Post by mortensen on Oct 31, 2008 21:12:36 GMT -5
Indian Folklore:
One day a feather fell from the sky.
An eagle saw it fall.
A deer heard it fall.
And a bear later smelled it.
Only the coyote saw, heard and smelled that feather all at the same time.
Coyotes can locate the direction of a sound to within one degree at any distance from which the coyote can hear it. For example, at one mile, the coyote knows where the sound is coming from to within 90 feet. At 100 yards, coyote can pinpoint the sound to within five feet.
Few other critters are blessed with better senses than 'Ol Wily' coyote.
With the decimation of the larger predators, the wolf, mountain lion, and bear, the coyote has evolved to be a super predator. The coyote has only two predators and that being the wolf and the mountain lion. Yellow Stone National Park was over-run by coyote's a few years back. The Park re-introduced the wolf and the coyote population is now kept in check.
Many studies point to the futility of attempting to reduce coyote numbers by killing coyotes by hunters. The coyotes simply respond with a heavier mortality by increasing their litter size and breeding more and at earlier ages. In one study, before 'control', coyotes had 3-4 pups per litter and only 32% of the females bred. After control started, 90% of the females were breeding and litter sizes doubled. This is called 'density dependent reproduction' and is one reason why coyotes have not only survived but thrived despite efforts to control them. One study surmised that if 75% of the coyotes in an area are killed each year, the population could be exterminated in slightly over 50 years!
Some of the effective means of eliminating some of the coyote population would be by poison and airplane gunning. Poison will only work when implemented in coyote infested areas and it does have consequences that could effect other small mammals and rodents. Any type of control of this type must be done on an annual basis or the coyote will instantly bounce back, and these forms of control are highly expensive and time consuming. Studies show that areas with a lot of coyote hunting pressure you will usually find a lot of coyotes. In areas such as national and state parks, with no hunting pressure, coyotes tend to be a lot less numerous.
I don't begrudge anyone for hunting coyotes. I've killed my share of coyotes and now try and be selective where I hunt by choosing area's where the coyote is in direct conflict with farm animals and domestic pets. I hunt in the Mojave National Preserve (Mojave Desert) and check with Park Rangers for any sightings of diseased coyotes that may be suffering from rabbies or mange and will go in and take them out. I've always been of the opinion that you eat what you shoot. However, it's not likely that any of us are going to sit down for dinner and dine on a coyote steak! Hopefully your skinning the yote yourself or take it to a skinner or taxadermist who can utilize the fur. Remember, it's easier to skin a warm yote than it is a cold yote. I consider leaving behind dead coyotes on the ground poor sportsmanship, and a slap in the face to 'mother nature' and to God's Creation, (my opinion).
If we should ever eliminate the coyote completely that would pretty much leave the rat and the c-roach. And if you think the the coyote is resillient, check out the rat, as most of Western Europe hasn't forgotten the Black Plague (black death).
mortensen
"An army of sheep led by a lion will defeat a army of lion led by a sheep".
One day a feather fell from the sky.
An eagle saw it fall.
A deer heard it fall.
And a bear later smelled it.
Only the coyote saw, heard and smelled that feather all at the same time.
Coyotes can locate the direction of a sound to within one degree at any distance from which the coyote can hear it. For example, at one mile, the coyote knows where the sound is coming from to within 90 feet. At 100 yards, coyote can pinpoint the sound to within five feet.
Few other critters are blessed with better senses than 'Ol Wily' coyote.
With the decimation of the larger predators, the wolf, mountain lion, and bear, the coyote has evolved to be a super predator. The coyote has only two predators and that being the wolf and the mountain lion. Yellow Stone National Park was over-run by coyote's a few years back. The Park re-introduced the wolf and the coyote population is now kept in check.
Many studies point to the futility of attempting to reduce coyote numbers by killing coyotes by hunters. The coyotes simply respond with a heavier mortality by increasing their litter size and breeding more and at earlier ages. In one study, before 'control', coyotes had 3-4 pups per litter and only 32% of the females bred. After control started, 90% of the females were breeding and litter sizes doubled. This is called 'density dependent reproduction' and is one reason why coyotes have not only survived but thrived despite efforts to control them. One study surmised that if 75% of the coyotes in an area are killed each year, the population could be exterminated in slightly over 50 years!
Some of the effective means of eliminating some of the coyote population would be by poison and airplane gunning. Poison will only work when implemented in coyote infested areas and it does have consequences that could effect other small mammals and rodents. Any type of control of this type must be done on an annual basis or the coyote will instantly bounce back, and these forms of control are highly expensive and time consuming. Studies show that areas with a lot of coyote hunting pressure you will usually find a lot of coyotes. In areas such as national and state parks, with no hunting pressure, coyotes tend to be a lot less numerous.
I don't begrudge anyone for hunting coyotes. I've killed my share of coyotes and now try and be selective where I hunt by choosing area's where the coyote is in direct conflict with farm animals and domestic pets. I hunt in the Mojave National Preserve (Mojave Desert) and check with Park Rangers for any sightings of diseased coyotes that may be suffering from rabbies or mange and will go in and take them out. I've always been of the opinion that you eat what you shoot. However, it's not likely that any of us are going to sit down for dinner and dine on a coyote steak! Hopefully your skinning the yote yourself or take it to a skinner or taxadermist who can utilize the fur. Remember, it's easier to skin a warm yote than it is a cold yote. I consider leaving behind dead coyotes on the ground poor sportsmanship, and a slap in the face to 'mother nature' and to God's Creation, (my opinion).
If we should ever eliminate the coyote completely that would pretty much leave the rat and the c-roach. And if you think the the coyote is resillient, check out the rat, as most of Western Europe hasn't forgotten the Black Plague (black death).
mortensen
"An army of sheep led by a lion will defeat a army of lion led by a sheep".