Vol. 18, No. 2 
Page 3 
In the course of our fieldwork, especially in the booming season, we 
have recorded all observations of coyotes. These observations have increased 
each year since 1970. No coyotes were seen prior to that date. Subsequent 
observations are given in Table 1. 
Table l. Number of coyotes seen in Jasper and Marion counties, 1970-7*+* 
Year 
Coyotes 
1970 
3 
1971 
4 
1972 
6 
1973 
8 
1974 
16 
Total 37 
Of the total of 37 coyotes, five were seen on the peripheries of active 
booming grounds by observers in blinds. In the five instances, prairie chickens 
showed little or no reaction to the coyotes. The coyotes made no attempt to 
capture a prairie chicken and none of the chickens left the booming grounds. 
Apparently, adult prairie chickens on booming grounds have little to fear from 
coyotes. However, nests and incubating hens are much more vulnerable to 
coyotes foraging in the grasslands. Unfortunately, we know of no satisfactory 
method to determine from the remains of a destroyed nest what species of 
mammalian predator was responsible for its destruction. Therefore, we cannot 
evaluate the impact, if any, of the increase in numbers of coyotes on the nest 
success of prairie chickens. 
