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Interim Progress Report Research Title:

Population Status and Foraging Ecology of Eastern Coyotes in New York State Principal Investigators:

Jacqueline Frair, James Gibbs, Christina Boser, and Robin Holevinski, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Gordon Batcheller and Paul Jensen, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Project Initiation: 1 January 2007 Report Date: 15 May 2008 Abstract: The objectives of this research are three-fold: 1) produce a broad-scale, spatially-explicit estimate of coyote distribution and abundance across NY State and a survey protocol to assess changes in population status, 2) identify the important spatial and temporal variables affecting the consumption of adult and fawn deer by coyotes, and 3) quantify seasonal diets, movements, and habitat use of coyotes in focal areas. These objectives will be achieved through a combination of intensive study of marked coyotes within focal study areas and broader-scale, noninvasive sampling of coyote populations. Between 15 January and 1 April 2008, GPS collar data from 5 coyotes were downloaded weekly and field crews visited location ‘clusters’ (n=395) and single points (n=382) to search for deer carcasses. Of 45 deer carcasses found, 3 (7%) were killed by coyotes, 25 (55%) were scavenged, and 17 (37%) were undetermined cause of death. The 3 coyote-killed deer had previously injured appendages, making them more vulnerable to predation. Backtracking efforts also revealed 9 cows, 3 eastern cottontails, and 5 small mammals at cluster and single point locations. Between 1 January and 30 April 2008, we collected 461 scats for DNA and winter diet analyses. Trapping resumed in early spring to deploy the remaining GPS collars before the peak fawning period. Between March 15 and April 30, 2008, we trapped 12 coyotes and deployed 6 GPS and 6 VHF collars with assistance from DEC staff and local trappers. We are currently monitoring 11 coyotes in Steuben County (6 GPS and 5 VHF collars) and 15 coyotes in Otsego County (5 GPS and 10 VHF collars). In late April, infrared trail cameras were deployed on 2 dens in Steuben and Otsego Counties to assess the feasibility of using this method to document predation on fawns. Our priorities for spring include back-tracking GPS-collared coyotes to search for fawn kill sites, placing cameras near dens of GPS-collared coyotes to document fawn predation, estimating relative densities of small mammals within study areas, and collecting scats for diet analysis.

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Progress Our field objectives for January - April 2008 were to 1) monitor collared coyotes, 2) backtrack GPS-collared coyotes to locate deer carcasses and determine deer kills, 3) collect DNA from scats to estimate local population density, 4) collect and analyze scats to document winter diets, 5) continue trapping to deploy collars in both study sites, and 6) place infrared trail cameras at den sites to determine the feasibility of this approach to document fawn predation. The sections to follow provide detail on our trapping success, collared animals, diet analyses, and winter backtracking efforts. Coyote Trapping

Trapping resumed in mid-March 2008 and continued through 30 April 2008 to redeploy collars that had been returned to us during the harvest season and to increase sample sizes in both study areas before the peak fawning period. In this 6-week trapping period, we captured 12 coyotes and deployed 6 GPS and 6 VHF collars with assistance from DEC staff and 2 local trappers. We are currently monitoring 11 coyotes in Steuben County (6 GPS and 5 VHF collars) and 15 coyotes in Otsego County (5 GPS and 10 VHF collars) (Table 1). In March, Martin Lowney, USDA-APHIS, visited Otsego County to offer advice on setting cable restraints. Traplines were closed at the end of April, prior to turkey hunting season, but may resume later this spring. Because local trappers assisted with trapping, we do not have an accurate assessment of trapping effort compiled at this time. Coyote Monitoring

Field crews are regularly monitoring GPS and VHF collared coyotes in Steuben and Otsego Counties. Throughout the winter, VHF collared coyotes were contacted once every 10 days, on average. GPS-collared coyotes were contacted more frequently to download data for backtracking. In late-April, B. Sharick, NYS DEC, and R. Holevinski conducted an aerial survey with the New York State Police Aviation Unit to locate a GPS-collared coyote that had been missing from Otsego County for several weeks after capture. The missing coyote was not located during this flight, but locations were obtained for several coyotes in the area.

