Data from: Pest or pest control? Coyote interactions with cattle and Richardson’s ground squirrels
Data files
Nov 20, 2025 version files 291.92 KB
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Cattle_Herd_Observations.csv
1.36 KB
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Coyote_Cattle_Interactions.csv
7.30 KB
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Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv
274.03 KB
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README.md
9.25 KB
Abstract
Coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) are ubiquitous across Canadian grasslands and have been implicated as causing millions of dollars of damage each year by injuring or killing cattle (Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758). Gaining insight into the behaviour of coyotes in proximity to cattle may mitigate these costs. We hypothesized that coyotes obtain direct (e.g., killing calves or scavenging cattle) and indirect (e.g., hunting native prey) benefits from cattle pastures. We further hypothesized that cows respond defensively to coyotes. We conducted 58 focal observations of coyotes from May to August in southwest Saskatchewan and recorded activity, prey species, distance from cattle, and the response of cattle to coyotes. Coyotes hunted native prey more often than they interacted with cattle. Coyotes were often within 100 m of cattle when hunting Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii (Sabine, 1822)), their most common prey. Coyotes scavenged from cattle carcasses (N=5), occasionally approached calves (N=2), rushed herds (N=2), or consumed afterbirth (N=1). Cows and/or calves chased coyotes in 43% of observations having encounters within 10 m. Our data suggest coyotes primarily use cattle pastures to obtain native prey, although periodic opportunities to scavenge cattle or kill calves may contribute to their use of these areas.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.83bk3jb67
Description of the data and file structure
Data files for Jackson, S. M., Miller, M. P., and Lingle S. Pest or pest control? Coyote interactions with cattle and Richardson’s ground squirrels. Canadian Journal of Zoology.
This dataset contains multiple data files:
File 1: Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv - This file contains data for focal observations of coyotes.
File 2: Cattle_Herd_Observations.csv - This file contains data on the presence of calves within herds of cattle.
File 3: Coyote_Cattle_Interactions.csv - This file contains data on the response of cattle toward coyotes.
Files and variables
File: Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv
Description: This file contains data for focal observations of coyotes. We used these data to run signed-rank tests on the amount of time coyotes spent on different activities, and sign-tests for whether coyotes hunted native prey more frequently than coyotes interacted with cattle, whether coyotes spent more time near cattle than further away, and whether cows were more likely to chase coyotes than calves. We additionally ran GLMMs to determine whether time of day influenced the likelihood of coyotes to hunt ground squirrels, and whether ground squirrel hunts or pursuits were more likely to occur nearer to or in the presence of cattle. We ran logistic regressions to test for a relationship between cow and calf chases of coyotes and date and calculated the average group size of coyotes during different activities, the frequency of specific outcomes of coyote encounters with cattle, and the frequency of specific hunting behaviours when hunting ground squirrels.
Variables
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FocalID: Number (1-62) identifying the observation period and unique focal coyote (C1-C5; or a name based on a distinct physical feature) within an observation period. Note: C1 across different observation periods represents different individual coyotes. Some observation periods included more than one focal coyote, which were observed successively.
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date: The date in DD/M/YYYY format.
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dist_cattle: The estimated distance between the focal coyote and cattle. NC = no cattle observed in area or cattle >1000 m away; No data = the observation period occurred before we began recording this distance or the distance was not recorded; NA = non-applicable (the focal coyote was not in sight and the distance from cattle could not be determined); <10m; <100m; >100m.
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t_scan: The 1-minute intervals that observation periods were divided into for focal observations of behaviour.
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time: the local time for each 1-minute interval.
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activ: The activity of the focal coyote at each 1-minute interval. A = alert; E = eating; H = hunting; L = locomotion (travelling); R = resting; UNK = unknown; OOV = out of view; Oth= other.
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grp_size: The group size of the focal coyote. NA = non-applicable (the focal coyote was not in sight and the group size could not be determined).
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behav_patt: Specific form of locomotion or hunting behaviour. This column provides additional detail to the activity described in Column F — activ. Forms of locomotion included: SW = slow walk; FW = fast walk; Run. Forms of hunting behaviour included: Dig; Rush; ST = stalk; Sit + Wait (used when focal coyote looked directly at native prey or cattle); Stationary; Stare. NA = non-applicable (no additional detail to be reported).
