Today in “Exploring Our Valley”, we went to the Coyote Research Facility, and the Wellsville area. 

More on the Predator Research Facility (aka: Coyote Research Facility)

Scientists at the National Wildlife Research Center Logan, UT, field station are studying the ecology and behavior of predators in an effort to identify                                                                                     new management techniques and strategies, especially nonlethal tools. Research efforts are directed towards reducing livestock depredations and                                                                                        damage caused by coyotes, bears, and wolves, resolving conflicts in urban areas, and mitigating impacts of predators on wildlife populations.                                                                                                   Station research incorporates a variety of techniques that integrate novel engineering approaches and basic knowledge of the biology of predator species.

The station was established in 1972, and operates in close collaboration with Utah State University (USU). In fact, some of the biologists                                                                                                maintain offices on campus. The station’s most prominent feature, however, is the Millville Predator Research Facility. The 165-acre site, also on USU land,                                                                        allows employees to care for up to 100 adult coyotes involved in learning, behavior, and physiology studies. Examples of current and recent studies based at the                                                               Millville facility include the following:

• Coyote behavior in captive environments
• Urban conflicts with black bears
• Coyote movements
• Sterilization of coyotes to reduce predation on pronghorn and livestock
• Coyote foraging and learning
• Fladry to prevent wolf depredation
• Coyote and elk interactions
• Conditioning bears from campgrounds
• Wolf damage to livestock.
• Coyote wariness of humans
• Coyote interactions with bobcats, kit fox, and cougars
• Non-invasive mark-recapture of Mexican wolves
• Coyote food habits and prey fluctuations
• Coyote reproduction

More information can be found at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/programs/