Wily coyotes

Natural History, June, 2008 by Harvey Leifert

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Coyotes in and around Yellowstone National Park are adjusting to life with new neighbors. Reintroduced wolves produce a steady supply of large carcasses--elk, deer, and such--but they won't hesitate to attack a coyote that ventures too close to the vittles. So the coyotes have had to figure out how to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks associated with their stronger canine cousins.

Todd C. Atwood and his then graduate adviser at Utah State University in Logan, Eric M. Gese of the USDA's National Wildlife Research Center, spent three winters observing the behavior and interactions of coyotes and wolves near carcasses. A wolf pack had moved into their study area, a remote wilderness close to Yellowstone that was already home to twelve packs of coyotes.

The coyotes, the researchers found, had developed risk-management techniques to limit confrontations with wolves. The alpha couple in each coyote pack took the lead in approaching carcasses. Ever vigilant, they only laid into a carcass when the coast seemed clear of wolves. As their reward for assuming the risk, they got the best, most energy-rich morsels. When the alphas had satisfied themselves, the rest of the pack scrambled to devour the leftovers, confident they could do so safely.

Occasionally, alpha coyotes, accompanied by their pack, were even able to drive a smaller group of wolves away from a carcass. Such incidents involved intimidation displays and sometimes even contact, but never appeared to result in injury. Coyotes, it seems, have learned to pick their battles with wolves wisely. (Animal Behaviour)