Survival and Home Range Fidelity of Coyotes in Montana: Implications for Control

Abstract

Survival and home range characteristics of coyotes (Canis latrans) were examined in the Missouri River Breaks of Montana during 1976-1992. Mean annual survival was greater (P = 0.05) for coyotes captured as adults (0.70-0. 76) than those captured as juveniles (0.42). I attributed this difference to social status of individual coyotes and related habitat use. Survival of nomaddisperser adults (0.35-0.42) did not differ (P>0.20) from coyotes captured as juveniles. Survival of denning coyotes (0.82-0.85) was greater than either those captured as juveniles or nomaddisperser adults (P<0.002). Survival in this heavily exploited coyote population was similar to that reported for lightly exploited coyote populations. One male coyote lived for a minimum of 13.5 years. Three individual denning coyotes used the same home range for at least 5 years. Coyote populations increased despite fur prices ranging from $40-150 (in effect, a high bounty). High survival of an effective predator of mule deer on this area (denning coyotes) suggested that a general bounty system would not increase survival of deer.