Tracking the movements of coyotes in urban areas reveals that these creatures often prefer natural environments. However, recent research indicates that the presence of humans in city life significantly influences the survival of urban coyotes more than their natural surroundings do.
Tracking the movements of coyotes in urban areas reveals that these animals often frequent natural environments. Nonetheless, recent research indicates that human presence in city life has a more substantial effect on the survival of urban coyotes compared to their natural surroundings.
Researchers studying coyotes in Chicago discovered that habitats rich in vegetation with minimal human presence did not positively or negatively impact coyote survival. Instead, regions with a high human population corresponded with longer lifespans for coyotes.
“What we uncovered was intriguing—societal factors appear to play a much more crucial role in determining coyote lifespan than environmental factors,” explained Emily Zepeda, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar at The Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources.
“We also identified a beneficial relationship between human population density and survival duration. This was unexpected since we generally associate human activities with negative impacts on wildlife.”
The study has recently been published in the journal Urban Ecosystems.
The research data stems from the Urban Coyote Research Project, a long-term initiative examining coyote ecology in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, led by Stan Gehrt, a wildlife ecologist at Ohio State and the study’s senior author.
Gehrt and his team estimate that around 4,000 coyotes inhabit Chicago, one of North America’s largest metropolitan regions. Previous studies on coyote behavior, genetics, and biology hinted at how these animals adapt to urban settings. The latest research aimed to pinpoint various urban factors that either support or hinder coyote survival.
The study analyzed tracking data from 214 coyotes in the Chicago area between 2013 and 2021. The length of time each coyote was tracked served as a measure of its longevity.
The researchers explored various potential influences on urban coyote survival, combining both societal and environmental aspects: median income of neighborhoods, population density and demographics; as well as road density, parks, golf courses, and “disturbed” areas characterized by infrastructure and unoccupied land. These factors were assessed statistically alongside the coyote tracking data to explore their impact on survival.
The findings demonstrated a positive correlation between increased human population density and coyote survival rates, revealing that survival was typically lower in areas with fewer humans. Additionally, there was a notable interaction between neighborhood income and density: in low-density human areas, median income had little effect on survival, likely due to the lack of human presence. Conversely, in moderate to high-density areas, coyotes in lower-income neighborhoods were 1.5 times more likely to reach the age of two compared to those in higher-income neighborhoods.
“We theorized that increased population density could positively influence survival by providing resources—such as food or shelter—that help coyotes endure the harsh winter conditions, which are a significant mortality factor for them in Chicago,” Zepeda noted.
However, she cautioned that while abundant resources might benefit coyotes, they could present challenges when numerous coyotes gather in high-income areas, resulting in increased competition, disease transmission, and territorial disputes.
“Although there may be more individuals in those regions, their chances of survival might diminish,” she explained. “Surviving longer in competitive environments might be more difficult.”
The results contribute to the growing understanding that societal dynamics affecting human populations also impact urban ecosystems, indicating that the presence and conditions created by humans can override natural influences on city-dwelling wildlife.
Interestingly, Zepeda noted that the lack of a strong link between natural habitats and extended survival was surprising, given that “anecdotally, high coyote densities are typically observed in nature preserves and urban parks—the areas where you often spot them if at all.”
While researchers can only speculate on the reasons, Zepeda suggested that it might be due to the inadequacy of habitat categories on city maps or that natural settings experience more hunting and trapping. Alternatively, it might demonstrate coyotes’ adaptability.
“It could indicate their ability to thrive in diverse environments, showing a preference for natural habitats, yet they can equally succeed in more urbanized areas when it comes to survival,” she remarked.
This research received support from Cook County Animal and Rabies Control, the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Co-authors included Andrew Sih from the University of California, Davis, and Christopher Schell from the University of California, Berkeley.
