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The Cook
County, Illinois, Coyote Project
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Ghosts of the Cities
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Originally known as ghosts of the plains, coyotes have now become
ghosts of the cities, occasionally heard but rarely seen. Although
a
relatively recent phenomenon, coyo tes
have become the top carnivores in an increasing number of
metropolitan areas across North America. This includes one of the
largest urban centers in the Midwest — the Chicago metropolitan
region. However, compared to other urban wildlife, we know very
little about how coyotes are becoming successful in landscapes
dominated by people.
Our limited understanding of how coyotes succeed in urban landscapes
hampers management of this animal.
Even knowledge of their basic ecology is incomplete.
This is important because diets, social
behavior, movement patterns and survival may change with
urbanization. Nevertheless, as coyotes become increasingly abundant
in the cities, so does the need for basic information to develop management strategies. In
areas where coyotes have existed with people for some time, such as
the southwestern United States, conflicts with coyotes threaten the
health and well-being of people and pets. Are extreme conflicts the
inevitable result of the relatively recent emergence of coyotes in
Midwestern and eastern U.S. cities? What are the full ramifications
for people, pets, and other wildlife when this remarkable canid
suddenly becomes a neighbor?
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A litter of pups taken from a den, marked,
and then returned. As part of this research,
it is necessary to capture and radio collar
coyotes. We use humane traps and are very
restricted when and where they are placed.
Each captured coyote is moved to a lab,
where it is measured, weighed, inspected for
health and condition, tagged with numbered
ear tags, and fitted with a radio collar.
The radio collar allows us to follow their
movements, and identify causes of death if
they die. We always release coyotes where
they were caught; we do not move coyotes
from one area to another as part of the
project.
In addition to trapping adult coyotes, we
also mark pups from natal dens during the
spring. Pups are weighed, sexed, and a
microchip is placed under the skin for later
identification if they are captured later.
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The Study
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In 2000, we initiated a comprehensive ecological
study of coyotes in the Chicago metropolitan area, specifically Cook
County, Illinois, to address these shortcomings. The project is
currently still underway.
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As part of this
research, coyotes are captured and
radio-collared. Above is
a coyote that has just been fitted with a
radio-collar and ear tags. |
The Cook County Coyote Project, largely funded by the Cook County
 Animal and
Rabies Control agency, is a unique study comprised of collaborations
between the
Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, the Forest Preserve District of Cook
County, the Brookfield Zoo, and the Zoological Pathology Program
from the University of Illinois.
As part of this research, we
capture coyotes and radio-collar them. Through 2008, we have captured
over 300 coyotes and
radio-collared
over 250 so far, making this the largest urban study of coyotes in the world. We
have tracked the
coyotes day and night and located the collared coyotes more than
40,000 times. This allows us to peek into the hidden lives of urban coyotes. We
use results from this unique project to answer common questions
regarding coyotes in urban areas.
Many aspects of coyote ecology have direct management implications.
Although our study was focused on Cook County, Illinois, we believe
the things we have learned about coyotes and people living together
are indicative
of many metropolitan areas in the Midwest and eastern United States.
Checking the teeth of the captured
coyotes aided in determining both the
health and age of coyotes.
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