Download or read book Spatial and Behavioral Patterns of Captive Coyotes written by Jeffrey T. Schultz and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Environmental enrichment is a technique used at many captive animal facilities that can improve the well-being of their animals. It seeks to enhance habitat features and promote natural behavior by providing a variety of practical ways for captive animals to control their environmental settings, especially during stressful circumstances. Enclosure features, such as shelter structures, are one tool that promotes wild behavior by adding complexity to an enclosure's physical environment. Enrichment efforts for captive wildlife are most effective when they are specialized to the biological needs of the animals. Human activity may alter captive animal behavior and utility of enclosure features, and there is concern that human presence can negatively impact the welfare of some captive animals. Captive coyotes (Canis latrans) at the USDA-National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) Predator Research Facility in Millville, UT, USA, are maintained for research on biology, ecology, physiology and behavior. Coyotes at the research facility are routinely noticed utilizing shelter structures to hide, rest, and display vigilant behavior. Because they regularly use these simple structures, new and more complex enrichment shelter structures were installed to be evaluated. Specific research objectives aimed to assess (1) coyote enclosure utilization and shelter structure preferences, and (2) coyote spatial and behavioral responses to human activity. Using 32 mated coyote pairs rotated through eight 1.5-acre enclosures for 28-day trials over the winter months (January - March) of 2015 and 2016, spatial and behavioral patterns were monitored via the implementation of GPS-collars and live behavioral observations. Coyotes showed preference for shelter structure designs, but still spent most of their time at the perimeter and open areas of their enclosures. Complex structures were preferred over simple structures. Coyotes most often demonstrated inactive and vigilant behavior without human activity, but showed increased vigilance when there was human activity. Human activity also stimulated coyotes to become more active than inactive and reduce their utilization of enrichment structures. Although there was no clear preference for one specific type of enrichment structure, composite evidence from GPS-collars and behavioral data suggest the ramp may have heightened biological suitability. This study advances the knowledge of captive coyote spatial patterns and helps improve environmental enrichment planning for captive animals by exploring effective methods of adding complexity to animal enclosures.

Download or read book The Effects of Social Status and Learning on Captive Coyote Canis Latrans Behavior written by Lynne Barbara Gilbert-Norton and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many canids live within hierarchical social systems that could promote differences in learning or in behavior between ranked individuals. Differences in foraging and territorial behavior have been observed between ranked coyotes (Canis latrans), yet effects of learning and social status on coyote behavior are not thoroughly understood. I explored a) coyote response to an artificial scent boundary and whether response differed by status, b) how foraging coyotes tracked temporal resource change, and c) how coyotes find spatially distributed food, and the effect of dominance on foraging behavior. I used male/female pairs of captive coyotes at the National Wildlife Research Center Predator Research Facility in Utah. Prior to testing, I identified social rank within pairs by testing for food dominance. In study 1, I laid a scent boundary and monitored space use with GPS and observed behavioral responses directly. All coyotes investigated and crossed the boundary, but were repelled more by human presence. Subordinates investigated and marked the boundary more than dominants. Further investigation is needed to mimic natural boundaries for management purposes. In study 2, I gave eight individual coyotes an operant test with concurrent variable interval (VI) schedules. I varied the ratio of resources and measured the time spent on two choices, then fitted the generalized matching equation to the data. I found that all coyotes efficiently tracked changes in resource ratios and matched their relative rate of foraging time to relative rate of resources. Matching theory provides an effective methodology to explore foraging strategies and behavioral flexibility in coyotes. In study 3, I tested 16 coyotes in a spatial foraging task. Coyotes searched for food in eight potential locations, and were tested individually and in respective pairs. I recorded the area and number of locations searched, approach time, and frequency of marking by dominant and subordinate coyotes. Results showed individual subordinates increased efficiency by relocating, but their efficiency decreased when foraging in pairs. Dominant coyotes did not increase efficiency in company by following subordinates. Coyotes marked the correct feeder more than incorrect feeders. Results suggest coyotes use memory and odor (scent marks) to find food, but that social status overrules information use.

