Probability of Synanthropic Feral Dog Presence in the Western United States

This model is based on how dogs utilize wildlands near human habituation. These predators can have detrimental effects on wildlife populations (Alterio et al. 1998). We based our model on the data collected by Odell and Knight (2001) that investigated habitat utilization of these predators with regard to distance from housing and on the probability for a homeowner to possess a dog. We buffered both the populated areas and the campground distance layers in ARC/INFO using probability functions [P = 0.548 - 1.4589 * Distance (km)]. Any cell with distance less than 0.36km received a probability based on the function (0.556 to 0.001572) and all distances greater than or equal to 0.36km from populated areas or campgrounds were assigned a [...]