(Coyotes-wolves-cougars.blogspot.com follower, Reddhole8 has found some interesting studies that may reveal that in Northern climes with more restricted prey bases than found in Southern New England, Eastern Coyotes may be both preying as well as scavenging Moose year round.
Mathieu Dumond's research(University of Moncton, New Brunswick Canada) in 1999 revealed that adult Moose represented 37% of volume in Coyote scats in March of the years 1994-97 with June of that same period recording 36%(predominantly calves). Late Winter's severe snow crust cover combined with dearth of food sources put Moose under severe stress......early Summer is of course the birthing season for calves.
Coyotes and Eastern Wolves can and many times do overlap in size in Eastern Canada due to the hybridization events between these sympatric species that occurred early in the 2oth century. Coyotes ,as we all know, are the ultimate survivors and will prey switch "on the fly" as food availability dictates. In this study, Coyotes fed on deer, moose, beaver, porcupine, muskrat, fish, hare, birds and garbage. White tail deer were not prevalent in Kouchibouguac National Park where Dumond conducted his research and he concludes that it is very likely(more study needed) that Coyote family units perhaps are larger than in other Southern New England(meaning that not only yearlings but previous offspring of two seasons back comprise an extended family unit)) which enables "pack-like" hunting to occur and be a successful strategy for Coyotes to employ.
Most of our contributing biologists and researchers who entered in with their opinions on Coyote predation on Moose revealed last week that while coyotes can and do opportunistically seize Moose calves in early Summer, that it is unlikely that they will ever have a dampening and trophic cascade impact on Moose populations in Southern New England. With deer being at "off-the-chart" huge population densities in Southern New England and temperatures on the rise, would still seem that even if Moose persist in the Northeast USA, Coyotes(like all creatures) will seek out the easiest to kill prey................Deer and other small animals.
Nonetheless, Dumond's revelations and findings once again reveals the dexterity, intelligence, adaptability and resourcefulness of the Wily Coyote.............perhaps not beyond their limitations to further fill some of the historic ecological functions of the Eastern Wolf.......................but perhaps not as effectively and consistently.
More on this fascinating topic will be coming in the days ahead. Another thank you to all who contributed valuable insights on this topic last week and this week.
Blogger Rick in NYC on business
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