Suitability of the forest landscape for coyotes in northeastern North America and its implications for coexistence with other carnivores

We compared rural and forest coyotes in northeastern North America under th e hypothesis that the forest landscape represents a marginal habitat for th is species. We predicted that forest coyotes would have larger home ranges and higher rates of mortality and/or emigration than rural coyotes. We also predicted that coyotes would select for open habitats in both landscapes t hroughout the year, and would not follow white-tailed deer in their migrati on to wintering areas. Forest (n = 14) and rural (n = 10) coyotes foraged o ver 89 and 27 km(2), respectively, during the trapping season (18 October - 1 March), and over 111 and 48 km(2) during the rest of the year. Annual su rvival rate did not vary significantly (P = 0.34) between adult forest and rural coyotes, averaging 74% and 60%, respectively; pups died at a higher r ate in both landscapes (P < 0.01). All monitored coyotes died from anthropo genic factors, mostly from trapping. Forest coyotes exhibited a tendency to disperse and to make forays in the rural landscape where some died. We det ected no selection for open habitats, irrespective of season or landscape, nor did coyotes show a strong preference for deer wintering areas. However, coyotes with deer wintering areas in their home ranges intensified their u se of these areas when deer concentrated in them between December and April . We conclude that the forest landscape of northeastern North America posse sses a low carrying capacity for coyotes even in the absence of wolves. We also conclude that eastern coyotes cannot replace gray wolves in this biome , and we speculate on the consequences of the arrival of this new predator for the conservation of other mesocarnivores.