Photo: Cobleskill Intern, Tom Cunningham, assists with placement of a GPS collar on an adult female coyote in Steuben County.

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Table 1. Capture details for GPS and radio-collared coyotes summer 2007- April 2008. Animal Capture Age / Collar Collar Trap Type ID # Date Sex Status Type ID Injuries/comments Status Otsego County M1 6/10/07 M Adult VHF 9001 Foothold Tracking M2 6/10/07 M Adult GPS 1488-9500 Foothold Cut on foot Dead 11/5/07 M3 6/11/07 M Adult VHF 9204 Cable restraint Swollen neck Dead 2/15/08 F4 6/18/07 F Adult GPS 1490-8559 Cable restraint Dead 10/20/07 F5 6/21/07 F Adult GPS 1489-8539 Foothold Cut on foot Tracking M6 6/22/07 M Adult GPS 1486-9441 Foothold Dead 11/18/07 M7 6/30/07 M Yearling VHF 9301 Cable restraint Tracking F8 7/15/07 F Sub-Adult VHF 8503 Cable restraint Swollen neck Dead 5/12/08 F9 7/25/07 F Adult VHF 8030 Foothold Cut on foot Tracking F10 7/2707 F Adult VHF Foothold Tracking M11 8/15/07 M Adult VHF Foothold Tracking F12 11/8/07 F Adult VHF 4020 Foothold Missing 2 toes Dead 11/14/07 M13 11/18/08 M Sub-Adult VHF 4020 Foothold Cut on foot Dead 11/20/08 F14 1/13/08 M Adult VHF Foothold Tracking F15 1/29/08 F Yearling VHF Foothold Tracking M16 4/10/08 M Adult GPS Foothold Missing F17 4/17/08 F Sub-Adult VHF Foothold Tracking F18 4/17/08 F Sub-Adult VHF Foothold Tracking F19 4/18/08 F Adult GPS Foothold Tracking F20 4/19/08 F Adult GPS Foothold Tracking M21 4/22/08 M Adult GPS Foothold Toe bleeding Tracking F22 4/25/08 F Sub-Adult VHF Foothold Cut on foot Tracking Steuben County SF1 11/02/07 F Adult VHF 6035 Foothold Cut on foot Tracking SF2 11/05/07 F Adult VHF 8029 Foothold Cut on foot Tracking SF3 11/06/07 F Sub-Adult GPS 1491-5790 Foothold Cut on back Tracking SF4 11/17/08 F Adult GPS 1487-4792 Foothold Tracking SM5 12/30/08 M Adult GPS 1486-4410 Cable restraint Swollen neck Tracking SM6 11/14/08 M Sub-Adult GPS 1598-0340 Foothold Tracking SF7 11/18/08 F Sub-Adult GPS 1599-1488 Cable restraint Dead 2/23/08 SF8 4/09/08 F Adult VHF Foothold Cut on foot Tracking SF9 4/12/08 F Adult GPS Foothold Cut on foot Tracking SF10 4/12/08 F Adult GPS Foothold Cut on foot Tracking SM11 4/24/08 M Adult VHF Foothold Abrasion on foot Tracking SM12 4/26/08 M Adult VHF Cable restraint Swollen neck Tracking

1 To protect the integrity of the study, capture locations and radio-collar frequencies will be kept confidential until the close of the study. If these data are needed, please submit a written request to Jacqueline Frair (jfrair@esf.edu).

