Efforts to reduce coyote numbers may be wasted, according to a new University of Georgia study. Researchers tracking Eastern coyote populations across the Southeast found they rebound quickly, often surpassing pre-removal levels.
Using camera traps and howl analysis, researcher at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry estimated more than one coyote per square mile in South Carolina’s Savannah River Site, an unexpectedly high density for a forested area.
An 18-year review revealed that costly removal efforts, $30,000 to $50,000 annually, produced only short-term reductions, with coyotes migrating from neighboring regions to fill gaps. Researchers recommend focusing on habitat management and adapting hunting regulations to support prey species rather than pursuing unsustainable eradication campaigns.
