Movements of Transient Coyotes, Canis latrans, in Urbanized Eastern Massachusetts

I document the movements of five transient (or nomadic) eastern Coyotes (Canis latrans) in heavily urbanized eastern Massachusetts. Linear movements from capture location to end location varied from 23.0 to 100.5 km and averaged 63.8 ± 52.0 km for two females and 38.7 ± 17.2 km for three males (t = 0.657, df = 1.15, P = 0.618). Transients ranged in age between 1-2 yr old. There was no relationship between Coyote body weight and dispersal distances (r = 0.389, P = 0.518). Coyotes travel long distances even in human-dominated areas, allowing transients to find vacant territories. Because of the ability of Coyotes to colonize and recolonize areas, I recommend that Coyote management efforts focus more on educating the public about actual Coyote behavior and their life history needs than on killing them

Observations of Coywolves, Canis latrans × lycaon, Crossing Bridges and Using Human Structures on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

I directly observed Coywolves (Canis latrans × lycaon; also called Eastern Coyote) successfully crossing over rivers/bays by traveling on paved (i.e., used by vehicles) bridges within their established territories. These data confirm that Coyotes/Coywolves use these narrow corridors in their travels, such as when colonizing new areas. I also report on breeding female, sick, and old Coywolves using human structures, including under overturned boats/canoes, under houses, and under sheds/decks. Breeding females (n = 3) used these sites as dens, and sick (n = 2) and old (n = 2) individuals used them for shelter

Eastern Coyotes, Canis latrans, Observed Feeding on Periodical Cicadas, Magicicada septendecim

Eastern Coyotes (Canis latrans) were observed feeding on Periodical Cicadas (Magicicada septendecim) during their once every 17 year emergence (for three weeks) in June 2008

Standing-Over in Captive Coywolves, Canis latrans × lycaon

I documented standing-over behavior in a captive Coywolf (Canis latrans × lycaon, Eastern Coyote) pack from April 2002 to October 2003. Standing-over involves an individual positioning its inguinal area over a recumbent (i.e., lying) individual's head. While all five Coywolves in my study pack performed standing-over, the dominant female was responsible for the vast majority. Thus, standing-over appears to be primarily female-oriented, as has previously been reported for Wolves, Canis lupus, and may involve two functions: (1) to advertise the reproductive state of the animal doing the standing-over and (2) to assert dominance via a low-intensity agonistic interaction

Double-litters in Coywolf, Canis latrans × lycaon, Packs Following the Death or Disappearance of a Resident Territorial Male

Previous research on my Cape Cod, Massachusetts study site documented the killing of a breeding male Coywolf (Canis latrans x lycaon; also called Eastern Coyote) and a subsequent increase in local pack density one year later. This study documents double-litters produced in two packs following the death or disappearance of the original breeding male

Multidecadal Recession of Grinnell and Terra Nivea Ice Caps, Baffin Island, Canada