Download or read book Behavioral Ecology of Coyotes written by M. Bekoff and published by . This book was released on 1982 with total page 25 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book General Activity and Maintenance Behavior of Coyotes in Captivity written by Leonard Waldemar Mottus and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: General activity and maintenance behavior of six captive coyotes (Canis latrans) was studied near Edmonton, Alberta. The general activity was associated with several meteorological elements. The animals were diurnal in their activity pattern, with the peak of activity occurring shortly after dawn. The highest levels of activity occurred at 30 to 60°F, low relative humidity, and low barometric pressure, with pressure influencing activity the most. Winds of less than 14 miles per hour stimulated activity, while winds of more than 14 miles per hour reduced activity, especially if accompanied by a falling pressure. The possibility of a lunar influence on barometric pressure and general activity was also discussed. Maintenance as a non-social behavior exhibited by coyotes in captivity was studied primarily in one litter (two males and one female). Meteorological elements appeared to be of secondary importance in the location of the bed site, with the structural characteristics of the cage being most important. The behavior associated with lying down was discussed. The significance of scratching, biting, and licking was presented. No seIf-grooming patterns of rubbing or rolling were observed. Elimination in captivity appeared to occur at a reduced frequency, probably because of the lack of novelty in the cage. Pre-elimination exploration suggests that both sexes are involved in scent marking. The postures of elimination are similar to those of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris), although the males never displayed the leg-lifting posture of urination. Urination sites appeared to be randomly distributed, while defecation sites appeared to be located away from the bed site.

Download or read book Spatial and Behavioral Ecology of Coyotes in Relation to Food Sources written by Julie Kirsten Young and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Behavioral Correlates of Rank in a Litter of Captive Coyotes canis Latrans written by John Byron Brown and published by . This book was released on 1973 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Behavior of Captive Wild Animals written by Hal Markowitz and published by . This book was released on 1978 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Ecology and Behavior of Coyotes in Urban Environments at Varying Spatial Scales written by Sharon A. Poessel and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increasing global urbanization has altered landscapes for many wildlife species, including carnivores. Some carnivore species have been able to adapt to and even thrive in urban environments, including coyotes (Canis latrans). As coyotes continue to settle in more urban areas, human-coyote conflicts, such as attacks on humans or pets, are also increasing. Understanding the various factors affecting space use of urban coyotes may assist wildlife officials in reducing such conflicts. We conducted three studies of urban coyotes at varying spatial scales. First, using a captive population of coyotes at a fine spatial scale, we tested whether coyotes preferred urban, natural, or a mixture of habitat structures and whether sex, behavioral profile, biological season, or food manipulation affected coyote patch choice. When investigating novel environments, coyotes, especially females and bold animals, preferred a mixture of urban and natural structures rather than uniform structure. Food had no effect on patch choice, and coyotes appeared to be primarily motivated by the structure of the habitat rather than by the amount of food within each habitat. Second, we examined home-range size, habitat use, and resource selection of 22 coyotes at a local, population scale in the Denver metropolitan area. Mean (℗ł SD) home-range size of resident coyotes (11.6 ℗ł 11.0 km2) was smaller than ranges of transient coyotes (200.7 ℗ł 232.4 km2). Home-range size did not vary by season or sex, but resident coyotes during the day had smaller home ranges than during the night. Coyotes had high percentages of developed lands (44.5 ℗ł 18.9%) within their home ranges, but the percentage of coyote locations in natural lands (48.9 ℗ł 22.4%) was higher than in developed lands (20.6 ℗ł 11.7%). Coyotes selected for natural lands over developed lands, and they increased activity at night. Finally, we surveyed 105 urban areas in the United States, focusing on the occurrence of coyotes and conflicts on a national scale. Larger urban areas were more likely to contain both coyotes and conflicts, and were also more likely to have greater numbers of conflicts. Urban areas in the western regions with larger amounts of high-intensity development and less forested and agricultural areas were more likely to have conflicts. Most urban areas considered the management of conflicts to be of low priority. We conclude from these three studies that coyotes residing in urban areas prefer to spend their time in natural lands where human activity is minimized, especially forested and riparian areas that provide cover for coyotes and their native prey. Habitat management practices, such as sustainable urban planning and landscape design incorporating wildlife habitat requirements, may be an important tool in reducing human-coyote conflicts in highly urbanized environments.

