Home range, habitat use, and movement patterns of female coyotes in the piedmont region of Georgia

Abstract

I used GPS collars to monitor movements, habitat use, and spatial distribution of 15 female coyotes (Canis latrans) in west-central Georgia during May-July 2012-2013, coinciding with the fawning season of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Mean home range size was 22.7 km2 but ranged from 3.0-73.0 km2. I categorized coyotes into those with small home ranges (SHR) and large home ranges (LHR). Mean home range size was 7.4 km2 for SHR coyotes (n=8) and 41.7 km2 for LHR coyotes (n=5). Open areas were important at multiple scales of selection for SHR coyotes. Movements and space use varied among individuals. SHR individuals used relatively small areas intensively. Hence, they may have a greater impact on fawn predation, although their effect is likely patchy across the landscape. Future research should be focused on improving understanding of coyote spatial ecology and its implications for local fawn predation rates rather than coyote abundance.