Sheep-predation behaviors of wild-caught, confined coyotes: some historical data

摘要: Author(s): Sterner, Ray T.; Crane, Kenneth A. | Abstract: As part of efforts to develop The Livestock Protection Collar (U .S. EPA Reg. No. 56228-22), we videotaped sheep-predation events by 23 (15 male and 8 female) wild-caught, confined coyotes (Canis latrans) in a 31 × 41-m enclosure. Coyotes were paired individually with sheep (Ovis aries) during 1-h daily trials. Nineteen (13male 6 the made 75 fatal attacks 1 7 each; 4 (2 2 no despite 19 39 pairings. Of that attacks, 13 (9 always attacked at neck sheep; 5 (4 nipping legs/head/back two initial events, but subsequently sheep. Greater time captivity was not correlated trials preceding attack (rho= +0.23). Among making ≥2 subsequent predation occurred after fewer intervening pairings Initial feeding sites most frequently flanks/ribs Although collected between 1976 1980, these observations represent never-to-be-acquired-again data set remains timely. Data showed all display behaviors or kill efficiently. Instrumental learning stimulus-habituation models coyote behavior are discussed.