Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2009 Surgical Sterilization of Coyotes to Reduce Predation on Pronghorn Fawns Renee Seidler Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Seidler, Renee, "Surgical Sterilization of Coyotes to Reduce Predation on Pronghorn Fawns" (2009). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 306. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/306 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. SURGICAL STERILIZATION OF COYOTES TO REDUCE PREDATION ON PRONGHORN FAWNS by Renee Seidler A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Wildlife Biology Approved: ______________________________ ______________________________ Eric M. Gese Mary M. Conner Major Professor Committee Member ______________________________ ______________________________ James A. MacMahon Byron R. Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2009 ii Copyright © Renee Seidler 2009 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Surgical Sterilization of Coyotes to Reduce Predation on Pronghorn Fawns by Renee Seidler, Master of Science Utah State University, 2009 Major Professor: Eric M. Gese Department: Wildland Resources Coyote ( Canis latrans ) predation accounts for the majority of neonatal pronghorn (Antilocapra americana ) mortality in many areas and may influence local population declines. Current techniques used to manage coyote predation on wildlife species generally focus on lethal control methods. However, these methods may be controversial to the general public.