On December 2, 2011 more than 90 community members, some coming from as far away as Falmouth and Provincetown,  gathered at the Orleans Senior Center to hear Dr. Jonathan Way speak about Coyote ecology in southeast MA.

Dr. Way provided insight into these fascinating, highly successful predators. Dr. Way outlined his experiences hand-raising a pack, which he described as a valuable asset to both the science and educational components of his work. Dr. Way also discussed the work he conducted with a team of other scientists to determine that the eastern coyote is actually a coyote x red/eastern wolf hybrid that may more accurately be called coywolf. At the end of his presentation Dr. Way conducted a signing party selling copies of his book, Suburban Howls, which explains his research experiences and results over the past 10 years.

Dr. Way plans to continue to radio-collar and follow individuals on Cape Cod to continue learning about their behavior and ecology.

Dr. Way explained the 'capture protocol' that ensures that the coyote is humanely captured. checking height, weight and taking blood for DNA analysis, the coyote is released back into the wild. Dr. Way also delighted the audience with tales of other animals captured who were seeking a free meal - including a red tailed that played dead. Dr. Way said that it was decided to allow the hawk to leave on its own terms, so he would have 10 fingers left.

Dr. Jonathan Way has a captive audience as he describes his technique of using a box trap to humanely capture coyotes so they can be fitted with a radio collar for tracking.

Dr. Way and Kris Ramsay, Administrator for the Orleans Conservation Trust, field questions from the packed house. Dr. Way tracked a pack of coyotes in Barnstable and discovered they will travel huge distances over the course of a night. Dr. Way noted that the coyote has adapted to the human population and the coyote is remarkably intelligent, playful, mischievious and social.

More information:
             www.easterncoyoteresearch.com