The effect of enclosure type on the behavior and heart rate of captive coyotes
The potential for captivity to elicit changes in animal behavior and physiology is well known. Recent research on captive populations has examined the effect of feeding protocols, enclosure types, and enrichment programs on indices of stress and displays of species typical behaviors. We investigated the impact of enclosure type upon captive coyotes (Canis latrans) by […]
Bold, shy, and persistent: Variable coyote response to light and sound stimuli
To improve frightening device technology for managing predation, we examined variation in coyote (Canis latrans) response to visual, auditory, and combined stimuli using a behavior-contingent programmable frightening device. We hoped to gather information on the relative effectiveness of light, sound, and combined stimuli for deterring coyotes from a food resource. We exposed five pairs of […]
The effect of randomly altering the time and location of feeding on the behaviour of captive coyotes (Canis latrans)
Captive carnivores appear highly susceptible to the negative effects of predictable feeding routines. Current research and reviews suggest feeding unpredictably may increase species typical behaviour, but positive results have been limited to a few species. Our objectives were to determine whether randomly altering the time and location of feeding increased species typical behaviour, or affected […]
Captive Coyotes Compared to Their Counterparts in the Wild: Does Environmental Enrichment Help?
This article attempts to determine the effects of environment (captive or wild) and a simple form of environmental enrichment on the behavior and physiology of a nonhuman animal. Specifically, analyses first compared behavioral budgets and stereotypic behavior of captive coyotes (Canis latrans) in kennels and pens to their counterparts in the wild. Second, experiments examined […]
Investigation of techniques to measure cortisol and testosterone concentrations in coyote hair
Long-term noninvasive sampling for endangered or elusive species is particularly difficult due to the challenge of collecting fecal samples before hormone metabolite desiccation, as well as the difficulty in collecting a large enough sample size from all individuals. Hair samples may provide an environmentally stable alternative that provides a long-term assessment of stress and reproductive […]