Coyote

A presentation by Numi Mitchell, PhD, was held on Sunday, March 30, 2008. If you missed it you can view the video on YouTube below.

This presentation discussed the rising coyote population in Rhode Island, their role in a balanced ecosystem, and how humans may coexist with them. It was sponsored by the Tiverton Land Trust and the Tiverton Open Space Commission.

The return of large areas of open habitat across New England has led to an increased population of wild animal species. One species on the rise is the coyote. Originally native to the American West, this wily creature has sustained repeated government programs to exterminate it. Today it not only has survived but has expanded its range eastward and is now common in areas of New England. The increasing population of coyotes, along with the growth of suburban sprawl into rural areas, has led to problems where coyotes and people interface. This program discussed coyote behavior, their value as a predator in a wild ecosystem, and how to deal with coyotes in your neighborhood.

Dr. Numi Mitchell is a biologist with The Conservation Agency in Jamestown Rhode Island who specializes in resource and habitat use by wildlife. A recent project of hers was the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study that researched local behavioral patterns of coyotes.