Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson

Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson

A new addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, Urban Coyotes follows the scientists of the Urban Coyote Research Project as they track, study, and care for coyotes living among humans in one of America's largest cities, Chicago.

But that's the thing about coyotes. They don't necessarily do what's typical or usual, nor what's expected or predicted. Coyotes are rule breakers. 

The fourth largest metropolitan area in North America is home to more than nine million people and a surprisingly large population of coyotes. Join the wildlife scientists of the Urban Coyote Research Project as they carry on their twenty-five-year mission: Studying the coyotes of Cook County, Illinois, home to the city of Chicago. Explore questions such as "Where did the coyotes come from--and why?," "Are they a danger to Chicagoans?," and "Do predators create healthier urban ecosystems?" with real-life scientists in the field. Started by urban ecologist Stan Gehrt in the late 1990s when coyotes were first noticed entering the Chicago region, the Urban Coyote Research Project's mission is to help coyotes and human city dwellers live together in peace.

With stunning up-close photography by Tom Uhlman, author Mary Kay Carson offers an in-depth look into how these mystifying wild creatures, and those dedicated to studying and protecting them, navigate urban spaces.

This essential STEM book for kids goes into the field to explore:

• Real-Life Scientific Research: Follow the team from the Urban Coyote Research Project as they use high-tech collars and fieldwork to gather data in the heart of Chicago.
• Animal Tracking in the City: Learn how researchers find and study coyote families, from locating dens hidden in plain sight to tracking their movements along railroad tracks.
• Stunning Wildlife Photography: See incredible, up-close photos that reveal the secret lives of these intelligent predators, proving that coyotes are more than just rule breakers.
• Conservation Science in Action: Discover why having predators in cities can actually make urban ecosystems healthier, and what it takes for humans and animals to live together.
• An Award-Winning Science Series: A perfect addition to any library, this book is part of the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, celebrated for making complex science accessible for middle grade readers.

Mary Kay Carson has written over fifty books for children and teenagers about wildlife, space, weather, ecology, and history. She began her writing career working for the school magazine SuperScience after studying biology in college and serving in the Peace Corps. Her books have received a slew of starred reviews and accolades, including the 2019 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Award for Excellence in Science Books, which she won for Alexander Graham Bell for Kids. She's written six books in HMH's popular Scientists in the Field series, including The Bat Scientists, which was named an ALA 2011 Outstanding Children's Books for Middle Readers, and The Tornado Scientist, which was selected as a State Library of Ohio Choose To Read Ohio (CTRO) title for 2021-22. She and her husband reside near a century-old house in Cincinnati, Ohio, surrounded by urban greenspace, deer, raptors, woodchucks, and songbirds. www.marykaycarson.com is a website dedicated to Mary Kay Carson.