SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Recent research highlights the resilience of coyote populations in the Southeast, suggesting traditional control methods may be insufficient to manage their rapid growth effectively.

While coyotes were initially recorded in parts of the eastern U.S. during the 1920s, they didn’t make their presence known in Georgia until the 1970s, as revealed by a study from the University of Georgia (UGA) in collaboration with the Atlanta Coyote Project.

The study utilized a combination of camera traps, howl surveys, and analysis of scat samples to estimate coyote numbers per square mile within the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina, drawing on data collected over the last 18 years.

The findings indicated a density of more than one coyote per square mile, with a population of 45 to 50 coyotes distributed across 38 square miles.

Even when aggressive control measures were implemented, the researchers noted that coyote numbers quickly rebounded once these efforts ceased.

“In general, predator populations are contentious to manage, but coyotes are a lot harder to manage than a lot of other predators due to their really unique, amazing ability to reproduce. They can bounce back very rapidly,” said Heather Gaya, corresponding author of the study and a postdoctoral research associate in the Warnell School of Forestry.

Some populations even spiked in numbers after removal attempts were made. The study also found that coyotes from other neighboring states would travel into areas with reduced numbers.

With lethal control methods costing around $30,000-$50,000, the UGA researchers determined that other options like adjusting hunting regulations or enhancing habitats to support other species could better control the species populations.

It is legal to hunt coyotes in Georgia, and there are few regulations in place when hunting or trapping them.

While the non-native species has been labeled a nuisance population due to their ability to kill pets and livestock and destroy property, they do serve purposes like keeping a balance in the rodent population, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials reported.

You can read more about the study by clicking or tapping here.