In The News

PLEASE NOTE: Articles on the 5-year NBCS Coyote Research Project can be found on the Coyote Research page.

Coyotes that hunt moose may also go after humans. New study may shed some light on the fatal attack on a young woman hiking in Nova Scotia in 2009—The Wildlife Society, May 25, 2023.

Coyotes aren’t so wily when it comes to humans. New study shows that coyotes see people not only as a source of food but also as a means of protection from other predators. But living around humans also comes with costs—Washington Post, May 18, 2023.

Tagged coyote travels 100-plus miles across Ohio. Sheds some light on the distances coyotes will travel in search of a territory they can call their own—Outdoor Life, March 20, 2023.

Misunderstood coyotes did not evolve to eat your pets, expert says. The Atlanta Coyote Project responds to public concerns about the city’s coyote population—Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 1, 2023.

New England town invaded by coyotes calls in the sharpshooters. Nahant, MA, town officials vote to hire federal agency (USDA Wildlife Services) to address their growing coyote problems—New York Times, Dec. 31, 2022.

MA dog walker surrounded by pack of coyotes: How to keep kids, dogs safe. Offers advice on staying safe during coyote “dispersal season” and includes some insights from us—Fox News, Oct. 19, 2022.

Coyotes came to New York City, but not for our pizza. Sheds new light on the dietary preferences of urban coyotes—New York Times, Oct. 3, 2022.

Coyotes are here to stay in North American cities–here’s how to appreciate them from a distance. Wisconsin researchers explain why we have urban coyotes and what we can do to co-exist—The Conversation, Aug. 3, 2022.

Coyotes are seemingly everywhere these days. And there aren’t many hunters standing in their way. Coyotes in MA may have reached “peak density,” but more hunting unlikely to make a dent in their numbers—Boston Globe, Feb. 7, 2022.

This scientist bottle-fed and bayed with coyotes. Was he sidelined for loving them too much? MA scientist’s years-long study of coyotes has met with many obstacles—Boston Globe Magazine, Dec. 23, 2021.

How SARS-CoV-2 in American deer could alter the course of the global pandemic. The emergence of COVID in deer and the explosive rate of infection have raised serious concerns in the scientific community—NPR Goats and Soda, Nov. 10, 2021.

RI pet owner wants action to reduce coyote population on Aquidneck Island. Despite a photo caption error (Cliff never came home), gives a pretty good summary of the Newport area’s coyote problems—Newport Daily News (online edition), Sept. 23, 2021.

Mystery over coyote attacks in Vancouver park. An unprecedented surge in coyote attacks in Stanley Park has officials scratching their heads and searching for answers—The Guardian, Aug. 24, 2021.

San Diego is not going to get rid of its coyotes. The residents of this southern California community are finding ways–and reasons–to live with its coyote population—San Diego Reader, June 16, 2021

Neighborhood coyotes not going away. Coyote activity is on the rise in one Newport neighborhood and experts think the reason is food—Newport This Week, Dec. 10, 2020. (NOTE: This article contains a misquote that is corrected in a letter to the editor, Coyote tracking continues statewide, published on Jan. 14, 2021.)

Now do you feel about coyotes? New survey wants to know. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island are conducting a survey of public attitudes toward coyotes—Providence Journal, Oct. 16, 2020.

Examining Aquidneck Island’s coyote problem. Coyotes are closing in on RI’s Aquidneck neighborhoods, but there are steps that can be taken to control them—Newport Life, Sept. 9, 2020.

Coyote range expansion shows no signs of stopping. Coyotes have expanded their range to 49 states and are now poised to enter South America—National Geographic, Nov. 29, 2019.

Wily? Maybe just hungry. Study shows that if people stop feeding coyotes, the animals will stay out of residential areas and stick to their natural habitat and diet—Providence Journal, July 23, 2019.

Killing wolves was supposed to solve a problem but created issues with coyotes. Attempts to remove the wolf have helped the coyote expand its range—Denver Post, June 3, 2019 (originally published in the Washington Post).

