THE EASTERN COYOTE (CANIS LATRANS) IN WASHINGTON, D.C.: A STUDY OF MOVEMENT, DIET AND VOCALIZATION IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT

In a later stage of their range expansion across North America over the last 100 years or so, coyotes (Canis latrans) arrived in the Washington, D.C. area relatively recently, with reported sightings in and around Rock Creek Park since 2004. While coyotes have been studied in many other metropolitan areas, there has been little research on the urban population within the District. This study focused on how coyotes might be moving in and out of Rock Creek Park using camera traps placed in tributary areas that could serve as green travel corridors, and near the park’s northern boundary where a green corridor extends into Maryland. Knowledge of coyotes’ travel behaviors could help indicate areas outside the park that they might frequent and include in their home ranges. This study also focused on the diet of coyotes within Rock Creek Park through scat analysis to learn more about their potential impact on the local ecosystem. Lastly, this study involved the conduction of howl surveys and investigation of sound analysis of coyote howls as a potential tool that researchers could use to track individuals within the district. With coyotes as an established presence in the area, a greater understanding of their behaviors within this specific urban context can help inform possible management strategies and education efforts.