CritterTrack

Category: Explorations

  • Map yourself: technologies to track people

    Create a visualization map that tracks your activities at regular times throughout the day or week. When designing a wildlife tracking program, researchers need to determine several things. For example, the tracking collars on the coyotes in the Visualizer send signals at the same specific times each day to mark the animals’ locations. Why do you think those times were selected? How many times and at what specific time(s) of day will you document your location? Why? 

    Share your map with others and see what they can infer about your travels and locations.

    Technologies exist that enable us to track people or vehicles remotely. Can you find examples? Why would people want information on the location of other people or vehicles?

  • What other technologies exist for tracking animals?

    Research other animals that are tracked and determine if the methodology / technology is the same or different. If different, why?  Select an animal species you would be interested in tracking. What method would you use and why? What would you hope to learn from tracking your animals?

  • What else can be learned from trapping coyotes?

    In addition to learning about the habits and movements of coyotes, wildlife biologists often gather other data on animals they trap and release.

    Click on the information icon (i) for each coyote in the Visualizer. What data was collected? What samples were taken? Why do you think this data is important to wildlife biologists? How might the data assist the Department of Natural Resources in establishing rules and regulations for hunting or trapping coyotes?

    Create a chart or graph using data gathered on the coyotes when they were trapped. 

    If you were tracking coyotes, what would you want to learn?

  • How does satellite tracking technology work?

    Satellite tracking is used to generate the data for the coyotes represented in the Visualizer. Research how the technology works. What powers it? How long will it last? Do you think this technology is the best suited for tracking coyotes? Why or why not? If you were designing or engineering a trap and track technology, how would you improve upon it?

  • Design a coyote territory and habitat

    Using art materials or computer generated graphics, design a scale representation of what you think an ideal habitat and territory would be for a coyote. Incorporate the elements a coyote needs to survive. Using the data obtained from the Visualizer, what would be the size of your created territory?

  • What does a coyote need to survive or thrive?

    Study each territory in the Visualizer and determine where a coyote would find the things it needs to survive. Do you think the territories vary in biodiversity? If so, how might that affect the coyotes and the size of their territory?

  • Establishing coyote territories and the effects of human impact

    Examine the territories of the coyotes in the Visualizer. Do you think there are physical boundaries that define their territory? Do you think there are social boundaries (interactions with other coyotes or humans) that define the territories? Why might a coyote use a smaller or larger territory than a coyote in a different area? How do coyotes identify their territories or recognize territories of other coyotes? Do coyotes defend their territory?

    If a new road is planned that will bisect one of the coyote territories, how do you think this will impact the coyotes? 

  • The family life of coyotes

    Using the Visualizer, study the travel patterns of the adult coyotes during different weeks or seasons. Research the life history of coyotes to learn when coyotes mate and have pups. 

    Can you infer or determine:

    • When the coyotes represented in the Visualizer mate or have pups?
    • When the pups leave their den?  
    • How long pups stay with the adults in the same territory?

    When coyote pups mature and disperse out of their original home territory, where do you think they go? Why do you think they don’t stay in their original home territory? Some young adult coyotes, however, do stay for several years within their parents’ territory. What role do you think they play in the family group? Do coyotes hunt or travel in packs or are they solitary? 

  • Finding food

    What do coyotes eat? What types of food are the coyotes likely to find in each of their territories? What food sources might be present that habituate coyotes to humans? How do wildlife biologists verify what coyotes are eating in a given territory? Create a food web or chart for a coyote. Or, create a Coyote Cafe menu!

  • Where would coyotes live in your area?

    Look at a satellite imagery map of your county. Based on what you learned from studying the coyotes’ habits in the Visualizer,  predict where coyotes might live in your area or neighborhood. What travel corridors might they use? Where might they locate a den? Where would they find food? Water? Shelter? Has anyone ever seen coyotes in your county?