limited, but by the early 1900s, their territory had significantly increased.
• 😀 The U.S. government once attempted to eradicate coyotes using poisons, spending $10 million on the project in the 1930s.
• 😀 Unlike wolves, coyotes primarily eat small rodents and rabbits, not livestock, as was once assumed.
• 😀 Coyotes possess a unique 'fission-fusion' adaptation, allowing them to function alone, in pairs, or in packs depending on the situation.
• 😀 When persecuted, coyotes scatter and adapt by increasing their litter size, from five to six pups to 12 to 16.
• 😀 The eradication efforts failed because coyotes reproduce quickly, and their population could recover rapidly.
• 😀 In the 1960s and 70s, American attitudes towards coyotes changed, with Disney movies depicting them more favorably.
• 😀 Coyotes are now increasingly found in urban areas, where they are safer from traditional methods of eradication like poisoning or aerial gunning.

Q & A

What historical attempts have been made to eradicate coyotes in the United States?

The U.S. government made large-scale attempts to eradicate coyotes in the early 1900s through poisoning and other methods, funded by agencies like the Bureau of Biological Study. They believed coyotes were predators similar to wolves, threatening livestock.

How did coyotes respond to human eradication attempts?

Coyotes adapted to human persecution by developing a 'fission-fusion' adaptation, allowing them to function alone, in pairs, or in packs. When persecuted, they scatter and increase their litter sizes, helping their population bounce back quickly.

What is the 'fission-fusion' adaptation in coyotes?

The 'fission-fusion' adaptation allows coyotes to adapt to various social structures. They can live alone, as pairs, or in packs, depending on environmental pressures, helping them survive when faced with persecution or changes in population.

How did coyotes' range expand despite efforts to eradicate them?

Coyotes expanded their range rapidly despite eradication efforts, partly because their population adapted and responded quickly to persecution. This allowed them to survive and even thrive in new areas.

Why did the eradication of coyotes fail?

The eradication efforts failed because of the coyotes' ability to adapt, including increasing their litter sizes during periods of persecution. Additionally, they evolved to survive alongside larger predators like wolves, making them more resilient to threats.

What role did the Bureau of Biological Study play in the eradication of coyotes?

The Bureau of Biological Study was initially focused on eradicating wolves to protect livestock but later turned its attention to coyotes. They used poisons and other methods to attempt coyote eradication, resulting in the killing of millions of coyotes, although these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

How did the public perception of coyotes change over time?

In the 1960s and 1970s, public perception of coyotes shifted, particularly due to their representation in media like Disney movies. This led to a change in policy, with a presidential proclamation banning poisons on public lands.

What is the current status of coyote eradication efforts in the U.S.?

Coyotes are still killed today, primarily through aerial gunning, with around 80,000 coyotes killed annually to protect livestock. However, poisons are no longer used, and there are greater restrictions on coyote control in urban areas.

What are urban coyotes, and how are they different from rural coyotes?

Urban coyotes, also known as cosmopolitan coyotes, live in cities and have adapted to urban environments. They tend to live longer, surviving up to 12 to 13 years in cities, compared to 2 to 3 years in the wild, where they face more natural threats.

Why are coyotes surviving in large cities like New York and Chicago?

Coyotes are surviving in large cities because they are not subject to traditional control methods like poisoning or aerial gunning. Cities provide a 'safe harbor' for them, allowing them to adapt and thrive in urban environments.