The Story of Urban Coyotes
Meet your new neighbor -- the coyote
The coyote is so adaptable that it can survive in habitats from canyons
to cities. They weren't always so numerous, however. At the beginning
of the 20th century, coyotes were found in a handful of western states.
Now they can be found throughout the United States and Canada. The elimination
of the wolf in many areas is one reason for the coyote population expansion.
But humans spread as quickly as coyotes did. As people build homes
on once wild lands, that left fewer natural areas for coyotes to live.
But today coyotes survive -- even thrive --in their new neighborhoods.
How? They pilfer our garbage cans, prey on small pets, nab rodents,
feast on fallen fruits, and build snug dens wherever they find a brushy
patch of land.
Living as neighbors can be tough for people and coyotes alike. But
as people claim areas that were once coyote habitat, mutual tolerance
will benefit both parties. This might mean a little more effort on our
part -- keeping pets indoors and covering garbage cans. But it's important
to remember who lived in these natural areas first.
Coyotes: A songbird's best friend?
Researchers have found that areas with the most coyotes had the fewest
cats and the most songbirds. Why? Because coyotes prey on cats which
in turn prey on songbirds. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that
feral and domestic cats kill over three billion birds and small mammals
each year! So, concerned cat owners should keep their pets inside, not
only for the cats' own safety, but also for the health of neighborhood
birds.
