Study Tracks 48 Urban Coyotes, Finds Natural Dens
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- University of Georgia researchers fitted 48 urban coyotes in Atlanta with GPS collars and located 20 den sites.
- The study reported that over half of the dens were in natural structures like burrows and fallen tree trunks, while some dens used human‑made debris such as concrete piles, an overturned boat, and a half‑buried tractor tire.
- Summer Fink explained that coyotes avoided areas with high human activity and chose dens with visual cover and structural stability.
- Michel Kohl observed that dens near homes were usually in vacant or abandoned buildings, indicating coyotes assess lower risk in unoccupied structures.
- The research found that the breeding season in Georgia runs from mid‑March through mid‑April, with litters of two to nine pups, though many pups do not survive to adulthood.
- The authors stressed that the actual risk to humans and pets is low, recommending that people keep dogs on leashes and avoid investigating holes that could be dens.
- Coyotes now inhabit every major city in 49 states, and the authors warn that continued urban expansion may shrink suitable denning habitats and pressure urban coyote populations.
Why it matters: City residents and pet owners gain reassurance that urban coyotes pose a low direct threat, while wildlife managers receive data on den preferences that can guide habitat protection. However, continued urban expansion may shrink suitable denning sites, jeopardizing coyote populations and the ecological services they provide.
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