Multi-temporal satellite imagery and historical aerial photography reveal that two southern Arctic ice caps on Baffin Island have shrunk considerably over the past several decades. Satellite remote sensing shows that over the past three decades, the Grinnell and Terra Nivea ice caps, the southernmost ice caps in the eastern Canadian Arctic, have decreased in area by 18% and 22% respectively, which corresponds to a total area decline of 68 km2 since the inventory done in the late 1950s. Cumulative ice loss since the mid-1970s has occurred at a rate of −1.69 km2/yr. The Grinnell ice cap has declined in area by −0.57 km2/yr, while the larger Terra Nivea ice cap has lost ice at a rate of −1.1 km2/yr. Interior thinning has led to the exposure of nunataks far from ice margins, and outlet glaciers have retreated substantial distances up-valley. The rapid reduction in ice area is linked directly to increasing summer air temperatures and suggests that these ice caps are in disequilibrium with current climate. Projections suggest that if the observed ice decline continues to AD 2100, the total area covered by ice at present will be reduced by more than 57%.L’imagerie satellitaire multitemporelle et la photographie aérienne historique révèlent que deux calottes glaciaires du sud de l’Arctique, dans l’île de Baffin, ont rétréci considérablement au cours des dernières décennies. La télédétection par satellite montre qu’au cours des trois dernières décennies, l’étendue des calottes glaciaires Grinnell et Terra Nivea, soit les calottes glaciaires les plus au sud de l’Arctique canadien de l’est, a diminué dans une mesure de 18 % et de 22 % respectivement, ce qui correspond à un déclin total de l’étendue de 68 km2 depuis que l’inventaire a été dressé vers la fin des années 1950. Depuis le milieu des années 1970, la perte cumulative de glace s’est produite au taux de −1,69 km2/an. L’étendue de la calotte glaciaire Grinnell a diminué de −0,57 km2/an, tandis que la calotte glaciaire Terra Nivea, dont l’étendue est plus grande, a enregistré une perte de glace de l’ordre de −1,1 km2/an. L’amincissement intérieur a donné lieu à l’exposition de nunataks loin des marges glaciaires, et les glaciers émissaires ont reculé sur d’importantes distances en amont de la vallée. La réduction rapide de l’étendue de la glace est directement liée à l’augmentation de la température de l’air d’été, ce qui suggère que ces calottes glaciaires sont en déséquilibre par rapport au climat actuel. Selon les projections, si la réduction observée de la glace se poursuit jusqu’en l’an 2100 A.D., l’étendue totale actuellement couverte par la glace diminuera de plus de 57 %

Eastern Coyote/Coywolf (Canis latrans x lycaon) Movement Patterns: Lessons Learned in Urbanized Ecosystems

Activity and movement patterns represent a fundamental aspect of a species natural history. Twenty four-hour movements of eastern coyotes or coywolves (Canis latrans x lycaon; hereafter eastern coyote for consistency purposes) ranged up to 31.9 linear km and averaged 23.5 + 7.3 (SD) km from 5-14 radio-fixes during each 24 hr monitoring period. Coyotes moved mostly at night and through altered open areas (e.g., powerlines, dumps) more than expected when compared to residential and natural areas. Coyotes inhabiting urbanized areas generally use residential areas for traveling and/or foraging. With large daily (or more aptly, nightly) movement patterns, resident coyotes can potentially be located anywhere within their large home ranges at any given time, as data revealed that one pack (3-4 individuals) can cover a combined 75-100 km per night, in a territory averaging 20-30 km2. Transient movements from capture location to end location varied from 23.0—100.5 km and averaged 63.8 km for two females and 49.3 km for four males. Eastern coyotes travel long distances even in human-dominated areas, allowing transients to find vacant territories. Because of their ability to move through urban areas and to colonize and recolonize areas, management efforts should focus more on educating the public about actual coyote behavior and their life history needs than on killing them

Social and Play Behavior in a Wild Eastern Coyote, Canis latrans, Pack

I had close and consistent observations of a wild eastern Coyote pack (Canis latrans) from January 2000 to August 2007. During this time, I obtained 3156 radio-locations on a specific radio-collared breeding male (“Sill”) and observed him and/or members of his pack on 375 occasions. The average group size = 3.0 ± 2.3 (SD) Coyotes with 1.9 ± 1.2 (SD) being adults and 1.1 ± 1.9 being pups. Maximal group size involved 12 Coyotes (9 pups, 3 adults). During these observations, Coyotes most often behaved in a friendly manner toward each other as indicated by 80 of my observations involving play between pups, and 15 involving play among adult Coyotes. On the evening of 6 July 2007 I observed the breeding male (>8 yr old), his mate (>5 yr old), one of their full-sized probable yearlings, and five pups playing intensely for 33 minutes. This paper details social and play behavior from this pack, especially from the 6 July 2007 observation

Development of closed loop roll control for magnetic balance systems

This research was undertaken with the goal of demonstrating closed loop control of the roll degree of freedom on the NASA prototype magnetic suspension and balance system at the MIT Aerophysics Laboratory, thus, showing feasibility for a roll control system for any large magnetic balance system which might be built in the future. During the research under this grant, study was directed toward the several areas of torque generation, position sensing, model construction and control system design. These effects were then integrated to produce successful closed loop operation of the analogue roll control system. This experience indicated the desirability of microprocessor control for the angular degrees of freedom