Greetings, Naturalists!

We’re initiating a community science effort to study fox and coyote dens in the Twin Cities area. Finding fox dens is an especially grassroots effort, since our research shows that foxes are often using private land within neighborhoods, and their dens are often in backyards or under sheds. If you’ve had foxes digging in your yard or under a shed, it’s likely that they’re digging a den because they are about to have kits (or perhaps have already had them!). Dens are of extreme biological importance to coyotes and foxes as protection for their young, and we want to study how they choose these locations. Helping us find those locations is where you can help!

If you’re interested in participating in the community science initiative project, you can either follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tccfp) or Twitter (twitter.com/tccfp_umn) and check out our latest post for how to get involved. Alternatively, you can also just go straight to our website (https://tccfp.umn.edu/become-citizen-scientist) to report a den or get in contact with us. If you know that a neighbor has a fox den on their property, please let them know how to get in contact with me through our website. I’m really hoping that with your help the Twin Cities can shine as an example of how communities can contribute to a deeper scientific understanding of urban wildlife. Thanks!

We just want to thank all of those who have posted coyote and fox observations to iNaturalist! These posts have been a BIG help - keep them coming! In case you are interested, we set up a Facebook page (@TCCFP) and a UMN website (tccfp.umn.edu). We post periodic updates about the project to FB and general information (e.g., the project's work plan) to the UMN site. Thanks!

We received word that the latest budget bill from the legislature has restored our project's funding! We will be assured funding once the governor signs this bill into law. THANK YOU to all who contacted their legislators on our behalf!

We have been at the capitol the past two weeks to discuss our project's funding with legislators. Below are three common questions and answers we received from them and from the public*.

Q: Which bill are we talking about?
A: Senate bill S.F. 2314 (omnibus environment and natural resources bill). This is the bill eliminates funding for our project, and 40% of all LCCMR-recommended wildlife research projects.

Q: What is the project called?
A: It is entitled "Mapping habitat use and disease of urban carnivores"

Q: What is its purpose?
A: To learn about coyotes, red foxes, and gray foxes in the seven-county Twin Cities Metro Area. There have been exactly 0 published scientific papers for these species in Minnesota (and this includes the TCMA, of course). This project will provide much-needed information to Minnesota citizens and wildlife managers about coyotes and foxes, including where they live, what they eat, and whether they carry diseases that infect pets and people.

*thanks to David D. for asking for more information, which prompted this update!

The Senate version of the ENRTF appropriations bill proposes to cut all funding for the Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project (PROJECT TITLE: Mapping habitat use and disease of urban carnivores). There is still hope that funding will get restored once the Senate and House hash out the final budget; although the Senate's deletion of our funding is not a good thing, we can still change the outcome. I am writing to my legislators and asking others who support the project to do the same. So, please contact your state senator and representative and tell them what you think. You can find your legislators here: www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts. Thanks!

We created a Facebook Page - @tccfp - where we will post updates on the Twin Cities Coyote & Fox Project!

Please be sure to check the box that enables the curator of this project to see the true location of 'obscured' locations -- otherwise obscured locations will be many miles away from the true location and not very useful! Thanks!

This project will replace the old project, which will enable us to see obscured locations. Thanks for joining!