Wily? More Like Wary – Eastern Coyote Flees From Deer
Are coyotes threatening deer populations?
It’s a hotly debated topic, but studies indicate coyotes do not perform the same ecological role as wolves, meaning their impact on ungulate populations varies.
Though coyotes are known to eat deer, they often consume them by scavenging on carcasses. When hunting, coyotes are actually far more often consuming small mammals such as rodents and rabbits.
Here at the Wolf Conservation Center, we have robust populations of both eastern coyotes and white-tailed deer occupying the surrounding woodlands.
With the use of our remote wildlife cameras, we have been able to observe the occasional interaction between the species, including an encounter where a doe stood her ground and stomped at a pair of passing coyotes, frightening them and sending them dashing into the woods.
Recently, we witnessed another exciting interaction. A large buck approached a coyote and stood his ground, flashing his stark white tail in warning.
The young coyote, who likely weighs 25lbs compared to the buck’s probable 200lbs, quickly took heed and disappeared from frame. The buck relaxed and stayed to browse.
John Benson, Ph. D., surmises the coyote’s small stature could be to blame; “the smaller size of coyotes appears to give them dietary flexibility to survive on a wider variety of food and prey sizes, making them less predictable predators of large prey.”
Minutes later, the buck’s presence still triggering the camera, we can see the coyote at the distant edge of the field trotting along the tree-line. The buck gives it a quick nonchalant glance over the shoulder and continues eating.
Je, ni mwenye ujanja? Je, Coyotes Wanatisha Idadi ya Nyati? Ni mada ya mjadala mkali, lakini masomo yanaonyesha coyotes hawafanyi jukumu sawa la ikolojia kama mbwa mwitu, ikimaanisha athari zao kwa idadi ya ungulate hutofautiana. Ingawa mbwa-mwitu wanajulikana kula nyati, mara nyingi wao hula nyati kwa kula mifupa. Wanapowinda, kwa kweli mbwa-mwitu hula mara nyingi sana mamalia wadogo kama vile panya na sungura. Katika eneo la Wolf Conservation Center, kuna idadi kubwa ya coyotes za mashariki na nyati za mkia mweupe katika misitu ya karibu. Kwa kutumia kamera zetu za mbali za wanyama wa porini, tumeweza kuchunguza mwingiliano wa mara kwa mara kati ya spishi, ikiwa ni pamoja na kukutana ambapo deer alisimama ardhi yake na kukanyaga jozi ya coyotes kupita, kuwaogopesha na kuwapeleka mbio ndani ya misitu. Hivi majuzi, tulishuhudia mazungumzo mengine yenye kusisimua. Mbweha mkubwa alimkaribia mbweha na kusimama, akionyesha mkia wake mweupe kwa kuonya. Coyote huyo, ambaye kwa kawaida ana uzito wa kilo 25 ikilinganishwa na uzito wa kilo 200 wa buck, alishindwa kuonekana. Mbwa huyo alitulia na kukaa ili kutazama. John Benson, Ph. "D. anafikiri kuwa kimo kidogo cha coyote inaweza kuwa na hatia; ""ukubwa mdogo wa coyotes inaonekana kuwapa kubadilika kwa lishe ili kuishi kwa aina mbalimbali ya chakula na ukubwa wa mawindo, na kuwafanya kuwa wawindaji wasiotabiriwa wa mawindo makubwa. "" Dakika chache baadaye, uwepo wa buck bado unachochea kamera, tunaweza kuona coyote kwenye ukingo wa mbali wa uwanja trotting kando ya mti-line." Mbweha huyo anamtazama kwa haraka bila kujali na kuendelea kula.