scholarly journals Territorial defense by coyotes (Canis latrans) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming: who, how, where, when, and why

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 980-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M Gese
Keyword(s):  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Territorial Defense ◽  
Territory Defense ◽  
Minor Injuries ◽  
Access To Food

Territorial defense and maintenance are an important facet of the social ecology of most carnivore species. From January 1991 to June 1993, we observed 54 coyotes (Canis latrans) for 2507 h in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, during which we observed 112 instances of territory defense. The identity of the coyotes involved in challenging and evicting intruding animals was known. Alpha coyotes were most likely to be involved in territorial evictions of intruding animals, followed by beta individuals; pups participated little in territory defense. Coyotes evicting intruders generally had a numerical advantage when challenging the intruders. Territory-defense rates were highest during and immediately after the breeding season and during the time of pup emergence from the den. All chases of intruders ended at the boundary of the resident coyote pack's territory. Physical contact between the intruding animal and resident pack members occurred with no intruders being killed or seriously injured. Physical contact consisted of fighting and ritualized behaviors, with only a few instances in which fighting led to blood being drawn or minor injuries to the intruder. Most encounters resulted in a hasty retreat from the area by the intruder(s). While indirect means of territory maintenance (i.e., howling and scent-marking) were utilized by resident packs, trespassing still occurred and direct confrontation was needed to enforce boundaries and assert occupancy against other resident packs, as well as against lone intruders seeking territory vacancies. Territoriality was advantageous in that territory holders generally had higher survival rates (except pups), contributed all the reproductive effort to the population, and had greater access to food resources. In contrast, nonterritorial animals had lower survival rates, did not breed, and had reduced access to food (ungulate carcasses) during winter.

scholarly journals Coyote, Canis latrans, Predation on a Bison, Bison bison, Calf in Yellowstone National Park

2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Sheldon ◽  
Gregory Reed ◽  
A. Cheyenne Burnett ◽  
Kevin Li ◽  
Robert L. Crabtree
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Alpha Male ◽  
Complete Observation

We observed a single adult male Coyote (Canis latrans) kill a Bison (Bison bison) calf in Yellowstone National Park. The predation is, to our knowledge, the only direct and complete observation of a lone Coyote capturing and killing a Bison calf. The bison calf had unsuccessfully attempted to ford a river with a group and subsequently become stranded alone in the territory of a six-year-old alpha male Coyote.

Could ecological release buffer suppression efforts for non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park?

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 1010-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Syslo ◽  
Travis O. Brenden ◽  
Christopher S. Guy ◽  
Todd M. Koel ◽  
Patricia E. Bigelow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Yellowstone Lake ◽  
Ecological Release ◽  
Demographic Rates ◽  
Stock Recruitment

Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, USA, has the longest ongoing suppression program for non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in the western USA. Harvest data from the suppression program, along with data from an assessment program initiated in 2011, was used to estimate lake trout abundance and mortality rates. Abundance and biomass estimates were used to estimate stock–recruitment dynamics, which were inputs to a simulation model forecasting responses to continued suppression. Abundance increased during 1998–2012 when total annual mortality exceeded 0.59 and declined thereafter. The fishing mortality rate required to reduce abundance was 67% greater than predicted by models that used prerecruit survival estimates from the lake trout’s native range. Prerecruit survival in Yellowstone Lake was estimated at four to six times greater than native range survival rates. Simulated abundance continued to decline if recent suppression efforts were maintained. High prerecruit survival in Yellowstone Lake likely illustrates ecological release for an invasive species in an ecosystem containing few predators or competitors and demonstrates the potential pitfalls of assuming equal demographic rates for native and non-native populations.

Coyote foraging ecology and vigilance in response to gray wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 985-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Adam Switalski
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Large Carnivore ◽  
Continuous Source

Coyotes (Canis latrans) in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) have lived in the absence of wolves (Canis lupus) for over 60 years. I examined whether wolf reintroduction in 1995 and 1996 in YNP influenced coyote vigilance and foraging ecology. From December 1997 to July 2000, my co-workers and I collected 1708 h of coyote activity budgets. Once wolves became established in the Park, they once again provided a continuous source of carrion in the Lamar Valley and we found that coyotes began feeding on carcasses throughout the year. Although we documented that wolves killed coyotes, it also became clear that surviving coyotes quickly adjusted their behaviors when wolves were present. When coyotes were near wolves or in areas of high wolf use, they fed on carcasses much more; however, they increased the amount of time spent in vigilance activities and decreased rest. There appears to be a trade-off in which wolf kills provide a quick source of food that is energetically advantageous to coyotes; however, attendant costs included increased vigilance, decreased rest, and a higher risk of being killed. Changes in the behavior of coyotes in response to the reintroduction of this large carnivore may ultimately have wide-ranging cascading effects throughout the ecosystem.

