Citizen Scientist Coyote Watch Training Program

Jefferson County Sheriff's office is hosting a second installment of Mary Ann Bonnell’s Citizen Scientist Coyote Watch Training for those volunteers or staff members who are interested in participating and contributing to the Denver Metro Area (DMA) Coyote Behavior Study. Mary Ann is the Senior Natural Resource Specialist with the City of Aurora Open Space and she is one of the major contributors to the DMA Coyote Behavior Study.


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Citizen Science Coyote Watch Project Overview

Why engage citizen scientists in the Denver Metro Area Coyote Behavior Study?

Including citizens in the data collection process (citizen science) includes stakeholders in the process of knowledge building and allows citizens the opportunity to actively engage in finding solutions to coyote conflict.

Wildlife biologists sometimes use a citizen science approach on projects and problems that have stakeholders as a central component and where more traditional studies cannot be applied due to funding, staffing, or land access limitations (Weckel et al., 2010).

The Coyote Watch program supports the goals of the Denver Metro Area Coyote Behavior Study by engaging citizens in knowledge building through informed coyote observation, fostering improved understanding of coyote ecology, behavior and interactions with people and pets at the community level, which may help reduce negative interactions between coyotes and people overall.

Coyote Watch volunteers will provide essential support for the research project by collecting baseline observational data, applying community hazing techniques and recording and reporting coyote observations.

Essential Coyote Watch Volunteer Requirements/Duties:

• Attend one behavior, ecology and observation form use training (dates listed above)

• Sign project waiver and release

• Provide transportation to and from observation areas

• Some level of comfort interacting with site users and answering questions about the research project

• Use required observation form to record and report observations and treatments

• Attend “special forces” community hazing techniques training (offered late summer/fall)

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The training has been scheduled as follows:


Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 6:30 PM (until approximately 9:00 PM)
Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Green Mountain Conference Room
15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden, CO 80401
Fee: No Charge


Please have interested people RSVP with name, address, email address, and cell phone number to:

Carla Zinanti
303.271.5074


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And for those who may be interested in a Saturday session, the following training date has space available:

Saturday, January 26, 2013
9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch
16002 E. Smith Rd., Aurora, CO 80011

Please RSVP for the Saturday class to

Mary Ann Bonnell
303.859.8911