Coyote-killing contests face growing outrage, state bans. See which states are leading the charge—Washington Post, May 17, 2019.

Sighting of Eastern coyote confirmed on Martha’s Vineyard. While most coyotes seen on the island have washed up on the beach, a live one was recently spotted—Vineyard Gazette, May 15, 2019.

Urban coyotes feast on pets and fruit, study finds. A study of coyote scat in LA found the animals are attracted to fruit in gardens where they are also finding dogs and cats—The Guardian, April 12, 2019.

The recent spread of coyotes across North America did not doom deer populations. Study by North Carolina State University finds that coyote predation has not cause deer numbers to decline on a large scale—Phys.Org, March 20, 2019.

Montreal turns to coyote hazing after 19 people are bitten. The city introduces a new “hazing” program to change human and coyote behavior—New York Times, Dec. 14, 2018.

Westerly residents concerned about growing coyote population. Westerly resident creates Facebook page as community resource for tracking the problem—WJAR Channel 10 News, Oct. 30, 2018.

Westerly Council moves proposal to fine those who feed coyotes. In response to complaints from residents and tourists, the Westerly RI Town Council considers passage of a no-feeding ordinance—Westerly Sun, Oct. 16. 2018. (NOTE: The ordinance was subsequently adopted on Oct. 29, 2018. To read it, click here.)

Federal grant to fund new coyote study. The Narragansett Bay Coyote Study launches a major research project—Newport Daily News, Oct. 12, 2018. (NOTE: For future updates on this project, please go to the Coyote Research page.)

Coyotes conquered North America. Now they’re heading south. Another report on the previous story about coyote range expansion—New York Times, May 24, 2018.

Why there are so many coyotes and why they are spreading so fast. Researchers find that human activity has contributed to coyote range expansion—Washington Post, May 22, 2018.

RI residents reminded: don’t feed coyotes. RI Dept. of Environmental Management urges caution as coyotes enter pup-rearing season—Providence Journal, April 23, 2018.

Are Southern California coyotes eating 68% fewer cats than 20 years ago? A review of several research studies yields some interesting findings—Animals 24-7, March 29, 2018.

How do coyotes thrive in urban Southern California? Researchers examine stomach contents in search of clues—Los Angeles Times, March 23, 2018.

Cape-based coyote hunt spurs debate. Coyote hunting contest sponsored by local outfitting store sparks debate among Cape Cod residents—Cape Cod Times, Feb 1. 2018.

Coyotes are colonizing cities. Step forward the urban hunter. The pursuit of the predator in urban settings is igniting a new debate—New York Times, Dec. 26, 2017.

Eastern coyotes showing more wolflike traits. With up to 25 percent wolf DNA, Eastern coyotes are bigger than their Western cousins and may be developing more wolflike behavior such as hunting in packs—Providence Journal, Nov. 17, 2017.

Coyote study group receives grant. At Newport coyote forum, the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study urges removal of coyote food attractants and announces a major research project—Newport Daily News, Nov. 2, 2017.

Bolder coyotes among us. In response to Newport’s growing coyote problem, the City Manager schedules a public forum—Newport This Week, Oct. 26, 2017.

Jamestown continues to address coyote issues. The Jamestown Chief of Police responds to residents’ concerns about coyotes—Jamestown Press, Oct. 19, 2017.

Coyote aggression increasing in area. As coyote activity in Newport expands to other neighborhoods and a 60-pound dog is attacked, expert warns that easy food sources such as compost and fruit are to blame—Newport Daily News, Oct. 14, 2017. For related coverage by WPRI Channel 12, click here.

Coyote sightings at Newport park causing concern. Neighbors of Braga Park in Newport report an alarming uptick in coyote activity and bold behavior—WJAR Channel 10 Evening News, Sept. 11, 2017. For a related story in Newport This Week, click here.

Coyote concerns voiced by locals to town council. After a pack of coyotes killed a 40-pound dog, residents of Jamestown, RI, demand action—Jamestown Press, Aug. 24, 2017.

