Coyote populations across the United States are demonstrating remarkable resilience, with a new nationwide study revealing that efforts to control their numbers through hunting may be having the opposite effect. These adaptable predators are not only thriving in the face of human pressures but are expanding their range and numbers, challenging long-held assumptions in wildlife management. The research indicates that in areas where hunting is permitted, coyote abundance is often higher, a finding that points to the animal’s complex social dynamics and reproductive strategies.
A comprehensive study utilizing thousands of camera traps across the country has provided the first national abundance map of coyotes, quantifying the factors that influence their populations. Researchers found that while environmental factors like habitat and the presence of larger carnivores play a role, human intervention through hunting does not decrease their numbers over the long term. Instead, removing individual coyotes can trigger a biological response that leads to larger litters and new animals moving into the vacated territory, resulting in a population rebound or even an increase.
Unexpected Hunting Impacts
The most striking finding from the recent research is the counterintuitive relationship between hunting and coyote abundance. Data analysis showed a strong positive correlation between regions with active coyote hunting and higher population numbers. Wildlife biologists suggest this occurs because culling disrupts the stable social structure of coyote packs. When dominant, territorial animals are removed, it opens up resources and breeding opportunities for younger, subordinate coyotes. This can lead to an increase in litter sizes and a higher rate of survival for pups due to reduced competition for food.
Remington Moll, a wildlife ecologist at the University of New Hampshire and the study’s lead author, explained that intensive removal can reduce populations temporarily, but the bounce-back is significant. The disruption often results in younger coyote populations with higher reproduction and immigration rates as new animals move in to fill the void. Austin Green, a researcher at the University of Utah and co-author of the study, noted that this corroborates other evidence suggesting direct hunting is not an effective long-term strategy for managing coyote populations if the goal is to decrease their numbers.
A Nationwide Camera Study
The research was based on an extensive dataset collected by SNAPSHOT USA, a national collaborative project that uses coordinated camera arrays to monitor wildlife. The team analyzed data from 4,587 camera traps set up across all lower 48 states, providing an unprecedented scope of information on one of North America’s most successful predators. The cameras were deployed across a wide variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, agricultural areas, and even suburban and urban settings.
After analyzing over 3,100 coyote detections, the researchers modeled how different variables influenced their numbers at both local (100-meter) and landscape (5-kilometer) scales. The study revealed significant regional variations, with the highest coyote numbers found in the Southwest and lower numbers in the Northeast. According to Roland Kays, a research professor at North Carolina State University and study co-author, while many of the ecological relationships were expected, the project allowed them to quantify these dynamics and create the first comprehensive abundance map for the country’s most important predator.
Habitat and Predator Competition
While hunting pressure showed a surprising effect, the study also confirmed the influence of other ecological factors. The presence of larger carnivores, such as pumas and black bears, was found to limit coyote populations, but this effect was dependent on the habitat. For instance, black bears were associated with smaller coyote populations in forested areas, while pumas had a similar impact in more open environments. This suggests that the recovery of these larger predators could be a more effective, natural check on coyote numbers than human hunting.
Coyote abundance was found to be highest in grasslands and agricultural landscapes. These areas provide an ideal mix of ample prey, such as rodents, and sufficient shelter or cover. As highly adaptable generalists, coyotes can eat almost anything, from seeds and trash to roadkill and deer fawns, allowing them to fill ecological niches left vacant by the elimination of wolves and other large carnivores.
Urban Adaptation and Survival
The resilience of coyotes is not limited to rural and wild landscapes. Separate research focusing on the Chicago metropolitan area, where an estimated 4,000 coyotes live, reveals their remarkable ability to adapt to urban environments. A long-term study led by wildlife ecologist Stan Gehrt of Ohio State University found that, contrary to expectations, areas with high human population density were associated with longer coyote lifespans.
Researchers tracked 214 coyotes and found that habitat features like vegetation cover did not significantly influence survival. Instead, the data suggested that densely populated human areas may provide resources, such as food and shelter from harsh winter conditions, that aid coyote survival. However, the study also found a nuance related to income levels; in moderately and densely populated areas, coyotes in lower-income neighborhoods were 1.5 times more likely to survive to age 2 than those in high-income areas. This may be because high-income areas with more green space attract a higher density of coyotes, leading to increased disease transmission and territorial disputes.
Implications for Wildlife Management
The collective findings from these studies challenge traditional approaches to coyote control and management. The evidence that hunting may fuel population growth suggests that policies like bounty programs, such as one in Utah that pays $50 for a killed coyote, are likely ineffective at reducing overall numbers. The research indicates that such programs may inadvertently be creating younger, more reproductive populations.
Experts suggest that a shift in strategy may be necessary. Roland Kays stated that the work can help better inform management by demonstrating which factors have the biggest impact. Rather than focusing on direct removal, promoting the recovery and conservation of larger carnivores like pumas and bears could be a more successful strategy for naturally regulating coyote populations. This ecosystem-based approach, combined with a better understanding of how coyotes utilize human-dominated landscapes, points toward a future of coexistence rather than conflict.