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Coyote mortalities: A total of 24% (34 collared, 8 dead) of our collared coyotes have been killed since the start of the legal season (all mortalities to date have been or appear to be harvest-related). In Otsego County, 4 were shot by farmers, 1 was harvested in an organized hunt (approximately 70 miles from the original capture location), and 1 was found dead with a wound in its leg (likely an arrow wound based on communication with a bow-hunter who shot a coyote in the area but lost track of it). This spring, another coyote was found dead by a farmer, but cause of death has not been determined. In Steuben County, 1 GPS-collared coyote was found dead with a gunshot wound in its leg. DNA-based population estimate

All scats collected between 1 January – 30 April 2008 (n=461) are being stored for DNA extraction to estimate local population sizes. Thirty scats were sent to David Paetkau at Wildlife Genetics International (http://www.wildlifegenetics.ca) to optimize primers for individual coyote identification. Formal analysis of the remaining scats will be undertaken by Wildlife Genetics International and ESF this summer. To help improve our scat detection rates, we worked this winter with two volunteers, CJ Hazell and Ken Ellison, who have trained their dogs to search for scats. Due to the frequency of snowfall, snowmelt, and ice conditions throughout the winter, and limited availability of dogs and dog handlers, use of this option was not as productive as we hoped. We will continue to investigate options to increase our detection of scat for DNA-based population estimates.

A pilot study is currently being conducted in Steuben County to assess the feasibility of obtaining coyote hair samples for DNA extraction. Hair snares (n=20), constructed of pieces of carpet with barbed nails poked through, were placed on the base of trees or the ground and baited with one of several lures (McDaniel et al. 2000). The lures may elicit a rolling response by coyotes on the hair snares, allowing us to obtain hair samples (superior to scat for DNA extraction), from several individuals at these scent stations.

Diet analyses (C. Boser, M.S. candidate)

To document seasonal prey use by coyotes, we aimed to collect 100 scats/area/season. Recent lab work focused on documenting the percent occurrence of each prey item within a given scat. Starting with the summer 2007 samples, we hand separated prey items in scats and identified hair and bone samples by both visual and tactile assessments. Scale impressions were required to differentiate fawn and adult deer. We created an imprint of the scale pattern by painting clear nail polish on a microscope slide, pressing the hair into the polish, and removing the hair after 120 seconds. Using a microscope we compared hair impressions to museum specimens and

Photo: C.J. Hazell works with her scat detection dog to locate coyote scat for DNA analysis in Otsego County.

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published images (Adorjan and Kolensky 1969). After prey items were identified, we visually estimated the percent occurrence by volume of each prey item in each scat. Scats from summer 2007 have been dominated by multiple prey items. Deer were the most common item observed in Otsego County, with deer and small mammals being equally abundant in the scats analyzed to date from Steuben County (Table 2). The summer diet analysis was completed this academic term with the help of 5 undergraduate students who received 1-3 hours of independent course credit. Winter diet samples were collected from 1 January – 30 April (n=461) and will be analyzed throughout the summer and fall. Table 2. The number of coyote scats collected and analyzed for prey items. # Scats -------------- % of Sorted Scats Containing -------------- Study Sample collected Adult Fawn Small Turkey Site Period (# sorted) Deer1 Deer Rabbit Mammal Otsego Jun-Aug 07 98 (96) 17 23 11 16 0 Steuben Jun-Aug 07 95 (91) 21 11 4 25 4 Otsego Jan-April 08 137 To be analyzed Steuben Jan-April 08 324 To be analyzed 1 Scale patterns on deer hair were used to differentiate fawn from adult deer.

