Research reveals how coyotes, considered to be the most successful predators in North America, are adapting to various challenges from their environment, such as urban development, hunting, and competition from larger predators. Intriguingly, the findings indicate that human hunting practices might actually lead to a rise in coyote populations.
A study conducted by the University of New Hampshire provides insights into how coyotes, North America’s top predators, are reacting to environmental pressures, including human expansion, hunting, and rivalry with larger carnivores. Surprisingly, the results from this research propose that human hunting efforts may play a role in boosting coyote numbers.
“Although aggressive coyote removal can decrease their populations temporarily, it may also result in younger coyote groups that reproduce and migrate at higher rates,” remarked Remington Moll, an assistant professor in natural resources and the environment and the lead author. “Our research found that more coyotes were present in areas where hunting was permitted. This pattern persisted over several years, implying that, on average, hunting did not diminish coyote numbers and perhaps even increased them in certain local areas.”
Featured in the journal Ecography, this extensive study represents one of the largest investigations into coyote populations. It examined the intricate factors influencing coyote populations across a variety of habitats, from rural to suburban settings. Using data gathered from over 4,500 cameras set up nationwide by the Snapshot USA initiative—a major project collecting wildlife data via coordinated camera networks across the continental U.S.—the research team integrated this data with satellite-derived habitat metrics and applied advanced modeling techniques to assess the effects of habitat type, the presence of larger carnivores, hunting activities, and suburban growth on coyote populations. This analysis provided a clearer picture of how coyotes adapt to different environmental pressures.
“Our findings indicate that fostering the recovery of large carnivores, particularly in specific habitats, is more likely to decrease coyote populations than direct hunting by people,” said Roland Kays, a research professor at North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources and co-author of the study. “Now equipped with this data, we can create a nationwide abundance map for our crucial predators, aiding both their conservation and management.”
As the most prevalent carnivores on the continent, coyotes have expanded throughout eastern U.S. regions and frequently interact with humans. However, prior to this study, the elements affecting coyote populations across urban, rural, and wilderness landscapes were not well understood.
Key findings indicated that larger carnivores like black bears and pumas influenced coyote populations in a habitat-specific manner. For instance, black bears had a more significant limiting impact on coyotes in forested regions, while pumas had a similar effect in open landscapes. The highest coyote populations were noted in grasslands and agricultural areas, which offer ample prey and shelter. The effects of urban development on coyote numbers also varied with scale: at smaller, localized levels, urbanization typically led to decreased coyote populations due to increased human activity and habitat fragmentation. However, on larger suburban scales, coyote populations thrived, taking advantage of fragmented habitats and edges that provided access to both natural and human-modified resources.
This research also underscored notable regional differences in coyote populations across the U.S., with particularly high numbers in the southwest and lower levels in the northeast, reflecting the diverse ecological and geographical influences.
Other contributors to the research include Austin Green from the Science Research Initiative at the University of Utah and Maximilian Allen from the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois.
This study was financed by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, and the state of New Hampshire. Additional backing was provided by the Illinois Natural History Survey, the University of Illinois, the Global Change and Sustainability Center at the University of Utah, and Sageland Collaborative.
