Coyote Presentation

Coyote Management in Urban Areas

Madeline Burchard

UC Berkeley

Division of Organism and the Environment

Outline

• Natural History of Canis latrans

• Case study: The Presidio of San Francisco

• Management options

• Recommendation

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Genetics

• Share a common ancestor with wolves.

• Can form hybrids with other canids.

• Differentiated from dogs using ratio of snout width to length.



Wild DietQuickTime™ and a

decompressorare needed to see this picture.

• Opportunistic

• Omnivorous

• Packs can take down large prey (deer, elk, etc.)

• Mousers










are needed to see this picture. What do urban coyotes eat?

Food Item Chicago (mixed)

Puget Sound (residential)

Small rodents 41.8 22.6White-tailed deer 22.0 N/AFruit 22.7 43.6Eastern Cottontail 17.7 N/AHuman-Associated Food 1.9 5.9Domestic Cat 1.3 13.1

Source: Morey, et al (2007). Quinn (1997).

Social Organization

• Form packs when density reaches a threshold or when prey items are larger.

• In lower density areas, pairs are common.

• Solitary individuals are seen at all densities.



Reproduction

• Pairs may stay year to year, but not always for life.

• Mate around February.• Gestation: 63 days

• Average litter size: 6

• Born blind. Eyes open at 14 days.

• Mother often helped by siblings from previous generations and alpha males.





Source: Department of Fish and Game



Source: Animal Protection Institute

Hunting

• Depredation permits.• Mammal Hunting Regulations Booklet

– Non-game animals may be taken at any time in any quantity. Certain exceptions apply such as time and method.



Source: California Mammal Hunting Regulations Booklet

Mission Statement of the Presidio Trust

• “The Presidio Trust’s mission is to preserve and enhance the Presidio as an enduring resource for the American public. The Trust’s work encompasses the natural areas, wildlife, and native habitats of the park…”

• “The Presidio Trust is dedicated to ensuring that visitors to this spectacular place have the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of […] the plants and wildlife which once thrived throughout the region.”

Structure

• Governed by a board of seven people. Six are appointed by the President. Seventh is Secretary of Interior or his/her designee.

• Approx. 1000 housing units in 21 different neighborhoods







Other Revenue Sources

• Philanthropy and Grants• Office space leasing (small businesses, non profits, etc.)• Corporate Buildings (Lucasfilm ltd.)

• How is the trust proposing to wean off appropiations? Increase leasing.







Questions?



The Coyotes

• USGS conducted a survey of mammalian carnivores in the Presidio.– One coyote radiocollared, but collar stopped

working.– Coyotes are genetically linked to Marin County

coyotes.– Presidio could accommodate two pairs of coyotes.

Troubling Coyote Incidents

• Increase in coyote incidents in 2008 especially during breeding and pup season.– Following people down trails.– Coyotes getting close to houses.– Attempted attack on dog on leash. (at night).– Wiffle bat incident.

• Patterns: Attacks are seasonal and always include a dog.

Why?

• Decreased fear of people through feeding or interaction.

• Food association with people– Only recorded human fatality was a 3 year old girl

whose family had been feeding coyotes

Benefits of Coyotes

• Studies showed that presence of coyotes was linked to increase in song bird population.

• Keep goose and rodent populations in check.

• Increase diversity of rodent populations by ensuring on species doesn’t dominate others.

People Management

• “It’s not managing coyotes, it’s managing people”– Trash management– Leash Laws (currently not being enforced)– Indoor cat policy– Keep coyotes fearful

Reactionary Response Model of Management

Coyote Seen

Informal announcement to Residents about sightings

Coyote “Incident” Send out fliers and reminder information

about living with coyotes

Aggressive Coyote Behavior

Recruit DFG and FWS to remove coyote.

Management Options

• Plan A - “Coexistence”

• Plan B - “Refuge Approach”

• Plan C - “Anthropocentric Approach”

Coexistence

Do not purposefully increase coyote population.Allow population to stay around 4 individuals.

Take action only when level gets too high.

Coyote Management

Restrict dog walking trails during breeding and pup season.

Continue education of tenants and visitors.Educate residents of neighborhoods adjacent to Presidio.

Levy heavier fines for those who break wildlife rules.

People Management

Coexistence Approach

Make efforts to increase coyote population in the Presidio

Coyote Management

Ban construction of buildings and other structures within the coyote refuge.

Ban dogs and possibly cats from being owned in housing rentals.

Allow dogs only on Crissy Field and other NPS beaches in GGRA.

People Management

Refuge Approach

Refuge Approach

Anthropocentric

Work towards elimination of coyotes from Presidio.

Coyote Management

Allow dogs to be walked as before. Maintain same access and use patterns.

People Management

Anthropocentric

Recommendation: Plan A -

“Coexistence”

• Don’t recommend purposefully trying to increase coyote population. It would be inhumane and unneccesary.

• Crackdown on people who feed coyotes.

•Step up fines.

•Increase education of current tenants and reach out to residents of adjacent neighborhoods.

Thanks!



Documents

Coyote Presentation