Repeated Exposure of Coyotes to the Coyote Lure Operative Device.

The coyote lure operative device (CLOD) is a substance delivery system for coyotes (Canis latrans). Field testing has demonstrated that free-ranging coyotes will activate CLODs, but whether individual animals or mated pairs will do so repeatedly has not been examined. We conducted 2 experiments with captive coyotes to determine whether individual animals or mated pairs would approach and activate CLODs repeatedly when exposed to them in a familiar environment over 4 consecutive days. The second experiment allowed us to determine whether a bias existed toward either member of a pair when CLODs were activated. We concluded that individuals and mated pairs approach and activate CLODs with decreased latency over a 4-day testing period. Both sexes activated CLODs when encountered as individuals, but males activated more CLODs than females when mated pairs were exposed to the device. These results imply that an end user of the CLOD can wait until regular "take" occurs before introducing an active ingredient and, thus, have more control over delivery time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]