Coyote Sounds in North Carolina

The intricate web of predator and prey relationships has a profound impact on the balance of an ecosystem. In the state of North Carolina, this dynamic is particularly evident in the interactions between coyotes and their prey. As apex predators, coyotes play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy environment by regulating prey populations and influencing food chains.

The transfer of energy from one trophic level to another is vital for sustaining a balanced ecosystem. Energy begins as sunlight and is transferred up the chain through plants and large predators. Predator-prey interactions have a significant impact on natural food chains, creating a cycle of population fluctuations and ecosystem balance that depends on the success, abundance, and presence of both predators and prey.

In North Carolina, predator species like red wolves can effectively keep prey populations such as rabbits, deer, raccoons, and rodents in check. Understanding how predator and prey species influence each other is essential for management, conservation efforts, and maintaining a healthy environment.

The Red Wolf Recovery Program has made significant strides in increasing red wolf numbers in the wild through pup fostering and coyote sterilization. In the 2021-2022 trapping season, USFWS staff captured 20 canids, including 12 coyotes that were sterilized, collared, and released back into the wild.

Interestingly, sterilized coyotes can benefit landowners who want to manage coyote numbers or reduce their take of desired game species. Any coyote, including sterilized individuals, can be harvested by hunters or landowners. Biologists use white Very High Frequency (VHF) collars for identification and monitoring purposes once these individuals are returned to the wild.

In eastern North Carolina, the Fish and Wildlife Service partners with a local veterinarian for coyote sterilizations. The program has been successful in reducing disease transmission and maintaining suitable habitat by managing predator and prey populations.

By understanding and managing predator-prey relationships, we can work towards creating a more balanced ecosystem that benefits both humans and wildlife.

Coyote sounds north carolina