Coyote
CoyoteThe coyote is considered to be one of the last species of primitive dogs. It is called the master adapter and the ultimate survivor. Based on these titles alone, one can conclude that the coyote has thrived despite the habitat change implemented by human development and expansion. The coyote has always been a native of North America. However, it used to only populate the western part of the continent, whereas presently, coyotes can be found throughout the United States and Canada.
Unlike other species, the coyote is not endangered whatsoever. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The coyote is thriving because of how well it can adapt and because of how intelligent and flexible it is (Patrick, 1999). Animal researcher, Bil Gilbert, calls the coyote the great-granddaddy of what he calls, invigorated species (Gilbert, 1991, p. 69). These are animal types that are doing better than ever before in categories such as reproductive rates and widespread distribution. Gilbert offers a similar explanation as to why the coyote is the most prolific of the invigorated species.
Often coyotes and many other invigorated species are referred to as "generalists." This has to do mainly with how and what they eat. In this respect, few other creatures have such catholic tastes or more ingenious methods of satisfying them as have coyotes (Gilbert, 1991, p. 69).
The list of what exactly the coyote consumes is quite extensive. Eighty percent of their diet is rodents. However, they will eat pretty much whatever they can find. Watermelons are also a food source for this omnivorous and carnivorous species. As one of my sources puts it, the coyote takes what it can get (Jones, 1999). Sheep, road kill, insects, domestic cats, apples and your garbage are all viable meals for the coyote. In essence, the coyote is a scavenger, an omnivore, and a carnivorous animal that will sometimes hunt in packs of ten to fifteen (Gilbert, 1991, p. 71).
Since the coyote will eat just about anything, its habitat is also thought to be just about everywhere on the Western side of the world. The coyote's habitat ranges from the tropics of Central America to the mountains of Alaska. They also inhabit the deserts of the southwestern United States, and the plains and forests of the Midwest. Like the wolf and the lion, the coyote prefers to live in a self made den. It can tunnel this den in the side of a hill or under a tree (Jones, 1999).
Based on the research, it appears that the coyote's biggest competitor is also its biggest benefactor. Gilbert explains that human development has aided the coyote by unknowingly removing many of the predators that once competed with the coyote. The mountain lion and the wolf are thought to be the only two animals (besides humans) that will kill a coyote. However, by aiding other animals and keeping them from extinction, we are also regulating the population of coyotes. For example, when the wolf was returned to Yellowstone Park, it chased out or killed the coyotes that were inhabiting the area (Gilbert, 1991, p. 76). One of the key changes concerning human involvement with the coyote population stems back to the early 1970's. During his single term, President Nixon passed a law that made it illegal to poison coyotes. Before this law, between 60,000 and 100,000 coyotes were being killed per year ( Dunlap, 1986, p. 346). What was being written about in the mid 1980's is still being actively practiced. Presently, we try to live with the coyote rather than be its main threat for survival.
Based on these findings, it appears that the human viewpoint of coyotes is that they are still pests. The debate over how to "control" coyotes, or whether to do so at all continues. Obviously sheep, goat, and watermelon cultivators would like to see the coyote population decline simply because the coyote is the prominent destroyer of their farms and thus their profits. However, wildlife experts say that these farmers are exaggerating the amount of damage that the coyote does (Gilbert, 1991, p. 74). One of these experts, Arnold Hayden, is a wildlife biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission (Gilbert, 1991, p. 78). He has the following views on the debate of coyote population control:
When I talk to farmers, sportsmen and social groups, I tell them coyotes are here to stay, and we are not going to get rid of them, and there is no good reason to try. In purely economic terms, they do destroy sheep, chickens and geese. Perhaps this is balanced by the mice and woodchucks they take ( Gilbert, 1991, p. 79).
Not enough is known about animal control for agricultural purposes to comment on whether or not this is a formidable argument. However, both sides seem to be very adamant in their beliefs, and it appears that this debate will continue into the new millennium.
Therefore, the coyote appears to have no real competition for two reasons. The pro nature movement of the last two decades that has made it illegal to kill coyotes (Dunlap, 1986, p. 348). And because of their extreme flexibility in habitat and food consumption, the coyote not only manages to co-exist with human beings, but it is thriving because of it.
Works Cited
Dunlap, Thomas R. August, 1986. "American wildlife policy and environmental ideology: poisoning coyotes, 1939-1972." Pacific Historical Review. Pp. 345-69.
Gilbert, Bil. March, 1991. "Coyotes adapted to us, now we have to adapt to them." Smithsonian. Pp. 68-72.
Jones, Timothy. "Coyote links and facts." http://w3.one.net/~tjones/coyote.htm
Patrick, Thomas. "Coyote- The master adapter." Windstar Wildlife Institute.
http://agriculture.com/contents/windstar/profiles/coyote.html