The Urban Coyote, Reconsidered

Coyotes live in cities ranging from Austin to Denver, from Los Angeles County to New York's Westchester County.

"Cities have put more and more resources toward creating green spaces-butterfly gardens, parks, natural areas in golf courses," says Stan Gehrt, an Ohio State University biologist who leads the Cook County, Illinois, Coyote Project, which has captured, released, and tracked more than 500 coyotes in Chicago since 2000. "They want a sense of nature. But when nature starts using it, some people get upset. We'd argue that coyotes are an important part of the natural world, even in cities." In fact, despite their relative invisibility and shady reputation, Gehrt has found that the canids play a significant role in the urban ecosystem, helping to keep in check populations of everything from Canada geese to deer.