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prey_food: Native prey or cattle focal coyote was attentive to. Calf; Cattle; Cattle afterbirth; Cow carcass; Deer/Pronghorn Leg; White-tailed deer; Mule deer; Pronghorn; PD = prairie dog; Richardson's = Richardson’s ground squirrel; UNK = Unknown.
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app: The presence/absence (1/0) of an approach, defined as the focal coyote walking more than two steps toward a live prey item or cattle that is <10m. No data = the observation period occurred before we began recording approaches or approaches were not recorded; NA = non-applicable (the coyote was not attentive to prey or cattle <10m away).
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pursuit: The presence/absence (1/0) of a pursuit, defined as a coyote or group of coyotes moving quickly toward native prey or cattle. No data = the observation period occurred before we began recording pursuits or pursuits were not recorded. NA = non-applicable (the coyote was not attentive to prey or cattle <10m away).
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attack: The presence/absence (1/0) of an attack, defined as a pounce or lunge by a focal coyote toward native prey or cattle. No data = the observation period occurred before we began recording attacks or attacks were not recorded; NA = non-applicable (the coyote was not attentive to prey or cattle <10m away).
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capture: The presence/absence (1/0) of a capture, defined as aggressive physical contact with the prey that results in the death of the prey. NA = non-applicable (the coyote was not attentive to prey or cattle <10m away).
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Morn_Eve: Whether the observation period occurred in the Morning; or Evening.
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sunrise_set: The time of sunrise for morning observation periods or sunset for evening observation periods.
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min.sec_as.numeric: The number of minutes after sunrise or sunset that each 1-minute interval occurs at. This column is equal to (time) – (sunrise_set).
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Comments: This column provides additional comments on observed behaviours or interactions.
File: Coyote_Cattle_Interactions.csv
Description: This file contains data on the response of cattle toward coyotes. It was used to determine the number of focal observations with approaches/chases by cows/calves toward coyotes and the total number of approaches/chases by cows/calves toward coyotes.
Variables
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FocalID: Number identifying the observation period and unique focal coyote within an observation period. This column corresponds to FocalID in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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date: The date in DD/M/YYYY format.
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t_scan: The 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction between coyotes and cattle occurred. This column corresponds to t_scan in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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activ: The activity of the focal coyote at the 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction occurred. This column corresponds to activ in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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grp_size: The group size of the focal coyote at the 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction occurred. This column corresponds to grp_size in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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prey_food: Native prey or cattle focal coyote was attentive to at the 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction occurred. This column corresponds to prey_food in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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app: The presence/absence (1/0) of an approach at the 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction occurred. This column corresponds to app in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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pursuit: The presence/absence (1/0) of a pursuit at the 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction occurred. This column corresponds to pursuit in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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attack: The presence/absence (1/0) of an attack at the 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction occurred. This column corresponds to attack in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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capture: The presence/absence (1/0) of a capture at the 1-minute interval at which a direct interaction occurred. This column corresponds to capture in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
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cattle_resp: The observed response of cattle toward coyotes. No change; Bunch together; Leave; Counter Attack = chase; Stand Ground; Approach.
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Comments: This column provides additional comments on observed behaviours or interactions. This column corresponds to Comments in Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv.
File: Cattle_Herd_Observations.csv
Description: This file contains data on the presence of calves within herds of cattle. It was used to determine the number of herds with calves.
Variables
- Obs_Number: Number identifying the observation period. This number corresponds to the first portion of FocalID in Coyote_Cattle_Interactions.csv and Focal_Coyote_Observations.csv, e.g. FocalID “21 C1” in the other files corresponds to observation period “21” in this file.
- date: The date in DD/M/YYYY format.
- H1_Calves: The presence/absence (1/0) of calves in the first visible herd of cattle. No data = the observation period occurred before we began recording the presence of calves or the presence of calves was not recorded; NC = no cattle observed in area.
- H2_Calves: The presence/absence (1/0) of calves in the second visible herd of cattle. No data = the observation period occurred before we began recording the presence of calves or the presence of calves was not recorded; NC = no (additional) cattle observed in area.
Code/software
The data files are provided in CSV and can be opened using any spreadsheet or statistical software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, R, or Python).
The data were analyzed using R (version 4.1.3, released 2022-03-10). No code or scripts are included with this submission.
No additional software or packages are required to view or use the data.