Abstract
The discussion around coyotes, both online and in person, can often include some mention of fear. Although conflict with coyotes is rare, it seems to be an active concern for some. To understand why this may be, I examined 100 articles from the Google news tab, and the imagery and language they used, to determine how negatively coyotes are portrayed, how the media may be impacting the public perception of coyotes, and what this may mean on a larger scale of coyote management. Results show that news coverage on coyotes is often centered around negative interactions and fear of harm rather than neutral reporting. Further examination into online discussions on coyotes also suggests that many people are not only afraid of coyotes, but are operating under inaccurate assumptions that may be exacerbated by the focus of media coverage. This persistence of negative portrayals has greater implications for how we manage coyote populations in the United States, and indicates that more nuance is required in article coverage of coyote incidents to encourage better coexistence.
Advisor
Mariola, Matt
Department
Environmental Studies
Recommended Citation
Nichols, Monroe I., "Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Tie Between Negative Media and Fear of Coyotes" (2025). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11287.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11287
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Life Sciences
Keywords
Coyote
Publication Date
2025
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2025 Monroe I. Nichols