Radnor Lake Coyote and Deer Study at Radnor Lake State Natural Area by Steve Ward
One of the most controversial subjects regarding wildlife within the Radnor Lake area is the relationship between wildlife, humans, and land-use. Over the past 20 years, we have witnessed an increase in several wildlife species, ranging from Otters to Coyotes. When wildlife species thrive in areas such as Radnor Lake, it often serves as a barometer on the health of our natural area at Radnor Lake.
Two of the most controversial wildlife species without a doubt are Whitetail Deer and Coyotes, both of which are an important piece to Radnor Lake ecosystem. Given that Radnor Lake functions primarily as a wildlife observation area, many of our visitors come to Radnor with the hope of seeing, photographing, and/or just viewing these species in their natural state.
One of our primary environmental education needs is to educate both the visitors to our natural area and the surrounding residents on the biological importance of both of these species. While everyone will draw their own conclusions, our goal is to provide accurate biological information relative to both species and their interaction with the state’s first natural area.
Beginning three years ago with the assistance of Friends of Radnor Lake, The City of Oak Hill, David Lipscomb University, and Tennessee State University, the Ranger Staff began a project specifically to address the issue of Coyotes and Whitetail Deer. While this project will be ongoing for several years, it started with a survey to evaluate the surrounding residents on their opinions, attitudes, and knowledge on these two species. This survey was compiled by Dr. Jim Carpenter of David Lipscomb University and the return results were mapped by TSU. (See Dr. Padgett and Adrienne Morris’s article below.)
In addition, with the use of digital infrared cameras and assistance from Dr. Carpenter’s students, survey stations have been set up within the natural area. We have learned much from this non-intrusive research including buck-to-doe ratios and information on coyote and deer patterns. Or example, the most coyotes we have captured on film in one night has been five. We believe this is an early indication that there are far fewer coyotes but they have a greater geographical range.
Also, the ranger staff has conducted road-kill autopsies on coyotes to determine exactly what they eat on a day-to-day basis within our area. To date, the primary stomach contents have contained items such as berries, plants, rodents, and dog food. While coyotes seem to get blamed for every missing pet within our ZIP code, we do know from time to time pets become prey to coyotes. We have found that this is much less frequent than reported and that most of the time this misinformation is a reminder of how much we still have to do to educate both our visitors and neighbors on both coyotes and whitetail deer.
Radnor Lake Coyote & Deer Study By Adrienne Morris and David A. Padgett
In conjunction with the Tennesee State University Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory, Radnor Lake State Natural Area staff conducted research assessing problems between the nearby residents and the local coyote and deer populations. This study, entitled “Applications of Geographic Information Systems and Related Technologies in the Analysis of Human/Wildlife Interactions in an Urban Forest,” was done in hopes of educating the residents about the coyotes and deer and to direct the park rangers to the “problem areas” of the park and the surrounding land. It is an ongoing study that will be completed in phases, with the community surveys and mapping being the first phase. Other phases of the study include estimating the coyote and deer populations, studying the movements and migration patterns of the coyote and deer, and ultimately the behavioral patterns of the coyotes and deer that call the Radnor Lake State Natural Area home.
Surveys for the study were distributed to the residents via the monthly newsletter to residents of two communities adjacent to the park, Oak Hills and Forest Hills. The survey itself consisted of two sections of questions. The interaction section of the survey focused on whether the individual felt they had a conflict with deer or coyote and how many times and to what extent was the damage that was caused by their interaction with the animals. The knowledge section of the survey asked various multiple-choice questions about the biology of deer and coyotes. The purpose was to find a correlation between the individuals' “problems” with the natural wildlife and their actual knowledge of the different species that call Radnor Lake home.
From the surveys that were returned, the responses that could correctly be linked to an address or actual parcel lot were entered into a geographic information systems (GIS) attribute database. For mapping purposes, various responses to the questions were color-coded. A digital map of property parcels, obtained from Nashville/Davidson County Metropolitan Government, was linked to the color-coded coyote/deer survey map.
The information collected from this study will enable the Radnor Lake staff to provide environmental programs to educate visitors and residents about the natural wildlife at Radnor Lake. The willingness of residents to complete and return their surveys to Radnor Lake made this study possible, and we would like to thank all who participated and helped to make Radnor Lake State Natural Area a more pleasant home for both residents and local wildlife.
