Movement Patterns and Land Use of Urban Coyotes in the Virginia Peninsula

Did you know, there are coyotes in the Virginia Peninsula area? You may not be aware, but these wild dogs often travel mostly at night through urban neighborhoods and parks in search of food.
My name is Ayden Carr and I am a Graduate Student in the Master’s of Environmental Science Program at Christopher Newport University. I am currently planning a thesis project studying the ecology and land patterns of city-dwelling d coyotes throughout the Virginia Peninsula. Very little is currently known about the population sizes and land uses of wild canids in this area in particular.
I am developing a citizen science database to help gather data through which members of the community can share photos of these animals collected on doorbell cameras, trail cameras, or similar cameras to develop a home range map for the species and determine how each species utilizes the urban landscape of the peninsula. The database will also be used to estimate the population size of coyotes and track movement patterns. In addition, I will be placing my own cameras in various areas of the peninsula, and hope to place GPS tracking collars on approximately ten coyotes to gather additional biological information.
With the knowledge and data gained from this project, we will have a much better understanding of how wild canids move throughout the peninsula and the approximate number of coyotes the peninsula can sustain. The information that will be obtained can also be applied to conservation efforts to limit human interactions with the wild canid species such as installing wildlife corridors to limit direct coyote travel through neighborhoods and across roadways. With this project I also hope to further educate the public and encourage coexistence with these wild animals as they share this urban landscape with us.