Eastern Coyotes are a wild canid whose genetic make-up can be a combination of two species of wolves, western coyotes, and domestic dogs. It is truly a “canid soup.” Found throughout Massachusetts and eastern North America, coyotes thrive on Cape Cod, well-adapted to its fragmented habitats, open space, “island ecosystem”, and growing human population. They are present in our yards and neighborhoods year-round, but are not well understood by most people, eliciting alarm and disdain among many of us. Much of what we learn from others, or even in local news, is misguided or exaggerated, and heightens fear and anxiety. Peter Trull been studying the daily habits and life history of the Eastern Coyote since 1989. He has interviewed dozens of dog owners, some who lost their pets, and some whose dogs play in the yard with coyotes. A researcher and educator, Mr. Trull aims to offer an objective view of this wild canid and to help us understand this predator’s place in our world, and our place in the coyote’s world.
Peter Trull, M.Ed., has been involved in Research and Education for about 40 years. He began studying Eastern Coyotes in 1989. Mr. Trull coordinated seabird protection and research for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and served as Education Director at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. He conducted field research in Guyana and Surinam, studying the trapping of Common Terns and Roseate Terns for market, working with local bird trappers and sharing in their shorebird dinners. Through the ’90s, as a researcher and Education Director at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, he developed and taught classes related to whales and marine birds and completed over 2500 education and research-driven whale watching trips. He has written eight books about Cape Cod natural history. The Gray Curtain – The Impact of Seals, Sharks and Commercial Fishing on the Northeast Coast was released in June, 2015. His latest book, Birds of Paradox—The Life of Terns, will be released in April, 2019.