Coyote populations surge despite costly removal efforts, 18

ATHENS, Ga. (WTOC) - Efforts to control coyote populations across the Southeast may be futile, according to new University of Georgia research which found the predators bounce back from removal efforts faster than they can be eliminated.

The 18-year study, which used trail cameras and audio recordings of different howls to track Eastern coyotes, revealed populations of roughly one coyote per square mile that consistently rebounded (and sometimes even spiked) shortly after removal efforts.

Despite costing more than $30,000, current control methods failed to make lasting impacts on coyote numbers, researchers found.

The animals experienced low competition from other species and had abundant prey available, allowing populations to stabilize quickly after human intervention.

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