Researchers J. Allen, M. Bekoff, and R. Crabtree conducted a field study on coyote (Canis latrans) behavior focused on scent-marking and territoriality in Yellowstone National Park. Their observations, published in the Animal Studies Repository, document how coyotes maintain inter-pack boundaries and minimize direct conflict through olfactory communication.
The researchers found that:
- Scent-marking was highly concentrated along the edges of a pack’s range, aligning closely with known territorial boundaries.
- These markings appeared to function as deterrents to intrusions by neighboring packs, reducing the need for physical confrontation.
- Activity patterns and movement routes suggested an awareness of both their own scent-mark locations and those of other packs.
These findings reinforce the classic definitions of territory and home range, demonstrating how scent-marking helps animals partition space and compete nonviolently for resources. This strategy may conserve energy and reduce the risk of injury in densely populated or resource-limited environments.
In domestic dogs, which evolved from wild canids like coyotes, similar scent behaviors are observed during walks or interactions with unfamiliar dogs. Understanding this ancestral context provides insight into canine behavior in shared urban or home spaces.
Source: J. Allen, Marc Bekoff, Robert Crabtree. “An Observational Study of Coyote (Canis latrans) Scent-marking and Territoriality in Yellowstone National Park.” Animal Studies Repository, 2018. digitalcommons.unl.edu
