EFFECTS OF SNOW DEPTH AND SNOWSHOE HARE ABUNDANCE ON THE

DISTRIBUTION OF COYOTES IN THE SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FORESTS

Matt GuyersonWinter Ecology

Spring 2014

Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado, Boulder

Introduction

Research suggests: traveling and hunting in deep snow is

energetically expensive for coyotes (Gese, 2013) Coyotes were most abundant at low elevations

where snow was shallow (Murray, 1991) Snowshoe hares are the main prey of coyotes

and lynx (Murray 1991)Q: How does snow depth and snowshoe hare

abundance affect the distribution of coyotes in the southern rocky mountain forests?

Introduction

H1: The coyotes will be more abundant in lower elevation forests with less snow

H2: The coyotes will be more abundant in areas of high snowshoe hare abundance

Introduction

Gain an understanding of the relationship between coyotes and snowshoe hares in the winter

Gain an understanding of the habitats preferred by coyotes and also by snowshoe hare in the winter

Methods

Selected two sites MRS high elevation deep snow depth forest Caribou Ranch Open Space Lower elevation

medium-low snow depth forest At each site selected a random area of the

forest to be studied area of forest studied was calculated using plotted

locations Walked around selected area of forest

recording snowshoe hare and coyote tracks along with snow depth at each track occurrence

MRS Site

850 ft

625 ft

675 ft

Area=208,656 ft2

Caribou Ranch Open Space

850 ft

500 ft

400 ft

925 ft

Area= 397,500 ft2

Limitations of Study Design

Data collection is dependent on good weather

Have no replication

Results

Results

Snow depth is affecting coyotes distribution

There is a relationship between Snowshoe Hare abundance and the coyotes distribution

Discussion

Snowshoe Hare tracks were always found next to coyote tracks

Snowshoe Hares did not mind the snow depth

Snow depth seemed to be the driving factor in the coyotes distribution

Discussion

Coyotes use of snowmobile tracks increased in areas of deep snow (Gese 2013)

Other factors could be affecting coyotes distribution

Possible Sources of Error: Not enough data collection/ no replication Hard to tell if tracks were the same or

different animal

Conclusion

Snowshoe Hare abundance is affecting the coyotes distribution

Snow depth is the main driver for the distribution of the coyotes

References

Murray DL, Boutin S (1991) The influence of snow on lynx and coyote movements: does morphology affect behavior? Oecologia 88: 463– 469.

Gese, Eric M., Jennifer L. B. Dowd, and Lise M. Aubry. "The Influence of Snowmobile Trails on Coyote Movements during Winter in High- Elevation Landscapes." Ed. Matt Hayward. PLoS ONE 8.12 (2013): E82862. Print.