The GPS collars placed on coyotes for research are programmed to fall off at specific times. When a collar drops off, it is important for us to locate it as soon as possible to ensure it does not get damaged and to download the data.  

Finding the collars requires special equipment, called a yagi and receiver (being used in the image below), that helps us to locate them in areas where they might be tough to spot. These tools give us the ability to hear the unique frequency that is emitted by the collars.  

Sometimes the collars are in places where it does not take long to find them, like the middle of the road, and sometimes they are in thick areas, like kudzu forests, that take a long time to navigate through and find.