Seasonal Activity Areas of Coyotes in the Bear River Mountains of Utah and Idaho

Abstract

We studied the seasonal movement patterns and dispersal of coyotes (Canis latrans) in the Bear River Mountains of northern Utah and southern Idaho to determine whether coyotes in this montane region exhibit an altitudinal migration on a seasonal basis. We used 3 locational parameters to assess whether a seasonal altitudinal migration was evident, including overlap in seasonal activity areas, distance between harmonic mean centers of activity, and seasonal differences in mean elevations of locations. Winter and summer activity areas of every mature coyote overlapped, with mean distances between harmonic centers of seasonal activity of 1.5 km (range = 0.4-3.3 km). Conversely, there was no overlap between summer and winter activity areas of any subadult coyotes, with mean distances between their harmonic seasonal centers of activity of 35.8 km (range = 16.7-68.4 km). Significant changes in elevation of seasonal locations were not evident for any sex or age group. We conclude that the movement of subadult coyotes in the Bear River Range was part of typical dispersal behavior and was not motivated by seasonal change, with such wandering generally ceasing during the coyotes' second year of age. We also conclude that adult coyotes utilized similar areas in summer as in winter, with no evidence of seasonal movements between mountain and locations at lower elevations. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 69(4):1652-1659; 2005

Seasonal Altitudinal Movements of Mountain Goats

“…winter centroids showed almost no relationship with the measures of altitudinal movement (Table 1). Horizontal movements have been the typical focus of seasonal movements of animals in mountain environments, including ibex (Parrini et al 2003, Grignolio et al 2004, mule deer (Nicholson et al 1997), roe deer (Mysterud 1999) sika deer (Igota et al 2004), elk and red deer (Hebblewhite et al 2006, Luccarini et al 2006) and coyotes (Canis latrans; Gantz and Knowlton 2005), even when altitudinal movement is considered to be the primary characteristic of these movements (Lovari et al 2006;chamois). Using horizontal distance would appear to be a poor measure upon which to base analysis of this phenomenon and may be misleading.…”

Daytime cover, diet and space-use of golden jackals (Canis aureus) in agro-ecosystems of Bangladesh

“…It is unknown whether some jackals remain on small patches of high ground throughout the floods or whether they tend to migrate back and forth into these areas with the rising and receding flood waters. However, it seems likely that breeding jackals, similar to breeding (i.e., alpha) coyotes, do not establish territories where they cannot maintain them year round (Shivik et al 1996, Gantz andKnowlton 2005), particularly during pup rearing. Whelping of pups peaks in March and the young are unlikely to become independent before August-September when floodwaters are present.…”

“…Flooding likely forces jackals and other carnivores to leave until after the waters recede. Breeding adults may not occur where they cannot be territorial throughout the year, as seems to be the case for the coyote (Shivik et al 1996, Gantz andKnowlton 2005). Alternatively, flooding may impact the postflood density of burrowing rodents, particularly the lesser bandicoot rat (Bandicota bengalensis), which is common throughout south Asia.…”

Do predator and prey foraging activity patterns match? A study of coyotes (Canis latrans), and lagomorphs (Lepus californicus and Sylvilagus audobonii)

“…Activity patterns of coyotes (Canis latrans) have been reported in a variety of different habitats, but without considering activity patterns of their prey (Atwood et al, 2004;Fedriani et al, 2000;Gantz and Knowlton, 2005). Most reported that coyotes are active both day and night, with peaks of activity during crepuscular hours (Andelt, 1985;Gompper, 2002).…”