Why killing coyotes doesn’t make livestock safer. Conservation biologist questions USDA Wildlife Services’ use of lethal controls to manage coyotes and other predators—The Conversation, May 29, 2017.

Coyotes, and even bears and bobcats, becoming a more common sight in RI. Re-emergence of large mammals delights some, worries others—Providence Journal, May 20, 2017.

U.S. temporarily bans use of cyanide predator traps in Idaho. The USDA has halted use of traps that spray cyanide on coyotes after young boy is sickened and his dog killed—Providence Journal, April 10, 2017.

Injured coyote is killed. Coyote with trap on its leg is shot by property owner as it tried to enter a chicken coop; state environmental police continue their investigation into the illegal trapping—Newport Daily News, April 6, 2017.

DEM seeks information about person(s) setting illegal coyote traps. RI Dept. of Environmental Management issues press release, April 5, 2017.

Second coyote injured by trap. Another coyote with a trap on its leg has been spotted in the area, likely the victim of the same trapper who has not yet been identified—Newport Daily News, April 5, 2017.

DEM euthanizes coyote injured by trap. The injured coyote is put down and the state environmental police launch an investigation into the illegal trapping—Newport Daily News, March 22, 2017.

After Cliff, residents continue to interfere with coyotes. The search continues for the coyote with the trap on its leg—Newport This Week, March 16, 2017.

Roaming coyote seen with trap on leg. Coyotes are in the news again, thanks to illegal trapping—Newport Daily News, March 8, 2017.

Cliff is gone, but not forgotten. The saga of Cliff the Coyote is revisited along with the lessons learned—Newport Daily News, Dec. 30, 2016.

RI’s large deer population more immediate threat to state’s forests than climate change. Scientists examine ways to control the state’s deer population, including a possible role for coyotes—EcoRI News, Dec. 1, 2016.

Feds capture and euthanize coyote family of five living near LaGuardia airport. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ordered the lethal removal of a coyote pack in order to protect workers, travelers and nearby residents—New York Daily News, Nov. 8, 2016.

How coyotes conquered New York. The Gotham Coyote Project, now in its fifth year, seeks to understand these new city residents and what fellow New Yorkers can do to coexist with them—Village Voice, Oct. 12, 2016.

Cliff the Coyote captured, taken to an undisclosed location. Cliff is now a ward of the state and will live out his life in the wild, where he will face many challenges—Providence Journal, Oct. 5, 2016.

Fate of Cliff the Coyote uncertain. As discussions continue about Cliff’s fate, the RI Department of EnvironmentaManagement asserts its jurisdiction over the case—Providence Journal, Sept. 30, 2016.

Cliff the Coyote will be taken to zoo, not killed. After Cliff’s plight went viral, a “plea bargain” was reached to have his sentence commuted from death to life imprisonment—Providence Journal, Sept. 23, 2016.

Cliff the Coyote still alive, final fate decided soon. Contrary to reports, a well-known coyote that has lost his fear of humans has not yet been shot but could be soon—Middletown Patch, Sept. 20, 2016.

America’s wildlife body count. The USDA’s Wildlife Services agency is taken to task for relying on poorly designed research and bad science to justify their use of lethal predator control methods—New York Times, Sept. 17, 2016.

Euthanized: final fate for coyote. When a collared coyote named Cliff became dangerously habituated to people, a difficult decision was made to have him removed by lethal means—Newport Daily News, Sept. 15, 2016.

Coyote clash. Utah’s coyote management policy is contrasted with the science-based approach advocated by the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study—Salt Lake City Weekly, Aug. 31, 2016.

Coyotes on the prowl in R.I. Following a rabid coyote attack on a Warwick woman, a wildlife biologist offers safety advice—Providence Journal, Aug. 17, 2016.

How the most hated animal in America outwitted us all. Interview with Dan Flores, author of “Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History”—National Geographic, Aug. 7, 2016.

