Coyote (Canis Latrans) Occurrence Relative to Human Use on Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Alberta
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2016 Coyote (Canis latrans) occurrence relative to human use on Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Alberta Lantz, Jamie Lantz, J. (2016). Coyote (Canis latrans) occurrence relative to human use on Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Alberta (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25479 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2864 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Coyote (Canis latrans) occurrence relative to human use on Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Alberta by Jamie Lantz A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOGRAPHY CALGARY, ALBERTA March, 2016 © Jamie Lantz 2016 Abstract Although coyote (Canis latrans) attacks in Canada are rare, they tend to fuel lethal action. However, killing coyotes is ineffective for reducing long-term conflict and is ecologically destructive. Thus, coexistence is crucial. Understanding how humans and coyotes share the landscape is important to help mitigate conflict. I explored human- coyote co-occurrence in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Alberta between June 2014 and June 2015. Cameras and scat surveys collected data on high and low human use trails. These two methods detected coyote occurrence equally on both trail types as well as across seasons. On all trail types coyote occurrence was greatest during the winter (versus fall and summer), dispersal season (versus the weaning season) and nighttime and daytime (versus the twilight periods). Coyote occurrence significantly decreased on trails when cyclists, vehicles and prey were present. In contrast, coyote occurrence increased when coyote(s) used trails within the past day. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Shelley Alexander, for her guidance and knowledge throughout my degree. Additionally, I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Dianne Draper and Dr. Mary Pavelka. As well, thank you to Dr. Darren Bender for sitting on my proposal defence committee. Thank you to my lab mates, Victoria Lukasik, Elisabeth van Stam, Kyle Plotsky and Jay Reid, for their support. Thanks to Derek Wilson for his help in the lab as well as Bart Hulshof for his knowledge of GIS. Thank you to Dr. Tak Fung for helping me during the statistical analysis. Also, thank you to the Geography Department students, teachers and administrative staff for their encouragement. Thank you to those who provided me with the resources necessary to complete my degree. Thank you to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the ACA Grants in Biodiversity (supported by the Alberta Conservation Association) and the University of Calgary for funding. Thank you to the Miistakis Institute for lending me remotely-triggered cameras. Thanks to Alberta Parks for providing me with important camera data, map layers and access to Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. As well, thank you to the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park Foundation for their wealth of information. Thank you to the Conservation Officers of the park for helping me set up and take down my cameras, including Huntley Johnston, Curtis Haslehurst and John Duguid. Special thanks to my family and friends. I would not have been able to do this without you. iii Dedication To my family and friends: To the field we went, my family and friends In search of coyote feces. Jarrett, Lia, Vic, Anne, Paul and Jen Helped support me during my thesis. Jarrett focused on bike “wheelies” And dropped batteries into the snow. Lia brought Brody, her collie-cross Who trail walked like a torpedo. Anne and Paul braved wildlife paths, Jen and I never found poop. Victoria came with me at the start We got lost north of Yodel Loop. Uncle Mark joined in as well as my dog They really gave it their all. Mom came with me countless times Walking the low use trails long haul. Dad came with us on the worst day The snow was up to our hips. Although I broke trail dad still complained His heart rhythm was on the blitz. Thank you everyone for being there Defying snow, cold, rain and wind. Maybe we’ll go back in a little while, but for now… An adventure it’s truly been. iv Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents .................................................................................................................v List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures and Illustrations ....................................................................................... viii List of Symbols, Abbreviations and Nomenclature ........................................................... ix Epigraph ............................................................................................................................. xi Chapter One: Introduction ...................................................................................................1 1.1 Project Summary ........................................................................................................1 1.2 Problem Statement and Research Questions .............................................................2 1.3 Study Area .................................................................................................................3 1.4 Thesis Organization ...................................................................................................6 CHAPTER TWO: BACKGROUND ...................................................................................7 2.1 Coyote Natural History ..............................................................................................7 2.1.1 Taxonomy and Appearance ...............................................................................7 2.1.2 Distribution and Habitat ....................................................................................8 2.1.3 Territory and Home Range Size ........................................................................9 2.1.4 Diet ..................................................................................................................10 2.1.5 Reproduction ...................................................................................................11 2.1.6 Social Structure ...............................................................................................12 2.1.7 Competitors .....................................................................................................13 2.2 Human-Coyote Conflict ...........................................................................................14 2.3 Ecological Importance of Coyotes ...........................................................................18 2.4 Coexistence ..............................................................................................................18 CHAPTER THREE: COMPARING COYOTE OCCURRENCE BETWEEN CAMERA TRAPPING AND SCAT SURVEYS .....................................................21 3.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................21 3.1.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................21 3.1.2 Significance .....................................................................................................23 3.2 Research Question and Hypotheses .........................................................................24 3.3 Study Area ...............................................................................................................24 3.4 Methods ...................................................................................................................26 3.4.1 Statistical Justification and Analysis ...............................................................29 3.5 Results ......................................................................................................................30 3.6 Discussion ................................................................................................................31 3.7 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................34 CHAPTER FOUR: COYOTE OCCURRENCE RELATIVE TO PEOPLE IN GRPP .....35 4.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................35 4.1.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................35 4.1.2 Significance .....................................................................................................35