Tracking Coyotes in Chicagoland to Promote Human/Carnivore Coexistence
Ashley Benirschke
AIP Student - Miami University
benirsa@miamioh.edu
Background on Coyotes in Chicagoland
Photo by Dylan Ferreira on Unsplash
References: Keystone Species 101 | NRDC and information also sourced from outside expert Heather Christoph, lead coyote keeper at Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, IL.
Coyotes (Canis latrans) historically have been found in rural communities where they can roam free with minimum risk of being spotted or interacting with humans. However, as natural habitats have dwindled over the years and human populations continue to grow and spread, coyotes have had to adapt.
While other species populations have dwindled or their habitats have shrunk due to the spread of humans, coyotes have thrived. Scientists are unsure what makes coyotes so adaptable, but their populations have grown over the years and coyotes are now increasingly found in urban settings and even in large cities like Chicago.
Since the 1990s, coyotes have been increasingly spotted in the Chicagoland area. Radio tracking (detailed further in the next section) Chicago coyotes has shown us that they are still sticking to green habitats while in the city (parks, woods and golf courses) or traveling via railroad tracks to the city at night and traveling back to the suburbs before sunrise.
Does Chicago even need coyotes? Coyotes are keystone predator species (predators that prevent herbivores in the area of overgrazing on local plants) which makes them essential to the Chicago ecosystem. In simple terms, without coyotes Chicago's ecosystem could collapse or at least look vastly different than we know it. Learn more about keystone species here.
Radio Tracking Coyotes
What is radio tracking?
Utilizing technology to track wildlife is a popular and well-known way to study animal behavior.
Radio tracking utilizes radio signals, which are usually transmitted by a collar or another small tracking device that can be placed on an animal, which sends its signal to a receiver that can track the animals' movements. As technology has advanced, researchers have also been able to utilize GPS and satellites to track the collared or tagged animals.
Pros of radio tracking:
Generally inexpensive, around $200 per tag.
Allows researchers to see natural movements and behaviors of wildlife since we are able to watch from afar and not spook the animal with human presence.
As technology advances, distance and shelf life of collars and tags have grown.
Cons of radio tracking:
Placing the device on an animal can be stressful. It usually involves having to sedate and capture the animal (especially larger wildlife like a coyote) in order to place to collar or tag.
Radio trackers for small animals must be very small, meaning they likely will have a small battery life.
References: What is Radio Telemetry? | Smithsonian's National Zoo (si.edu)
Click on the picture above to learn more about coyote pup tagging in Chicago
Current research on radio tracked coyotes in Chicago
Coyotes have been radio tracked by the Urban Coyote Research Project since 2000. The project has “tagged over 1,000 coyotes and radio-collared over 440 so far, making this the largest urban study of coyotes in the world.” By tracking the coyotes via this technology, the researchers have been able to document over 100,000 locations that Chicagoland coyotes have visited.
They track the coyotes “either by using triangulation with a truck-mounted antenna, by using GPS-logging collars, or by direct visual observations.”
By utilizing radio tracking, researchers have been able to observe and study coyote home ranges in Chicagoland. Gehrt et al. (2011) found that coyotes living in the Chicago area benefitted from an urban setting, shown by higher survival rates and population densities as compared to their rural counterparts. Their ranges are unsurprisingly smaller in an urban setting, but that has not seemed to affect their health. Coyotes are not naturally nocturnal but have adapted to a nocturnal lifestyle in urban areas, as to avoid human interactions. This is likely a reason that there is such a significant reaction from humans when they see coyotes during the day, as it is not something urban humans are used to seeing.
How this technology helps coyotes and humans
Radio tracking has given researchers and citizen scientists a look into these elusive creatures' daily lives. By utilizing this technology, we now know that coyotes still prefer natural habitats even when in urban communities, with home ranges predominately in small forest preserves, golf courses, cemeteries, and other less populated areas.
We can use these findings to understand that coyotes are not taking over the city streets or living in our backyards, they are instead finding natural land cover and other scarcely populated areas to survive and thrive in urban settings. If we continue to leave them alone and practice safe cohabitation practices, they will leave us alone as well.
References: Basics of Studying Coyotes | Urban Coyote Research and "Urban coyote ecology" by Stanley D. Gehrt, Justin L. Brown et al. (lmu.edu)
Chicagoland Coyote Spotting - Interactive Map
Do you live in Chicagoland? Have you seen a coyote?
Map it!
This community map has been created to help us better understand coyote movements and locations in Chicagoland. By tracking coyotes, we can further research what months they are spotted most often and what locations they frequent so that we can focus coexistence education in those areas. By educating those living in areas with a high coyote presence, we can stop the fear and keep both humans and these keystone predators safe.
Click on the map to the left (under view larger map) to see where coyotes have been spotted in your area and add your own sighting! If you are not sure how to use the map and want to report a sighting, please email benirsa@miamioh.edu and we will add it to the map.
When reporting a sighting, add as many details as you can in the description (most importantly the date and time spotted).
Map Key: What do the symbols mean?
Expert Opinion: Heather Christoph, Coyote Keeper at Cosley Zoo
Can you tell me about your coyote program at Cosley Zoo?
We hold a behind the scenes coyote connection every day at the zoo, a program I helped create. It teaches visitors about the basics of coyotes, coexistence tips, and how to deter coyotes from your yard. They also get to watch a training session based on operant conditioning, which helps them really connect with coyotes. We encourage them to share what they learned with their friends in hopes that more people will have positive opinions of coyotes because of our program.
What are the characteristics of a coyote's natural habitat?
So many animals are struggling to coexist in urban places like Chicago, except for coyotes. They are very adaptive - found in 49 states and in any setting. We now know that they travel to the city using railroads at night and then travel back to greener areas in the morning, as they prefer natural cover if they can find it.
Why are coyotes so adaptable in urban settings?
Because they are scrappy!
As coyote habitats become more urban, what are the biggest risks for humans? For coyotes?
Humans need to understand what brings coyotes to their yard/neighborhood: feeding them, leaving garbage uncovered, bird feeders, and even pet water bowls can attract coyotes. If you bring all of these in at night, you will likely not see a coyote. Keeping our distance is the best way to help both humans and coyotes live in harmony.
If a person comes across a coyote, what should they do?
You should call your local municipality if you come across a coyote that is too bold or friendly. You should make yourself big and loud and throw rocks and sticks near them (not at them).
Wiley, coyote at Cosely Zoo in Wheaton, IL
You work with many local wildlife, what makes coyotes special?
They are so misunderstood which makes them a perfect learning opportunity for visitors to the zoo, which is why we created the coyote connection.
What are your thoughts on radiotracking coyotes to better understand their movements and habitats in urban setting?
Radio tagging is extremely helpful to understanding coyotes and discovering critical information on their movements. This is how we know that they utilize railroad tracks to move in and out of Chicago.
Quiz Time! Let's test your coyote knowledge...
Additional Resources / What Can You Do?
What Can YOU Do?
Utilize the interactive map and track coyote sightings
Educate your community via social media and word of mouth on how to coexist with coyotes
Keep trash secure, pets inside, and yards clean - by not attracting coyotes, there is less risk of conflict
Donate to local wildlife research, like the McGraw Wildlife Foundation, to help fund technology like radio tracking, so we can learn more about local wildlife and conservation