Coyotes living near cities are bolder: Implications for dog evolution and human-wildlife conflict
How animal populations adapt to human modified landscapes is central to understanding modern behavioural evolution and improving wildlife management. Coyotes (Canis latrans) have adapted to human activities and thrive in both rural and urban areas. Bolder coyotes showing reduced fear of humans and their artefacts may have an advantage in urban environments. We analysed the reactions of 636 coyotes to novel human artefacts (camera traps) at 575 sites across the state of North Carolina. Likelihood of a coyote approaching the camera increased with human housing density suggesting that urban coyotes are experiencing selection for boldness and becoming more attracted to human artefacts. This has implications for both human-wildlife conflict and theories of dog domestication. We also note physical traits in coyotes that could be the result of domestication-related selection pressures, or dog hybridization.
Duke Scholars
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- Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
- 3109 Zoology
- 3104 Evolutionary biology
- 3103 Ecology
- 0608 Zoology
- 0603 Evolutionary Biology
- 0602 Ecology
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
- 3109 Zoology
- 3104 Evolutionary biology
- 3103 Ecology
- 0608 Zoology
- 0603 Evolutionary Biology
- 0602 Ecology