![]() According to Mitchell’s research, coyotes have the unique ability to adapt their litter size based on how much food is readily available, so the more access to consistent food a pack has, the bigger the coyote pup litter size will be.Ĭoyotes do provide benefits to the ecosystem - as they found on Naushon - like helping to maintain the excessive deer population. If there were multiple coyote packs on the island, Mitchell suspects it’s likely they would all try to position themselves near the town dumps, or other areas where they can find easily available food. A single pack of coyotes, that can consist of between 3 and 7 individuals, typically claims about 3 square miles of territory. Mitchell says there is “plenty of room” on the Vineyard for coyotes. The recommendation from Island wildlife officials is to “train” coyotes, while they’re still new to Martha’s Vineyard, to stay in the woods and away from human structures as much as possible. While coyotes can be a nuisance or even a danger, people can also pose dangers to coyotes. With coyotes being attracted to manmade food sources, what’s the best way for humans and coyotes to healthily and safely coexist? The solution that Naushon found: Ship compostable garbage off the island, and keep it secure until time to do so. ![]() Had humans not been there to intervene, Pickle might not have had such an easy time getting the jar off his head. This can come with its own set of risks and rewards for these wild animals.Īccording to Mitchell, the Naushon project began with a coyote that was found at the dump with its head stuck in a pickle jar, earning him the name Pickle. Mitchell said congregating around what she called anthropogenic, or human-generated, food sources, like the dump, is typical of coyotes. One man’s trash is another coyote’s treasure. “When there’s a resource like that, coyotes take advantage of it,” she said. She commented on the popularity of the island’s single garbage dump among several coyote individuals living on the island. Mitchell called it “the gentlemen’s exchange.”Īfter receiving a call about a problem coyote at the dump, Mitchell went over to take a look at what was going on.
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