Coyotes are more widespread today than ever-- now in every state in the continental U.S.
New research from the University of Michigan that looks into why.
Coyotes are just about everywhere in Michigan—from the cities to pristine hardwood forests.
Professor Nyeema Harris, who studies carnivores at the University of Michigan, wanted to know how coyotes shift their behavior depending on their neighbors. In this case, when they’re with wolves.
So she and her team hunted across the state from the UP to mid-Michigan for scat samples—that’s coyote poo. And when she compared what the coyotes were eating:
"We did see a change," said Harris. "We did see a change in the diet, when coyotes were with wolves and when they weren’t."
In the UP, where wolves are around, coyotes eat less meat. And in the lower peninsula, the wily coyote is still top dog. That can help explain why the canines have managed to thrive in human-dominated landscapes. They adapt