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Coyotes Chose Steep Slopes and Stable Soils for Dens in Elk Island National Park

Female coyote watching over a den
Research · Ecology

Coyotes (Canis latrans) in Elk Island National Park in Alberta, Canada chose den sites with steep slopes and stable, cohesive soils, according to a study published in the Journal of Mammalogy on 19 August 2026. The pattern points to physical stability and drainage as the strongest fine-scale features shaping den placement in this protected natural area.

The researchers identified 42 dens and compared them with available sites at both the surrounding landscape scale and immediately around each den. Selection was much stronger at the fine scale: coyotes favoured steeper ground and soils that were less prone to collapse.

Fine-scale stability dominated den selection

Structural support was also common. Almost all measured den openings incorporated roots, rocks or existing excavations, and more than half of the dens used abandoned beaver (Castor canadensis) excavations or other old beaver infrastructure. The authors suggest that these persistent structures may provide stable shelter and reduce the work needed to excavate a den.

Food, water and security explained less

At the broader scale, dens were less associated with areas containing much water, which may reduce flooding risk during spring snowmelt. The study found no evidence that coyotes placed dens to gain immediate access to water or open meadow used as indicators of nearby food resources, and evidence for choosing sites primarily for security from people or predators was limited.

The researchers could not confirm that every cavity had been used as a natal den, and they measured den characteristics outside the period when pups are most dependent on the den. Even with that limitation, the results indicate that predictable, fine-scale features that keep dens stable and well drained were the clearest drivers of den-site selection in this population.

Sources and image credit

  1. Raymond, S., Montgomery, J., & St. Clair, C. C. (2026). Denning coyotes (Canis latrans) select fine-scale habitat characteristics that promote den stability in a protected area. Journal of Mammalogy, gyag072.Open-access peer-reviewed primary study published 19 August 2026. Researchers compared 42 coyote dens with available sites in Elk Island National Park, Alberta. Fine-scale selection was strongest for steep slopes, stable cohesive soils and structural support; more than half of the dens incorporated abandoned beaver excavations or infrastructure.

Image: Lactating female coyote watching over a den with pups at Metzger Farm Open Space, Colorado, USA, 21 May 2019. Photo: Jim Kennedy (nature80020) / Flickr via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0. Representative denning image; not a coyote from Elk Island National Park. · CC BY 2.0 · Source

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