
Combined Returns from Fall and Winter Tagging 
The general area of fall and winter tagging and the points of 
recovery of coyotes marked and released there are shown in Figure 7. 
Seven coyotes that had moved 6 to 50 airline miles in general directions 
away from the Park were later recovered; 6 were pups and 1 an adult. 
An equal number had returned 9 to 29 airline miles to higher altitudds 
in the Park; 5 were adults, 1 probably a yearling, and 1 a pup. These 
returns confirm the generaltendency of the younger animals to disperse 
and the older animals that have become established in the Park to ree 
turn there by spring. 
When it is considered that the Park is a high plateau and 
mountainous section surrounded by lower areas, and supports a maximum 
coyote population, it becomes apparent why the outward movements are 
greater than the inward movements. The dispersal tendency of juveniles, 
whether they be birds or mammals, is common knowledge. With coyotes 
this occurs in the fall as the young animals become old enough to shift 
for themselves, and then there is only one logical direction for them 
to go, down-country. ‘ince the initial direction of movement of the 
dispersing pups is determined by altitude, it follows that more will 
leave the park than ever find their way back. As the wandering pups 
mature, some no doubt continue the upward and downward seasonal move- 
ments in their new locations, but, once beyond the Park boundary, 
this sanctuary then becomes just one of the many mountainous areas 
available to them. 
Ranger Rudolf L. Grimm observed that ear=cropped (tagged) 
coyotes began appearing at the higher altitudes in the Park in February 
following their capture along the north Park boundary in October and 
November. One adult tagged in October was killed 16 airline miles up- 
country the following Feburary, and another tagged in November was 
killed in April, 10 airline miles up-country in a region still covered 
with deep snow. Tracks show that these predators reappear in the deep 
snow areas as soon as the snow crusts sufficiently to permit them to 
travel freely, This occurs sometimes as early as January, with activity 
increasing in February and March. Just as the downward drifts in the 
fall occur before the movements of big game, the return of coyotes to 
to the higher altitudes may precede by several weeks that of game 
animals. 
