Trying to curb coyote populations may be a lost cause, according to a new University of Georgia study.
After careful counting of the animal across the Southeast, researchers found that Eastern coyote populations stabilize faster than they can be reduced. Using cameras, different howls as well as 18 years of data, researchers found not only one coyote per every square mile, but that despite repeated removal efforts over the years, coyote totals rebounded — and sometimes even spiked — shortly after.
Researchers found that coyotes experienced low competition from other species and lots of available prey, and that the current control methods of coyote populations from humans didn’t faze them, despite costing over $30,000.
The analysis suggests a need for alternatives when it comes to habitat management and biodiversity.
“In general, predator populations are contentious to manage, but coyotes are a lot harder to manage than a lot of other predators due to their really unique, amazing ability to reproduce. They can bounce back very rapidly,” said Heather Gaya, corresponding author of the study and a postdoctoral research associate in the Warnell School of Forestry. “Therefore, the cost and man-hours that it takes to actively remove those coyotes is something that’s just not sustainable or not practical on a large scale.”
