Coyotes make their homes in human-made shelters near cities, according to new study

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As Georgia's coyotes begin having their pups, they prioritize a den that will provide shelter.

Credit: UGA/University of Georgia

A new study from the University of Georgia looks at where coyotes are having their pups, including major cities like Atlanta.

In Georgia, coyotes begin giving birth around the middle of March.

And according to a study by UGA Ph.D. candidate Summer Fink, coyotes near urban centers often shelter in unconventional places.

They are looking for a den that will provide shelter, such as burrowing under concrete or living in a pile of cinder blocks.

Fink found her favorite example deep in the woods around Atlanta.

"So there was just kind of a boat, not near water at all," she said. "And so they just kind of went through the bow of the boat and then kind of tucked the puppies in the back corner."

Fink said that while people might be afraid of coyotes in their neighborhoods, the animals play a crucial role as the largest predator in urban ecosystems, and generally, if you keep your dog on a leash and steer clear of their dens, they shouldn’t bother you.