James, you are correct in your statement about unexploited populations, and that is the very reason researchers choose those areas to conduct their studies. They are able to observe the behavior of the subjects from long distances without influencing that behavior and they have a relatively stable population undisturbed by humans that can be studied long term. Heavily exploited populations are in a constant state of flux and the residents of those territories change often because of that pressure making research difficult at best as D.A. Danner documented in his study of Arizona coyotes in 1976. Wolverine, Jimmie and you are correct in supposing that pack sizes are governed by need. Territories that are large and provide abundant food, whether carrion such as in the parks or close to dairies and feedlots or with large populations of rodents are attractive to all coyotes and must be contantly defended from enterlopers. Pack sizes increase as demand increases. YOY are retained and betas are recruited from the nomadic population to satify that demand. Early explorers of the Great Plains reported coyotes in packs of 20 or 30 chasing deer, antelope and even straggling buffalo. The early settlers reported the coyote in large packs, which where considered a threat to livestock. The systematic extirpation of the large predators changed the behavior of the very adaptable coyote. Missouri, in 1853, was the first state to place a bounty on the coyote and the resultant pressure changed the behavior of those coyotes quickly. They became furtive (read sneaky) primarily nocturnal and much less vocal than they had been. In the majority of the coyotes range, however, they prey on small animals and birds and do not need the help of others, they are hunted heavily and shot at on sight so have learned to maintain a low profile.