Diet Selectivity: Understanding diet selectivity by coyotes will allow us to infer potential predation rates in response to naturally fluctuating prey populations. To quantify selectivity, the percent occurrence of prey items in the diet will be compared to their expected occurrence based on relative prey abundance in each study area. This analysis requires an estimate of the availability of primary prey items (deer, cottontails, and small mammals) in each study area. To estimate deer density, the standardized DEC distance sampling protocol was implemented in both study areas prior to the hunting season in 2007, and again at the end of March 2008. Surveys were stratified by agricultural versus forested transects (with a goal of seeing 40 deer groups in forest, and 80 in agricultural areas). Deer distance sampling data are currently being analyzed for seasonal variation between study sites. In May 2008, small mammal abundance will be assessed by placing track plates in forest and field arrays in both study areas for 3-day periods. Presence/absence of small mammal tracks will be used to calculate density using a percent area occupied approach. Quantifying deer kills (R. Holevinski, Ph.D. candidate)

To find deer kills and calculate kill rates, we used a GPS collar cluster visitation approach (Anderson and Lindzey 2003, Sand et al. 2005, Franke et al. 2006 ). Location ‘clusters’ were identified as any 2 GPS locations for a coyote occurring within 50 m of each of other within a 7-day period. The geographic center-point of each location cluster was identified using ArcGIS and programmed into a handheld GPS unit. Clusters were visited in the field within 1-7 days of their occurrence, when possible. At each cluster location, a systematic search of the area was made for signs of prey remains and coyote activity. If a deer carcass was located, detailed information was recorded to identify the condition of the carcass and cause of death. These data were used to classify carcasses into kill, likely kill, scavenge, likely scavenge, or unknown categories. In addition to visiting GPS clusters, 25% of single GPS collar locations were

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randomly selected and visited to determine if kill sites were missed by focusing only on clusters of GPS collared animals.

From 15 January – 1 April 2008, a 7-person field crew searched 395 clusters and 382 single point locations for 4 GPS-collared coyotes in Steuben County (Figure 1) and 1 GPS-collared coyote in Otsego County. Deer carcasses were found at 32 cluster locations and 13 single-point locations. Of the 45 deer carcasses found, 3 (7%) were killed by coyotes, 25 (55%) were scavenged, and 17 (37%) were unknown cause of death. The 3 coyote-killed deer had previously injured appendages, making them more vulnerable to predation. Backtracking efforts also revealed 9 cows, 4 eastern cottontails, and 5 small mammals at cluster and single point locations. During the backtracking period, the total number of GPS locations available to search per coyote ranged from 918 to 1675, and field crews searched 19-59% of the locations of individual coyotes.

Photo: SUNY Cobleskill intern, Brad Sherburne, and volunteer, Brett Sherburne, examine a deer carcass located at a cluster site.

Figure 1. Locations of GPS-collared coyotes (n=5) in Steuben County, each represented by a different color. Black circles represent searched clusters (n=354) and single point locations (n=315). Yellow circles represent locations of deer carcasses (n=45), green squares are deer kill sites (n=3), and blue circles are cow carcasses (n=9).

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Locating Den Sites Using GPS locations from collared coyotes in April 2008, we located 2 dens in Otsego County and 4 in Steuben County. Various models of infrared motion-detecting cameras were placed near den entrances to assess the feasibility of using this technique to document predation on fawns. By downloading GPS data from coyote collars after camera deployment, we detected if coyotes moved pups to alternate dens. After dens were moved, we recovered cameras and have obtained several video clips and still photos from 3 cameras to date.

Photo Top: Still photo obtained from an infrared trail camera placed at den site in Steuben County.

Photo Left: Five sleeping coyote pups at a den site in Steuben County located with GPS-collar technology.

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Field Help Needed

We intend to continue back-tracking from mid-May through June 2008 to search for fawn kills using our GPS clustering approach. Coyote scats will continue to be collected throughout the spring and summer for diet analyses. Small mammal trapping and deer distance sampling may be conducted again in August. Two Cobleskill interns (Brad Sherburne and Tom Cunningham) extended their internship period for an additional 15 weeks and will be working on the project until the beginning of August. In addition, 2 full-time volunteers will be assisting with field efforts from mid-May through June. Field housing has been acquired in Otsego County through August and in Steuben County through July to accommodate the interns and volunteers. There has been a tremendous interest among potential volunteers (see Acknowledgements section), but the factor limiting their involvement has been a lack of field housing close to the field sites. Housing remains a challenge for future field seasons. Literature Cited

Adorjan, A.S., and G.B. Kolenoski. 1969. A manual for the identification of hairs of selected Ontario mammals. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto, Ontario, Research Report, No. 90.

