Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA
There is arguably no other North American species that better illustrates the complexities of the human-wildlife interface than the coyote. In this study, a melanistic coyote in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia was exhibiting unusually bold behaviors that included encounters with humans, domestic dogs,...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:90a8134b8241401eb7ca619a49b966b8 2023-05-15T16:22:52+02:00 Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA Christopher B. Mowry Lawrence A. Wilson Bridgett M. vonHoldt 2021-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/d13080372 https://doaj.org/article/90a8134b8241401eb7ca619a49b966b8 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/8/372 https://doaj.org/toc/1424-2818 doi:10.3390/d13080372 1424-2818 https://doaj.org/article/90a8134b8241401eb7ca619a49b966b8 Diversity, Vol 13, Iss 372, p 372 (2021) coyote urban wildlife bold behavior melanism genotype phenotype Biology (General) QH301-705.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/d13080372 2022-12-30T21:10:06Z There is arguably no other North American species that better illustrates the complexities of the human-wildlife interface than the coyote. In this study, a melanistic coyote in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia was exhibiting unusually bold behaviors that included encounters with humans, domestic dogs, and attempts to enter homes. After tracking this coyote (nicknamed Carmine) across a highly urbanized landscape with participatory science, including at least 80 publicly reported sightings, he was captured and relocated to a wildlife sanctuary. Genome-wide analyses revealed 92.8% coyote ancestry, 1.7% gray wolf ancestry, and 5.5% domestic dog ancestry. The dog alleles in Carmine’s genome were estimated to have been acquired by his ancestors 14–29 years ago. Despite his bold behavior, Carmine did not carry any mutations known to shape hypersociability in canines. He did, however, carry a single copy of the dominant mutation responsible for his melanistic coat color. This detailed study of Carmine dispels common assumptions about the reticent coyote personality and the origins of behavior. His unusual bold behavior created a higher level of human-coyote interaction. He now serves as a public ambassador for human-wildlife coexistence, urging the global community to reconsider mythologies about wildlife and promote coexistence with them in landscapes significantly altered by human activity in our rapidly changing world. Article in Journal/Newspaper gray wolf Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Diversity 13 8 372 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
coyote urban wildlife bold behavior melanism genotype phenotype Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
spellingShingle |
coyote urban wildlife bold behavior melanism genotype phenotype Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Christopher B. Mowry Lawrence A. Wilson Bridgett M. vonHoldt Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA |
topic_facet |
coyote urban wildlife bold behavior melanism genotype phenotype Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
description |
There is arguably no other North American species that better illustrates the complexities of the human-wildlife interface than the coyote. In this study, a melanistic coyote in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia was exhibiting unusually bold behaviors that included encounters with humans, domestic dogs, and attempts to enter homes. After tracking this coyote (nicknamed Carmine) across a highly urbanized landscape with participatory science, including at least 80 publicly reported sightings, he was captured and relocated to a wildlife sanctuary. Genome-wide analyses revealed 92.8% coyote ancestry, 1.7% gray wolf ancestry, and 5.5% domestic dog ancestry. The dog alleles in Carmine’s genome were estimated to have been acquired by his ancestors 14–29 years ago. Despite his bold behavior, Carmine did not carry any mutations known to shape hypersociability in canines. He did, however, carry a single copy of the dominant mutation responsible for his melanistic coat color. This detailed study of Carmine dispels common assumptions about the reticent coyote personality and the origins of behavior. His unusual bold behavior created a higher level of human-coyote interaction. He now serves as a public ambassador for human-wildlife coexistence, urging the global community to reconsider mythologies about wildlife and promote coexistence with them in landscapes significantly altered by human activity in our rapidly changing world. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Christopher B. Mowry Lawrence A. Wilson Bridgett M. vonHoldt |
author_facet |
Christopher B. Mowry Lawrence A. Wilson Bridgett M. vonHoldt |
author_sort |
Christopher B. Mowry |
title |
Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA |
title_short |
Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA |
title_full |
Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA |
title_fullStr |
Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA |
title_full_unstemmed |
Interface of Human/Wildlife Interactions: An Example of a Bold Coyote ( Canis latrans ) in Atlanta, GA, USA |
title_sort |
interface of human/wildlife interactions: an example of a bold coyote ( canis latrans ) in atlanta, ga, usa |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/d13080372 https://doaj.org/article/90a8134b8241401eb7ca619a49b966b8 |
genre |
gray wolf |
genre_facet |
gray wolf |
op_source |
Diversity, Vol 13, Iss 372, p 372 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/8/372 https://doaj.org/toc/1424-2818 doi:10.3390/d13080372 1424-2818 https://doaj.org/article/90a8134b8241401eb7ca619a49b966b8 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/d13080372 |
container_title |
Diversity |
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13 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
372 |
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1766010992871866368 |