Chicagoland’s Urban Coyotes
PDHA's 2016 Annual Meeting on
Thursday, October 13thfeatured a free public presentation
on Chicagoland’s Urban Coyotes.
Ashley Wurth graduated from Colorado State University in 2013. She is now working on her PhD through The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources Department. Ashley currently works with the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation on the Cook County Coyote Project. The focus of her research involves the connections between coyote behavior, genetics, and ecology. She told us about the coyote project, her findings and how to live with the coyotes in our midst.
Ashley Wurth graduated from Colorado State University in 2013. She is now working on her PhD through The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources Department. Ashley currently works with the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation on the Cook County Coyote Project. The focus of her research involves the connections between coyote behavior, genetics, and ecology. She told us about the coyote project, her findings and how to live with the coyotes in our midst.
The
Urban Coyote Project has followed more than 900 coyotes in the Chicago
area over the past 15 years. The project team has used GPS 
collars and
“crittercams” to study coyote behavior including their movements and
the size of their ranges. They have found, among other things, that
urban coyotes are more nocturnal than their wild-land counterparts. The
coyotes have learned to negotiate the hazards of roads and railroads,
generally avoiding injury and seldom being seen. Dens have been found
in golf courses, parks and cemeteries. The Chicago area coyote
population is estimated at 2,000 or more.
An overview of the project along with many accounts of particular coyotes that were tracked can be found at the project website, UrbanCoyoteResearch.com.
collars and
“crittercams” to study coyote behavior including their movements and
the size of their ranges. They have found, among other things, that
urban coyotes are more nocturnal than their wild-land counterparts. The
coyotes have learned to negotiate the hazards of roads and railroads,
generally avoiding injury and seldom being seen. Dens have been found
in golf courses, parks and cemeteries. The Chicago area coyote
population is estimated at 2,000 or more.An overview of the project along with many accounts of particular coyotes that were tracked can be found at the project website, UrbanCoyoteResearch.com.
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