The Politics of Predation: Exploring the Rise of Coyotes in North American Cities

This dissertation examines the relationship between coyotes and the urban neighbourhoods of continental North America that they are increasingly colonising. I employ a multi-disciplinary approach - inspired by the likes of animal geographies, animal studies, urban geography and wildlife ecology - to explore how humans respond to coyotes and how these adapters are navigating urban regions with special attention to the City of Chicago. As a component of their behaviour plasticity, coyotes can adapt to a wide range of environments and are now present in every metropolitan region in the U.S. This brings with it the potential for conflict with human beings, but also opportunities for coexistence. This thesis considers the lives of urban coyotes, their representation in culture and the media, and the appropriate municipal responses to potential conflict. The human-coyote interface is a multifaceted subject and I approach the topic through several themes drawn from different methodologies and disciplines. These themes together offer a “coyote urbanism” or a “feral political ecology”: a revitalized, multi-species ethics of the city inspired by the coyote’s signature adaptability and perseverance.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Taves, Ilanah

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Howell, Philip

• coexistence
• conflict
• coyote
• coyote urbanism
• feral political ecology
• human-wildlife interface

Licence

• https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/86facb6f-453f-4618-b280-18dd242d6617/download
• https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/

Language dc:language

eng

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.109215

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/369374