Coyote “Cliff” still on prowl. Collared coyote “Cliff” adapts to urban life in Newport—Newport This Week, July 28, 2016.

Program working to re-establish natural fear of humans in coyotes. The Narragansett Bay Coyote Study employs Aversive Coyote Tactics (ACT) to re-program a “habituated” coyote that has lost its fear of humans—Newport Daily News, July 22, 2016.

Runners encounter coyotes. One Newport runner is stalked by a coyote while another is “brushed” from behind—Newport This Week, July 21, 2016.

Hands off coyotes, City Council says. Citing coyotes’ beneficial role in controlling rats and geese, Chicago will no longer respond to coyote complaints unless there is a clear and present danger to public safety. Chicago Sun Times, July 20, 2016.

Coyotes have adapted to the streets of L.A. and biologists want to know how. A biologist with the National Park Service studies L.A. coyotes to help locals make decisions based on science and not on fear—Washington Post, July 14, 2016.

Rhode Island woman found guilty of feeding coyotes. Portsmouth resident charged and fined for feeding coyotes in her yard—Providence Journal, April 21, 2016.

Cape Cod is “Coyote Country.” Once foreign to the area, this resourceful animal can now be found across the peninsula—Cape Cod Life, April 2016.

Expert weighs in on RI coyote sightings. Narragansett Bay Coyote Study scientist responds to a coyote attack on a large dog with some advice for pet owners—WJAR Channel 10 Evening News, Jan. 31, 2016.

Don’t feed the animals. A local coalition uses the latest technology to track the movements of coyotes in the county and finds that they go where the food is—Newport Daily News, Jan. 12, 2016.

Yes, eastern coyotes are hybrids, but the “coywolf” is not a thing. North Carolina scientist challenges use of the term “coywolf”—The Conversation, Nov. 13, 2015.

Greater than the sum of its parts. Interbreeding of wolves, dogs and coyotes in eastern North America may be leading to the emergence of a new species—The Economist, Oct. 31, 2015.

Biologist tracks coyotes to food sources. Narragansett Bay Coyote Study “forensic tracking” data aids in locating food subsidies provided to coyotes by people—Jamestown Press, Oct. 1, 2015.

Wily coyotes feed on islands’ easy pickin’s. RI wildlife biologist attributes increase in coyote population to people’s carelessness with food—EcoRI News, Aug. 25, 2015.

Portsmouth seeks strategy on coyotes. Despite approving a no feeding ordinance more than two years ago, Portsmouth still has a coyote problem—East Bay Newspapers, May 21, 2015.

Why coyotes are flourishing in New York City. Gotham Coyote Project researchers discuss the uptick in coyote sightings this year. New York Magazine, May 20, 2015.

Where are all these coyotes coming from? Part one of a two-part story about the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study—Science and Nature for a Pie, May 15, 2015.

Coyotes go “bridge and tunnel.”  Dr. Numi Mitchell of the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study and others propose research project to study coyote colonization of Long Island—Cities and the Environment, Vol. 8, Issue 1, April 22, 2015.

Coyotes in New York City—we have nothing to fear.  Overview of coyote research projects in New York, Chicago and Rhode Island—Epoch Times, March 28, 2015.

Catching a Southern coyote, then letting it go in the name of science. University of Georgia launches a new coyote research project—National Public Radio, Feb. 23, 2015.

Are urban coyotes more aggressive now? Study of coyote attacks since 1977 suggests they may be on the rise, especially in California. San Diego Union-Tribune, Feb. 1, 2015.

Forget the hounds. As foxes creep in, Britons call the sniper. London struggles with its own version of the coyote problem, with very striking similarities—New York Times, Dec. 6, 2014.

Study faults efforts at wolf management. Research shows shooting wolves has limited effect in controlling livestock predation and may even be counterproductive—New York Times, Dec. 3, 2014.

Coyotes at home in Bristol neighborhood. Following an attack on her dog, Bristol resident calls town’s attention to the problem—East Bay Newspapers, Oct. 16, 2014.

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