Download or read book Habituation and Variable Captive Coyote Response to Behavior Contingent Stimuli written by Patrick Austin Darrow and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I performed a pilot studies using a behavior-contingent scare device to protect a novel food. I examined the hypothesis that a scare device would increase latency until food consumption. I performed a second observational pilot study examined the variation in the response of captive coyotes to the behavior-contingent scare device. A third experiment examined the effects of individual stimuli or a combination of stimuli on coyote habituation. A chi-square test of homogeneity of proportions showed a larger proportion of coyotes specifically habituated to the sound-only treatment. (chi 2 = 7.8, DF = 2, P = 0.02), I analyzed the variables of gender, age, social status, rearing, and distance from another pen with a scare device to determine if they predicted trends in boldness or shyness. Social status was the only variable that predicted boldness, with subordinate coyotes being the most likely habituate to the scare device and attempt to eat.

Download or read book Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals written by Robert J. Young and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-05-07 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Environmental enrichment is a simple and effective means of improving animal welfare in any species – companion, farm, laboratory and zoo. For many years, it has been a popular area of research, and has attracted the attention and concerns of animal keepers and carers, animal industry professionals, academics, students and pet owners all over the world. This book is the first to integrate scientific knowledge and principles to show how environmental enrichment can be used on different types of animal. Filling a major gap, it considers the history of animal keeping, legal issues and ethics, right through to a detailed exploration of whether environmental enrichment actually works, the methods involved, and how to design and manage programmes. The first book in a major new animal welfare series Draws together a large amount of research on different animals Provides detailed examples and case studies An invaluable reference tool for all those who work with or study animals in captivity This book is part of the UFAW/Wiley-Blackwell Animal Welfare Book Series. This major series of books produced in collaboration between UFAW (The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare), and Wiley-Blackwell provides an authoritative source of information on worldwide developments, current thinking and best practice in the field of animal welfare science and technology. For details of all of the titles in the series see www.wiley.com/go/ufaw.

Download or read book The Effect of Food Availability on the Social Organization and Behavior of Captive Coyotes C a n i s L a t r a n s written by Susan Lyndaker Lindsey and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book General Patterns Among Generalists written by Anthony J. McCue and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Coyotes written by Marc Bekoff and published by . This book was released on 1978 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in 1978, this text pulls together much disparate research in coyote evolution, taxonomy, reproduction, communication, behavioral development, population dynamics, and ecological studies in the Southwest, Minnesota, Iowa, New England, and Wyoming. (Animals/Pets)

Download or read book The Effect of Nutrition on Maternal Behavior Among Captive Coyotes written by Nancy D. Sayles and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Effect of Housing Type on Captive Coyote Canis Latrans Behavior and Physiology written by Stacey P. Brummer and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Behavioral Development of Scent marking in Captive Male Coyotes Canis Latrans written by Christine Louise Quayle and published by . This book was released on 1983 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Asdell s Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction written by Virginia Douglass Hayssen and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 1993 with total page 1036 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the appearance of the second edition of Sydney A. Asdell's widely used Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction in 1964, the field of reproductive physiology has expanded dramatically. Accordingly, this revision adopts a different structure from previous editions, substituting empirical delineations for physiological interpretations. With the emphases now on a presentation of the published facts of mammalian reproduction, it provides a thorough compilation of what is known about the basic reproductive biology of each of the 4300 mammalian species.To gather information, the authors examined more than 20,000 publications, dating up to 1992. They used primary sources as much as possible, supplementing them with English translations of Russian, Finnish, Chinese, and Japanese journals. The data are presented in taxonomic order. Each familial account summarizes the pattern of reproduction for the family and provides lists of citations arranged by topic of the literature on the endocrinology, reproductive anatomy, and reproductive physiology of the family. Following each account is a tabular listing of species-specific data for neonatal mass and size, weaning mass and size, litter size, age at sexual maturity, estrous cycle length, gestation length, lactation length, number of litters per year, and seasonality of reproduction. For each of these reproductive variables, the range of data gleaned from the literature is given, together with the source of each value listed.Virginia Hayssen is Assistant Professor of Biology at Smith College. Ari Van Tienhoven is Professor of Animal Physiology, Emeritus, at Cornell University. Ans Van Tienhoven assisted in the compilation of data for the book.