Results

Buford Park's visitor surveys provided valuable insights into park usage and concerns about coyotes and dog-related issues. Over 200 visitors participated, revealing key trends in visitation, demographics, and dog ownership. Most respondents were between 61 and 80 years old, with many visiting the park several times a week. While some visitors explored without dogs, nearly half brought one or more pets. In response to concerns about dog waste, geospatial analysis helped determine optimal locations for three dog waste collection bins. 

Additionally, interviews with an intern and a long-term visitor offered personal perspectives on the park’s history and visitor experiences. On May 2nd, survey response rates varied, with Coyote Meadow seeing a high 71% response rate, while Trail 3 had a 38% rate. Clicker data from May recorded 192 visitors and 118 dogs across multiple days, reinforcing the importance of managing park resources effectively. These findings help improve park accessibility, preserve natural spaces, and address visitor concerns, ensuring Buford Park remains a welcoming environment for everyone.

During our weeks of data collection we found significant amounts of dog scat along the start of Trail 3, Georgie’s Trail, and along the trails leading to Coyote Meadow (Figure 4). We collected 96 (6404g; 14.12 lbs) individual bags of scat during the baseline collection period. Following the intervention, we found a total of 131 (10049g; 22.15 lbs) scat samples on the weekly route, following Trail 3 and Georgie’s Trail. We also observed that the dog scat was generally left in the same areas each week

During our time in the North Bottomlands, coyotes were frequently observed throughout the day. This unusual behavior seemed to follow a potential pattern of activity, with most sightings occurring around 1-3 PM rather than dawn, dusk, and nighttime. Their movement appeared to follow a loose schedule: late morning in low-traffic riparian areas, early afternoons in meadows with tall grass, and late afternoons near treelines and trails- likely roaming areas to find cover, food, and minimized human interaction. At least three adult coyotes were identified, mainly near Trail 3 and the MRT (Mackenzie River Trust Fund) Willamette confluence property. The coyotes observed generally appeared calm around humans, only displaying fear responses, such as fleeing or hiding, once detected by visitors. To potentially detect coyote behavior while our team wasn't present in the area, an Autonomous Recording Unit and Trail Cam were left behind along Trail 3 and Coyote Meadow, respectively. While these devices did not detect any coyote activity, they gave insight into visitor compliance rates with respect to the seasonal Coyote Meadow closure. 

Based on what we learned about coyote behavior, scat trends along trails, and visitor interactions, we can draw connections between park visitor behavior and the impacts on coyote behavior. For the effective management of a mixed-use space, park managers and their visitors must consider the environmental impacts of their actions (or inactions). These considerations are only possible with the discourse and distribution of education, such as informational signage, i.e., maps for the Coyote Meadow closure, or visitor surveys, to test efficacy, understand knowledge gaps, and create opportunities for conversations where our team can interpret responses and inform potential solutions (recommendations).