The Laughing Wolf

Some Quick Thoughts On Coyotes (and Glenn Reynolds)

Recently, I saw this post by Glenn, to whom I guess we may have to start referring as the Coyote Blender instead. This follows on some interesting and fun in-person talks with Eric in regards foxes, coyotes, and wolves.

To my mind, there are three issues here deserving of consideration. There is no doubt that coyotes, along with any other predator, can be a nuisance if not an outright problem. They can and will come into cities, yards, and more, on the hunt, and will take what is available. Yet, the large populations cropping up also might bear some thought in terms of what it means about rat, mice, and other truly problematic critter populations.

First up for consideration is getting the "right" coyote. Yes, a coyote may get your pet or such, but if you go start shooting at random, how do you know you got the one who got your pet? While it is anthropomorphizing to the point of hyperbole, if someone kills a family member (which is how we tend to see pets), do you just go shoot a random person on the street and say "even"? How do you know that the coyote you shot did not force out the hyper-predatory one who did the deed, and was there actually keeping nasty things in check?

Second, think on this latter point a bit more. Out at Wolf Park recently, I heard someone talking on this very subject, and they recounted something that the man who founded the park espouses. In this case, a farmer was having coyote problems, but that he was convinced to try something a bit different. The farmer was taught some behaviors that allowed him to identify "bad" coyotes and eliminate them. According to the tale, this resulted in a coyote taking up residence that did not prey on livestock, but rather on rats, mice, ferret-analogs of the area, and other problems. By being there, that coyote kept others away (they are not pack in the same way as wolves), further reducing problems and tensions. This happy state lasted for many years. This tale I will list for now as apocryphal as I have not been able to get in touch with the teller for a citation, but it does show a way. What is needed is not necessarily random or de-populating killings, but intelligent management for all predatory/problematic populations.

Third, as with most things, some consideration should be given to the food chain. Coyotes multiply and spread not just because of readily available and plentiful food supplies. One wonders if they would be quite so populous and problematic if the Red Wolves had not been effectively exterminated and the few remaining driven off from the mountains and forests into one small section of Virginia swamp. One wonders the same about the Grey Wolf, for wolves tend to be that next step up the chain, and a limiting factor of sorts on the coyotes.

Just some food for thought for the day.

LW