Determining the Relative Abundance of Coyotes by Scent Station Lines

In an attempt to determine the relative abundance of coyotes (Canis latrans), we have been checking several hundred scent station lines (about one line per 5,000 miles) each year in 17 western states. Each line consists of 50 scent stations located at 0.3-mile intervals along a continuous 14.7-mile route; each station is a perforated-plastic capsule containing a fermented-egg attractant placed in the center of a 1-yard circle of sifted dirt. Animal visits (based on tracks) are recorded for each station daily for 5 consecutive days during September to provide an index by which coyote population trends can be compared between states, regions, and years.