Anderson, C.R., and F.G. Lindzey. 2003. Estimating cougar predation rates from GPS location clusters. Journal of Wildlife Management 67: 307–316.

Anderson, D.P., J.D. Forester, M.G. Turner, J.L. Frair, E.H. Merrill, D. Fortin, J.S. Mao, and M.S. Boyce. 2005. Factors influencing home range sizes in elk (Cervus elaphus) in North American landscapes. Landscape Ecology 20:257-271.

Franke, K.A., A.T. Caelli, G. Cuzyk, and R.J. Hudson. 2006. Prediction of wolf (Canis lupus) kill sites using hidden Markov models. Ecological Modelling 197: 237-246.

Goodison, B.E., H.L. Ferguson, and G.A. McKay. 1981. Measurement and analysis. Pages 191-274 in Gray, D.M, and D.H. Male (eds), Handbook of snow: principles, processes, management and use. Pergamon, New York.

McDaniel, G.W., K.S. McKelvey, J.R. Squires, L.F. Ruggiero. 2000. Efficacy of lures and hair s Snares to detect lynx. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 28 (1): 119-123. MacKenzie, D.I., J.D. Nichols, J.A. Royle, K.H. Pollock, L.L. Bailey, and J.E. Hines.

2006. Occupancy estimation and modeling: Inferring patterns and dynamics of species occurrence. Associated Press, Boston, MA

Sand, H.B., B. Zimmerman, P. Wabakken, H. Andren, and H.C. Pedersen. 2005. Using GPS technology and GIS cluster analyses to estimate kill rates in wolf-ungulate ecosystems. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33: 914-925.

Webb, N.F., M. Hebblewhite, and E.H. Merrill. In press. Statistical methods for identifying wolf kill sites using GPS locations. Journal of Wildlife Management.

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Outreach

Presentations • NY State Trappers Convention, Herkimer (Sept 2007) • Town of VanEttan public meeting (Sept 2007, 100 attendees) • Town of Horseheads public meeting (Sept 2007, 35 attendees) • Gander Mountain (Sept 2007, 5-30 people/venue):

o Kingston, Utica, Johnson City, and Middletown • NY State Fish and Wildlife Management Advisory Board, Watertown (Oct 2007) • Bass Pro Sport Shop, Auburn (Oct 2007) • Canisteo Rotary (Dec 2007, 30 people) • Outdoor Recreation Show at Wilkin’s R.V., Bath (Oct 2007) • NY State Trappers Association, executive meeting, Herkimer (Jan 2008) • NYS DEC Furbearer Team Meeting, Blue Mountain Lake (Feb 2008) • New York Conservation Council Meeting, Albany (March 2008) • NY State Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Annual Meeting, Owego (Feb 2008) • Finger Lakes Community College Speaking of Nature Series, Honeoye (Mar 2008) • Northeast Natural History Conference, Albany (April 2008) • Cornell University, The Wildlife Society Meeting, Ithaca (April 2008) • Northeast Trappers Convention, Herkimer (May 2008)

Interviews • Dave Figura, Syracuse Post-Standard article (Dec 2007) • RJ Kelly, Schenectady Daily Gazette (Feb 2007) • Katie Graham, News Channel 18, Elmira (February 2008) • Elizabeth Milograno, Fox News 23, Albany (April 2008)

Acknowledgements

Many thanks are owed to the army of people and organizations that provide expertise, equipment, and technical support to the project. Below is a partial list in alphabetical order (we are very sorry if a person or organization has been overlooked, please help us to keep this list complete by letting us know).