Foraging ecology of coyotes (Canis latrans): the influence of extrinsic factors and a dominance hierarchy

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 769-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Gese ◽  
Robert L. Ruff ◽  
Robert L. Crabtree
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Activity Budgets ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Time Activity

We examined the influence of intrinsic (age, sex, and social status) and extrinsic (snow depth, snowpack hardness, temperature, available ungulate carcass biomass) factors in relation to time–activity budgets of coyotes (Canis latrans) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. We observed 54 coyotes (49 residents from 5 packs, plus 5 transients) for 2507 h from January 1991 to June 1993. Snow depth, ungulate carcass biomass, and habitat type influenced the amount of time coyotes rested, travelled, hunted small mammals, and fed on carcasses. Coyotes decreased travelling and hunting and increased resting and feeding on carcasses as snow depth and available carcass biomass increased. Age and social status of the coyote influenced activity budgets. During times of deep snow and high carcass biomass, pups fed less on carcasses and hunted small mammals more than alpha and beta coyotes. Pups apparently were restricted by older pack members from feeding on a carcass. Thus, pups adopted a different foraging strategy by spending more time hunting small mammals. Coyotes spent most of their time hunting small mammals in mesic meadows and shrub–meadows, where prey densities were highest. Prey-detection rates and prey-capture rates explained 78 and 84%, respectively, of the variation in the amount of time coyotes spent hunting small mammals in each habitat in each winter. Our findings strongly suggested that resource partitioning, as mediated by defense by older coyotes, occurred among coyote pack members in Yellowstone National Park.

SEROLOGICAL SURVEY FOR DISEASES IN FREE-RANGING COYOTES (CANIS LATRANS) IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING

1997 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Gese ◽  
Ronald D. Schultz ◽  
Mark R. Johnson ◽  
Elizabeth S. Williams ◽  
Robert L. Crabtree ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Serological Survey ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Effects of 1988 Fires on Ecology of Coyotes in Yellowstone National Park: Baseline Preceding Possible Wolf Recovery

1989 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 174-182
Author(s):  
Robert Crabtree ◽  
Maurice Hornocker
Keyword(s):  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Visual Observation ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Pack Size ◽  
Direct Visual Observation ◽  
Fixed Station

Fifteen healthy coyotes (Canis latrans) were captured from 25 September through 25 October 1989 in the Lamar Valley and Blacktail Plateau areas of the northern range of Yellowstone National Park. Six males and nine females weighed an average of 14.1 kg. Only three of the 15 captured were six months-old which suggests low population productivity. After six weeks of radio-tracking all 15 were in the general vicinity of capture. Initially, 7-8 appear to be alpha breeding adults. Pack size appears large and initial minimum counts averaged four adults per group. Pilot studies of direct visual observation and fixed-station radio-telemetry appear very promising. Sixty-five miles of scat-survey transects have been laid out and plans to capture 15 more coyotes at carcasses in specific areas are underway.

Leadership behavior in relation to dominance and reproductive status in gray wolves, Canis lupus

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 1405-1412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf O Peterson ◽  
Amy K Jacobs ◽  
Thomas D Drummer ◽  
L David Mech ◽  
Douglas W Smith
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Leadership Behavior ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Gray Wolves ◽  
Males And Females

We analyzed the leadership behavior of breeding and nonbreeding gray wolves (Canis lupus) in three packs during winter in 1997–1999. Scent-marking, frontal leadership (time and frequency in the lead while traveling), initiation of activity, and nonfrontal leadership were recorded during 499 h of ground-based observations in Yellowstone National Park. All observed scent-marking (N = 158) was done by breeding wolves, primarily dominant individuals. Dominant breeding pairs provided most leadership, consistent with a trend in social mammals for leadership to correlate with dominance. Dominant breeding wolves led traveling packs during 64% of recorded behavior bouts (N = 591) and 71% of observed travel time (N = 64 h). During travel, breeding males and females led packs approximately equally, which probably reflects high parental investment by both breeding male and female wolves. Newly initiated behaviors (N = 104) were prompted almost 3 times more often by dominant breeders (70%) than by nonbreeders (25%). Dominant breeding females initiated pack activities almost 4 times more often than subordinate breeding females (30 vs. 8 times). Although one subordinate breeding female led more often than individual nonbreeders in one pack in one season, more commonly this was not the case. In 12 cases breeding wolves exhibited nonfrontal leadership. Among subordinate wolves, leadership behavior was observed in subordinate breeding females and other individuals just prior to their dispersal from natal packs. Subordinate wolves were more often found leading packs that were large and contained many subordinate adults.

Scent marking in coyotes

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Don Bowen ◽  
Ian McTaggart Cowan
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Jasper National Park ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Marking Behaviour

The scent marking behaviour of coyotes, Canis latrans, was studied in Jasper National Park, Alberta, during the period 1974–1976. Results show that adult males and females scent mark throughout their territory at all times of the year. Urine is most frequently used in marking. The rate of scent marking at the edge of the territory is approximately twice that in the center. This increase is accomplished by reducing the distance between scent-mark sites and increasing the proportion of multiple marks. All members contribute to the marking behaviour of the pack, although the dominant male marks most frequently. The scent marks of neighbours at territory borders are not avoided but vigourously marked. Nevertheless, it appears that marking is associated with the maintenance of territory.

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