Previous studies suggest that coyotes are intolerant of foxes where their ranges overlap. Foxes may be more tolerant of human activity and thus persist in agricultural areas by exploiting habitat near human development. Furbearer Fund, researchers from the Illinois Natural History Survey and University of Illinois are using radiotelemetry to study dispersal, habitat use, and mortality of foxes and coyotes in urban and rural habitat that they share.
Preliminary results suggest some emerging patterns of urban and rural fox pups.
Nearly all the Co-author Tod Gosselink with young coyote. To date, no fox mortalities have been attributed to coyote depredation. The mortality causes for adults were similar. Nearly half of the coyotes were shot over the winter months, while the majority of the adult foxes were hit by cars. Den locations of coyotes and foxes in the rural areas were located in contrasting habitats.