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Causes Of Death In Coyotes
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Death rates
are higher than most rural studies where coyotes are
exposed to hunting and trapping. Nevertheless, most
coyotes die before reaching their second year. This
is because many pups die from a variety of causes
during their first few months outside the den.
Survival is fairly consistent among seasons, even
during the winter. The oldest coyote in our study in
an eight-year-old alpha female More than 70
coyotes have died during the eight-year study.
By far the
most frequent cause of death for urban coyotes has
been collisions with vehicles (50 to 70 percent of
deaths each year)
Other causes
of death included shootings, malnutrition, and
disease such as sarcoptic mange and parvo virus
(four coyotes died from unknown causes). Mange has
been the most common disease-related
mortality, and all cases occurred post-2003.
Few
of the diseases we documented in coyotes are of
major importance for people or pets. Mange was the
most common disease to affect survival in coyotes.
Coyote-strain rabies is restricted to southern
Texas, but coyotes are sometimes infected with
rabies from other species. If a person is bitten by
a coyote that is acting aggressive, he or she should
be treated
for rabies as a precaution. Anytime a person is
bitten by a coyote, animal care and human health
professionals should be contacted. Urban coyotes may
serve as a reservoir for heart worm; about one-third
of the Chicago-area coyotes were infected with the
parasite. |
