Sustainable Living > Farm Livestock

Coyotes

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Chip Euliss:
Coyotes are as interesting as they are cunning and their size and behavior can vary from one place to another and even within an area.  I have a friend who did her PhD on them and she tells me there are good coyotes and bad coyotes.  That is to say, some make decent neighbors and others do not--I don't consider the ones near me to be 'good neighbors'.  I've had them kill large bucks that weighed right at 300 lbs so they can take large prey.  Here, at least, fox are much harder on ground nesting birds--just the niche they fill but that too can vary from area-to-area.  Here, coyotes kill and eat fox, so if you have coyotes you tend to have few fox.  A trade-off as far as ground nesting birds are concerned, if that's your interest.  The coyotes here are much larger than the ones in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona but they are much smaller than the ones back east.  I believe that they do take large prey in the eastern states because they are larger and I believe they eat small prey in Texas and other states where their overall body size is smaller.  They are very adaptable and have done very well; I don't think they could ever be eradicated.  There have been people killed by coyotes, including adults but most documented cases were children.  The ones I have on my property are fairly aggressive and have followed me home after deer hunting till near dark.  I don't trust the ones that follow me home and get within 20 yards or so.  I have a friend in Saskatchewan and he had one chase his dog through the back yard and through a partially open patio door that my friend slammed shut just as the dog cleared; the coyote hit the glass but didn't break it!!  I use snares to knock them back here every winter but I can't say I've done much to reduce their numbers here.  They are a very successful animal.  They'll be here long after we're all gone.  They eat bees too--at least the dead ones in front of hives in the fall.

Dunkel:
Oh great chip, now I have to worry with the bees too :D  They certainly are survivors.  A few years ago I watched them take out a big fawn.  I watched it almost get away, but it made the mistake of cutting to the right and that was that.  They are impressive if nothing else.

Chip Euliss:
They are indeed.  If it makes you feel better, I think they only eat the dead ones in front of the hive (more common in fall) but insects do form a pretty fair share of their diet.  Sounds like you need to get a roadrunner to work 'em over :laugh:  Seriously, donkeys do work well.  I have a close friend in OH and he has several to protect his cattle.

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