Coyote Movements in Relation to the Spatial Distribution of Sheep

Abstract

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are a major predator of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) grazed on open range, but studies have not examined how coyote movement patterns change in relation to this temporally intermittent and spatially clumped food resource. Using 8 resident coyotes in the Sagehen Creek watershed, Nevada County, California, we found that coyote core areas (64% adaptive kernal estimator) overlapped more while sheep were in the basin, that at least 1 resident animal followed the sheep into other animals' core areas, and that coyotes did not avoid each other in areas where sheep were concentrated. We conclude that under the conditions of our study, territoriality in coyotes does not limit coyote access to sheep. Conclusions drawn by studies of coyotes not influenced by sheep may be spurious if inferences are made to sheep-influenced populations.