Adam Buck Local trapper Alan Low Volunteer, SUNY ESF Allison Roy Volunteer, SUNY ESF Andrew Drake Volunteer, assisted with deer distance sampling Bath Veterinary Hospital Ben Shern SUNY Cobleskill internship Bill Hoffman NYS DEC Bill Porter SUNY ESF Bill Sharick NYS DEC Brad Sherburne SUNY Cobleskill internship Brett Sherburne Volunteer Brian Underwood SUNY ESF C.J. Hazell Short-term volunteer, dog handler Charlie Miller Local trapper

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Dale Plunkett SUNY ESF Fleet Management Daniel Andres Unpaid intern, Fleming College, Ontario Ed Kautz NYS DEC Elaina Burns Nazareth College intern Elizabeth Trotter Volunteer, SUNY ESF Eric Pettit SUNY Cobleskill volunteer Garrett Grilli SUNY Cobleskill internship Gary Golja NYS DEC Gregg Gantter Pilot, New York State Police Aviation Unit Jack Sincock Local trapper Jeff Piel NYS DEC Jeff Gettmann Finger Lakes Community College Intern Jenny Mertaugh SUNY Cobleskill internship for credit Jeremy Hurst NYS DEC Jerry Gamet Local trapper (Mountaintop Trapping Supplies) Jim Phenus Local trapper Jim Stickles Volunteer, SUNY ESF Joel Fiske NYSDEC Forester assisted with deer distance sampling John Olin Local trapper Jon Wood Short-term volunteer Josh Ferguson Short-term volunteer, B.S. SUNY ESF Justin Rejman NYSDEC seasonal technician Katyee Stienkerchner Volunteer, SUNY ESF Keith Chappell Volunteer, SUNY ESF Ken Ellison Short-term volunteer, dog handler Leith McGregor Volunteer Lou Berchielli NYS DEC Martin Lowney State Director, New York USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services Marty Delong NYS DEC Megan Esmay Volunteer, B.S. Michigan State Michael Clancy Short-term volunteer, NYSDEC Michael Clark Paid technician Mike Davis SUNY Cobleskill volunteer Nate Bent SUNY Cobleskill volunteer NY State Trappers Association Pete Randall Pilot, Costa Flying Service Phil Peters Volunteer Phil Savoy Volunteer, SUNY ESF Richard Malecki Short-term volunteer, Cornell University Ryan Masti Volunteer, Bath-Haverling High School Sarah Rotundo Volunteer, SUNY ESF Sasha Ewing Volunteer, Finger Lakes Community College Scott Smith NYS DEC Shaina Gerstenslager Volunteer, SUNY ESF Steuben Veterinary Clinic Tom Cunningham SUNY Cobleskill internship Tom Koepft SUNY Cobleskill volunteer

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Contact Information

Jacqueline Frair James Gibbs SUNY ESF SUNY ESF 1 Forestry Drive 1 Forestry Drive 250 Illick Hall 250 Illick Hall Syracuse, NY 13210 Syracuse, NY 13210 Office Phone: 315-470-4905 Office Phone: 315-470-6764 Email: HTUjfrair@esf.eduUTH Email: HTUjpgibbs@esf.eduUTH

Gordon Batcheller Paul Jensen NYS DEC NYS DEC 625 Broadway, 5P

thP Floor 232 Hudson Street Extension

Albany, NY 12233-4754 P.O. Box 220 Office Phone: 508-402-8885 Warrensburgh, NY 12885-0220 Email: HTUgrbatche@gw.dec.state.ny.usUTH Office Phone: 518-623-1242 Email: HTUpgjensen@gw.dec.state.ny.usUTH

Christina Boser (M.S. Student) Robin Holevinski (Ph.D. Student) SUNY ESF, Illick Hall SUNY ESF, Illick Hall 1 Forestry Drive 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse, NY 13210 Syracuse, NY 13210 Office Phone: 315-470-6985 Office Phone: 315-470-6985 Email: HTUclboser@syr.eduUTH Email: HTUraholevi@syr.edu