Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The Humane Society and many communities have written plans to prevent and solve conflicts among coyotes, people and pets. Research various management plans. How are they similar? Different? Write a coyote management plan for your community.
Study each territory on the Visualization Tool and determine where a coyote would find the things it needs to survive. Do you think the territories vary in biodiversity? If so, how might that affect the coyotes and the size of their territory?
What reasons might people have to hunt or trap coyotes? Who can hunt or trap coyotes? What regulations govern coyote hunting and trapping and who enforces the regulations? What benefits are there to humans or to wildlife for regulated hunting or trapping programs? Has the coyote population been affected by hunting or trapping? What Illinois rules and regulations today keep the population stable? What laws ensure the humaneness of trapping?
Within each territory on the Visualization Tool, what areas might you suspect would have a higher risk for conflict between coyotes and humans? How can conflict between humans and coyotes be reduced or prevented?
Assume the role of someone living or working in a community where coyotes have been observed with increasing frequency. Write a persuasive letter to the editor (or present an argument at a mock town meeting) about what you recommend should be done, or not done, to “manage the coyote population.” Roles might include: Mayor, city council, restaurant owner, veterinarian, public health officer, wildlife biologist, naturalist, trapper, animal rights advocate, farmer, livestock owner, hunter, mother of toddlers, golf course manager, etc….