Spatial and Temporal Use of University Campus by Coyotes and Humans in Vancouver, British Columbia

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are highly adaptable animals that are increasingly seen in urban areas. Understanding coyote activity patterns in urban areas is important in creating management plans to mitigate human-coyote conflict. University campuses present an opportunity to broaden our understanding of wildlife activity in urban regions and may be attractive habitats for wildlife due to the presence of anthropogenic food sources. However, to my knowledge, no research has investigated coyote activity on a university campus. This study aimed to determine coyote and human activity patterns at the University of British Columbia, where a population of coyotes is known to reside. We used wildlife monitoring cameras to collect images of coyotes and humans on campus from February 1-March 31, 2022 and included additional data from January 2022. We found that coyote sightings tended to be highest during the night (10:00PM-6:00PM), while human sightings were highest during the day (8:00AM-8:00PM). Coyotes were most frequently seen at cameras where human activity was lowest and that were closest to the forested areas surrounding the campus. These findings suggest that coyotes preferred to be active both temporally and spatially when human activity was lowest and preferred to remain near the natural areas of campus. We did not observe indication of human-coyote interaction, but strong wildlife management strategies are recommended to avoid these situations. Future research investigating coyote and other wildlife activity on university campuses of varying urban and natural makeup is recommended so as to broaden our understanding of wildlife activity patterns in these areas. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofUnreviewedUndergraduat