Committee Chair

Gaudin, Timothy J.

Committee Member

Mowry, Christopher B.; Wilson, Thomas P.

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Human-coyote interactions are an increasing challenge for North American wildlife managers. My objectives were to: 1) provide data on the types and general spatial distribution of human-coyote interactions in metropolitan Atlanta; 2) identify landscapes associated with human-coyote interactions; and 3) investigate the validity of claims of coyote-pet attacks and the potential effects of assuming a coyote attacked a pet. Human-coyote interactions were positively correlated with open space landscapes. A change in scale led to differences in both how correlated a variable was with interactions and relationships among variables. Sixty-four percent of individuals who reported that a coyote attacked their pet did not actually witness it. I provide evidence that such assumptions led to more negative views towards coyotes, lethal removal of coyotes, and entered news media. I recommend managers conduct investigations to verify attacks to avoid unwarranted negative feelings towards coyotes, unnecessary management actions and inappropriate broadcast of risk messages.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Thomas P. Wilson, Dr. Timothy J. Gaudin and Dr. Chris B. Mowry for giving me the opportunity to expand my knowledge, skill set and life experience. I’d especially like to think Dr. Wilson for being the first person to recognize my potential before I began my graduate work and, subsequently, going to “bat” for me when I needed it the most. I’d like to thank the UT-Chattanooga GIS lab, especially Nyssa Hunt, for helping me when ArcMap would not tell me what to do!

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

8-2016

Subject

Coyote -- Control -- Georgia -- Atlanta Metropolitan Area; Human-animal relationships -- Georgia -- Atlanta Metropolitan Area

Keyword

Coyotes; Human-coyote interactions and conflict; Human dimensions of wildlife management; Conflict management; Urban coyotes; Atlanta

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xiii, 161 leaves

Language

English

Rights

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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