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Coyotes
Super-species Some authors consider the coyote's vocal communication ability to be even more advanced than that of the grey wolf. Their intelligence and lack of specialised needs mean that they can survive almost anywhere, from the deserts of Arizona to the Rocky Mountains. Although they typically hunt rodents and small mammals, they will also sometimes catch deer, scavenge other species' leftovers, or even chew watermelons. Why doesn't killing coyotes make them rare? Coyotes appear to adapt to hunting pressure by what is caused "compensatory breeding" - in other words, the faster they are killed, the better the survivors are at reproducing. In addition, new coyotes will quickly move into a vacant territory. While some outdoor groups advocate payment of bounties and sport killing contests, the only sensible way to manage coyotes is to accept that they will always be around. In practice, that means finding sustainable, humane, long-term solutions. Wild Neighbours While coyotes usually pose no risk to humans, they do sometimes attack cats and small dogs. The best way to prevent conflicts is to keep pets under supervision (which should be standard practice in any case) and to make sure that there is nothing that attracts coyotes in your backyard. For example, feeding cats outside can lure wild animals - including coyotes and raccoons - to investigate the food bowls. Livestock farmers have viewed coyotes as a potential threat ever since sheep and cattle were introduced into North America. This has resulted in some of the biggest wildlife slaughters that the world has ever seen, with untold millions of coyotes perishing by guns, poison, hounds and traps. Today, farmers are paid compensation for predator kills, which in any case account for only a small proportion of livestock losses, but the killing continues. In Saskatchewan alone, some 71,000 coyotes were killed for bounty payment in just one winter. Sadly, we have a long way to go in our relationship with the coyote.
I'm a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog, and lone;
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All photos, text and other content © Adele Brand (www.thesittingfox.co.uk) 2006 - 2011. Inspired by stuff found at www.webcodingtech.com. |
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North
America's smallest wolf species is the "Song Dog" - the tough, resilient
little coyote, which has thrived in the face of intense persecution.
