Use of "micro"-corridors by eastern Coyotes, Canis latrans, in a heavily urbanized area: Implications for ecosystem management

Abstract

We document the use of very narrow, linear corridors (termed "micro-corridors") that facilitated movements by both a transient and a resident group of eastern Coyotes (Canis latrans) in a heavily urbanized area in north Boston, Massachusetts. Two corridors are discussed: one, a railroad line through downtown Boston; and two, a hole in a cemetery fence giving access to two separated cemeteries in a region of intense human development. Coyotes can be good subjects to illustrate the use of fragmented landscapes because they are common and thus are abundant enough to study yet are wary and avoid novel things and generally avoid people.