Conservation Target : Coyote ( Canis latran s) Management Goal: Reduce threats of coyotes to culturally significant natural resources. Biological Conditions Contributed Service Conservation Strategies unknown density, disease vector, nuisance threat Provisioning (threat) Management, Research History and Adaptive Process: Coyotes are considered one of the hardiest and most adaptable species on the continent, surviving anywhere food is abundant. Coyote populations began expanding into North Carolina in the 1990’s. As some states designate this species as an invasive species, coyotes compete for resources with other mammals and are opportunistic scavengers and hunters, eating anything readily available. There is some evidence that coyotes are significant predators on white-tailed deer fawns, a species protected by EBCI for their cultural value. Currently, hunting coyote on EBCI lands is strongly supported as there is an open season, no bag limit, and a $25 bounty per head. Our office implements the coyote bounty system, started around 2009, and collects biological and health data from harvested individuals as they are brough to us.
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
Current Methodology for Conservation Strategies Management: Collect biological/health data from harvested coyotes. Implement coyote bounty system. Research: We wish to ask about demographic characteristics of our coyote populations- the average age of hunted coyotes, the size, sex and phenotypic variation. We are collecting data on hunter effort per unit. We have contributed over 50 stomach contents to a diet study performed by researchers at Virginia Tech. Much of the contents included trash- which was not surprising given the hunting locations. Results and Discussion for Information Transfer and Processing Ecological: 71 total coyote tooth samples collected from 2015-2022 sent for aging analysis. Average age of coyote killed is 1 year old. Management: Low participation in coyote bounty system has led to skewed results- where we believe coyote populations are not impacted by the bounty system. Social & Cultural: There is no longer a wolf in the southern Appalachians. It is still debated whether coyotes serve that role in the ecosystem or culturally. Many call coyote by the same Cherokee name as wolf- ᏩᏯ Adaptive Decision for 2023 Management, Research or Methodological Changes: Look into opportunities to pursue a coyote diet study via DNA. How much influence has domestic dog hybridizing contributed to diet and behavior variation?
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