Canis latrans (Coyote) recently expanded into the southeastern United States, creating ecologically novel interactions with other species. However, relatively few studies have examined vital rates of southeastern Coyotes or estimated vital rates where individuals are protected from hunting and trapping. In 2011, we captured and attached GPS radiocollars to 31 Coyotes at Fort Bragg Military Installation, NC, where Coyote harvest was restricted. We used a 12-month period (February 2011–January 2012) and known-fate modeling in Program MARK to estimate annual survival. Model-selection results indicated the time-varying model (S[t]) was the most parsimonious model, and. annual survival was 0.80 (95% CI = 0.60–0.91). We documented 7 mortalities, including 2 from vehicles, 2 from offsite trapping, and 3 from unknown causes. Estimated Coyote survival rates at Fort Bragg were similar to most other estimates from the southeastern US. Anthropogenic causes of mortality were important even though hunting and trapping were restricted locally.
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1 September 2016
Survival and Cause-Specific Mortality of Coyotes on a Large Military Installation
Elizabeth R. Stevenson,
M. Colter Chitwood,
Marcus A. Lashley,
Kenneth H. Pollock,
Morgan B. Swingen,
Christopher E. Moorman,
Christopher S. DePerno
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Southeastern Naturalist
Vol. 15 • No. 3
September 2016
Vol. 15 • No. 3
September 2016