Colonizing Coyote
For over a century, Long Island has been without a large mammalian predator… until now. Long ago, the wolves, cougars, and wolverines that made their home on Long Island were all eradicated. The lack of any such predator has had far reaching effects on prey populations and ecological resilience. Along with clearing for farming and development, these changes created an open ecological niche that the coyote (Canis latrans) could take advantage of.
Long Island represents one of the last landmasses in the continental United States to be colonized by coyotes. Unlike their western relatives, eastern coyotes possess genetic material from timber wolves (Canis lycaon), gray wolves (Canis lupus) and domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). This hybridization occurred as western coyotes expanded eastward through the Great Lakes region, interbreeding with remnant wolf populations. These hybrid populations expanded five times faster than non-hybrid populations, which eventually allowed them to colonize New York.
Historically, coyotes were confined to the open plains of the American West. Now, with human-altered landscapes creating new migration routes, coyotes have expanded into every state, including ours. Unlike their western counterparts, which primarily hunt in open grasslands, eastern coyotes have adapted to thrive in woodlands and edge habitats, benefiting from their wolf ancestry.
Long Island’s first confirmed coyote sighting occurred in 2009, when an individual coyote migrated from New York City. Since then, the population has slowly expanded, likely using railroad tracks as travel corridors. By 2014, coyotes had been observed on eastern Long Island, possibly arriving via Fishers Island to the North Fork. While still rare, coyotes have continued their gradual expansion, and researchers predict that within the next decade, they will be fully integrated into Long Island’s ecosystems.
These canines are primarily carnivorous but also will occasionally feed on berries and vegetation. Their diet mainly consists of small mammals, birds, raccoons, carcasses and garbage. But they are also known to go after deer. In the Adirondacks, studies show that coyotes consume deer, especially young ones, and especially during winter when other food is scarce.
While there have been occasional reports of coyotes preying on domestic pets, such incidents are rare.
Coyotes tend to avoid people, and you are unlikely to see one.
If you do see a coyote, fortunately there are simple precautions you can take to minimize conflicts:
- Keep pets supervised: Always leash your dogs and cats in public. When letting pets outside, monitor them closely, particularly at night.
- Secure food sources: Ensure that garbage, pet food and compost bins are securely stored or put away.
- Scare coyotes if encountered: Make yourself appear large, wave your arms and make loud noises to discourage them from approaching.
Despite their ecological benefits and minimal interactions with humans, some people may still fear the arrival of these new predators. However, coyotes are here to stay. Efforts to control coyote populations have proven largely ineffective. Their complex social structures and pack dynamics enable rapid population rebounds when individuals are removed, leading to increased breeding and migration.
Some suggest that instead of fearing these resilient and adaptive canines, we should embrace their role in our evolving ecosystem. By understanding and respecting their presence, we can safely coexist alongside coyotes.
