Post by trophiesonly on Feb 3, 2012 11:23:42 GMT -4
COYOTE STATUS IN PENNSYLVANIA
Although the fossil records indicate that coyotes were in the
northeastern United States in prehistoric times, they were essentially
unknown to the region before 1900 (McGinnis and George 1980). The
first verified specimen in Pennsylvania was recorded in 1946 from
Clearfield County (Hilton 1978). It is believed that coyotes have spread
southward from Ontario, Canada (Hilton 1978, Genoways 1986), and
possibly eastward from the midwestern United States (McGinnis 1979,
Weeks et al. 1990). It is also possible that the range expansion of the
coyote has been facilitated by intentional and unintentional releases of
captive animals (McGinnis and George 1980, Genoways 1986, Hill et
al. 1987).
By 1974, coyotes occupied the northern tier counties of
Pennsylvania, possibly dispersing from New York, and rapidly
expanded their range to include much of Pennsylvania by 1983
(Hayden 1984). By 1990, coyotes were reported in 65 of 67 counties,
failing to occupy only Delaware and Philadelphia counties and the
major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
As in several other northeastern states (e.g., Connecticut, Maine,
Vermont), coyotes were slow to increase in numbers in Pennsylvania
until the last several decades. Perhaps dispersing young had difficulty
finding mates until a certain "critical number" occurred in the state
(the so-called Allee effect, Witmer 1990). Although there may have
been only about 100 coyotes in Pennsylvania in 1974, their numbers
increased steadily to about 4,000 in 1990 (Table 1). This represents an
annual increase of about 250 coyotes per yearbetween 1974 and 1988.
This population increase has occuneddespiteaconcurrent increase in
harvest of coyotes (Table 1).
Coyotes in Pennsylvania use virtually all habitats in the state
except urban. It appears that a pair of coyotes in Pennsylvania use
about 52 km2. Based on sightings, damage complaints, and harvests,
Although the fossil records indicate that coyotes were in the
northeastern United States in prehistoric times, they were essentially
unknown to the region before 1900 (McGinnis and George 1980). The
first verified specimen in Pennsylvania was recorded in 1946 from
Clearfield County (Hilton 1978). It is believed that coyotes have spread
southward from Ontario, Canada (Hilton 1978, Genoways 1986), and
possibly eastward from the midwestern United States (McGinnis 1979,
Weeks et al. 1990). It is also possible that the range expansion of the
coyote has been facilitated by intentional and unintentional releases of
captive animals (McGinnis and George 1980, Genoways 1986, Hill et
al. 1987).
By 1974, coyotes occupied the northern tier counties of
Pennsylvania, possibly dispersing from New York, and rapidly
expanded their range to include much of Pennsylvania by 1983
(Hayden 1984). By 1990, coyotes were reported in 65 of 67 counties,
failing to occupy only Delaware and Philadelphia counties and the
major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
As in several other northeastern states (e.g., Connecticut, Maine,
Vermont), coyotes were slow to increase in numbers in Pennsylvania
until the last several decades. Perhaps dispersing young had difficulty
finding mates until a certain "critical number" occurred in the state
(the so-called Allee effect, Witmer 1990). Although there may have
been only about 100 coyotes in Pennsylvania in 1974, their numbers
increased steadily to about 4,000 in 1990 (Table 1). This represents an
annual increase of about 250 coyotes per yearbetween 1974 and 1988.
This population increase has occuneddespiteaconcurrent increase in
harvest of coyotes (Table 1).
Coyotes in Pennsylvania use virtually all habitats in the state
except urban. It appears that a pair of coyotes in Pennsylvania use
about 52 km2. Based on sightings, damage complaints, and harvests,