If you’ve seen a coyote in metro Atlanta lately — or just have some strong feelings about the lanky animals showing up in your area — Chris Mowry and his research team at Berry College in Rome want to know about it.
Mowry, a Berry biology professor who has been studying coyotes for the past 10 years, is leading a new study of the animals living in urban areas. He is kicking off the effort by surveying metro Atlanta residents about their attitudes and experiences with the creatures.
“This is a chance for folks to be ‘citizen-scientists,’” Mowry said. “Even if you’ve never seen or had any interaction with a coyote, your responses will be helpful to us.”
To participate, go to the Atlanta Coyote Project Facebook page at facebook.com/atlantacoyoteproject, then click on and fill out the electronic survey form.
A primary goal of the project, Mowry said, is “to develop a better understanding about such things as coyote movement patterns, population sizes and feeding behaviors” in metro Atlanta and other urban areas. The results will allow the researchers to target areas for further study, such as installing camera traps and attaching GPS collars to some of the animals to track their roaming and feeding habits.
Ultimately, the aim is to help wildlife biologists better manage coyotes in urban areas and perhaps reduce their interactions with humans.
Coyotes are unique in their ability to rapidly adapt to a variety of habitats, according to biologists with the state Department of Natural Resources. With the disappearance of the once-common red wolf in the past century across Georgia, coyotes have been able to fill a once-occupied void and now can be found statewide.
Small house pets (especially cats), young or small livestock and poultry are vulnerable and susceptible to coyote predation. To prevent that, DNR biologists advise that pets be brought indoors at night, when coyotes are most apt to hunt. If the pet can’t come inside, put up fencing to discourage coyotes.
In the sky: The moon is new Saturday, so it won't be visible Saturday night. But, just after dark Monday, look for a thin crescent moon low in the west, said David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer. Mercury is low in the east just before dawn. Mars is low in the southwest at sunset and sets about an hour later; it will appear near the moon Tuesday night. Jupiter rises out of the east just before midnight.
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