Join Chris Schadler, wild canid ecologist for this fascinating program. An eastern coyote is defined as much by its western coyote ancestry as by the DNA contribution from the Eastern wolf. Coyotes in the northeast vary physically and behaviorally from its smaller western relative – while still carrying their incredible adaptability. This program delves into the ecology and behavior of this creature, its indefatigability and how it is the human who must adapt to live with the coyote. On the horizon, however, is a native carnivore which fled the northeast during wolf removal and now may be trying to return: The eastern wolf. A look-alike to the coyote, it has been killed mistakenly for its similarity of appearance to the coyote. We’ll talk about how the wolf and coyote might negotiate a truce in the northeast and how we might do the same.

Chris Schadler, Wild Canid Ecologist

Chris earned a Masters in Conservation Biology at Antioch University

Graduate School. Her thesis focused on the natural recovery of the Eastern

Timber Wolf in Michigan.

While wolf recovery was the focus of her early work, Chris’ attention shifted

to the eastern coyote when she moved to New England in the 1980s.

She chose a farm beset with coyote problems to raise sheep and train her

border collies. Using sound livestock management and common sense, she

[and her sheep] avoided any predation.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Chris taught in the Dept of Natural Resources

at the University of New Hampshire and instructed and mentored adult

degree candidates in the UNH System at Granite State College.

Chris recently co-founded the NH Wildlife Coalition, is the NH and VT

Representative for Project Coyote and Chairs the Webster Conservation

Commission. She continues to research coyote feeding patterns in Coos

County and enjoys life without sheep.