Urban Coyotes Thrive in Chicago
Even in the largest American cities, a
historically maligned beast is thriving, despite scientists' belief that these
mammals intently avoid urban human populations.
Stan Gerht and friend
Even in the largest American cities, a historically maligned beast is thriving, despite scientists’ belief that these mammals intently avoid urban human populations.
This animal’s amazing ability to thrive in metropolitan areas has greatly surprised scientists, says Stanley Gehrt, an assistant professor of environmental and natural resources at Ohio State University. Gehrt is in the sixth year of a multi-year study of coyote behavior in urban Chicago.
Since the study began, Gehrt and his colleagues have found that urban coyote populations are much larger than expected; that they live longer than their rural cousins in these environments; and that they are more active at nighttime than coyotes living in rural areas.
Coyotes also do some good – they help control rapidly growing populations of Canada geese throughout North America.
In my neck of the woods [and high desert country] — Coyotes Rule!
Posted: Tue - January 10, 2006 at 06:38 AM