Coyote Population Persists on North Carolina's Outer Banks Despite Removal Efforts, Study Finds
A recent study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management indicates that coyotes remain established on North Carolina's Outer Banks, with an estimated population of 45 to 61 individuals across the barrier-island study area. This finding comes despite years of efforts to remove the animals. Researchers from North Carolina State University, who summarized the work, noted that 62 individual coyotes were identified during the study. The research provides a rare population estimate for a species that is typically challenging to count due to its adaptability and ability to navigate diverse landscapes, including developed areas, marshes, beaches, and protected lands. The study emphasizes that the persistence of the coyote population does not necessarily mean removal efforts were entirely ineffective, but rather highlights the difficulty of eradication when animals can move into an area, avoid detection, or reproduce. The findings offer wildlife managers a clearer baseline for evaluating future decisions rega...
