Coyotes in trouble

[dave1949]

I don't know if you ever read "Northwoods Sporting Journal", but Bob Noonan just had an article about them; he indicated that it takes 3-4 coyotes to bring down a deer, so if you just take 1 out of the pack you may save a few lives. Maine Fish and Wildlife estimates that each coyote accounts for 8 deer.

Incidently, about a month ago I had a doe show up on my property; it walked 10 feet from my house, sometime between 8:00 AM when I left on my sled, and 2 hours later when I came back. It hung around for about a week so i dropped a couple cedar trees to help it through the winter; that night I heard coyotes howling. It was Sunday night and a game warden lives 1/2 mile away from me, so my hands were tied. I did go for a sled ride but couldn't find them; and that deer hasn't been back. I do like hearing coyotes sound off; but I also like taking a deer once in a while. I've walked several deer yards this winter; nice habitat, but not a deer track to be seen.

Until we can implement the snaring program again, the deer herd in this neck of the woods is never going to recover.

I've been thinking about the Fish & Game one coyote - eight deer thing. I have no reason to not believe it, but I have to say it sounds high.

Deer are fairly scarce here too. They have a game trail that runs across the back of our lot every winter and it has had some use this year, plus there are a couple that hang around near the house quite a bit. I thought, until this week, they would be off to a good start this Spring as far as snow depth goes. At least it isn't cold out. I was about ready to go looking for some shed antlers along that trail, now it's buried again.

I will check out the 'Northwoods Sporting Journal'. I think I have read articles in other places by Bob Noonan, sounds familiar.
Dave.

 

[Bird]

I don't know whether the coyotes are really in trouble or not. This story is in the Dallas Morning News this morning. For those who don't know, Rowlett, is along Lake Ray Hubbard on the east edge of Dallas; not exactly a sparsely populated area.

 

[dave1949]

I don't know whether the coyotes are really in trouble or not. This story is in the Dallas Morning News this morning. For those who don't know, Rowlett, is along Lake Ray Hubbard on the east edge of Dallas; not exactly a sparsely populated area.

Thanks for sharing the story Bird. Earlier this month the coyotes were very busy around here, tracks all over the place and very near the house too. We decided it was due to the mating season.

Our dog barks at anything moving around after dark. He is inside a 6' fence - where he is very brave. When he barks, the next day there are always fresh sets of tracks nearby. Coyote, bobcat, deer, occasional moose. He comes in and goes to bed at 10pm.

I'd think the coyotes would check out our compost pile, which usually has something added to it each day. Never see their tracks near it though and it would be easy to see in the snow. So, I don't really know what makes them come close to the house unless they have ideas about the dog. :licking: We don't have any other pets or animals.
Dave.

 

[Jstpssng]

Thanks for sharing the story Bird. Earlier this month the coyotes were very busy around here, tracks all over the place and very near the house too. We decided it was due to the mating season.

Our dog barks at anything moving around after dark. He is inside a 6' fence - where he is very brave. When he barks, the next day there are always fresh sets of tracks nearby. Coyote, bobcat, deer, occasional moose. He comes in and goes to bed at 10pm.

I'd think the coyotes would check out our compost pile, which usually has something added to it each day. Never see their tracks near it though and it would be easy to see in the snow. So, I don't really know what makes them come close to the house unless they have ideas about the dog. :licking: We don't have any other pets or animals.
Dave.

How big is your dog? Unless they were REALLY hungry they won't attack a 70lb dog. They could just be checking out what your dog is barking at.If you live on the woods with rabbits around they may be after them. I've been out marking riparian buffers in a snowstorm and the coyotes feeding on the rabbits I was stirring up.

 

[dave1949]

How big is your dog? Unless they were REALLY hungry they won't attack a 70lb dog. They could just be checking out what your dog is barking at.If you live on the woods with rabbits around they may be after them. I've been out marking riparian buffers in a snowstorm and the coyotes feeding on the rabbits I was stirring up.

Our dog weighs about 145 lbs. He's a wuss but the coyotes may not have figured that out. He is also still intact, so I don't know if his scent is of interest to female coyotes. We have quite a few hare around too, probably accounts for most of the fur in the coyote scat.

It's funny how the coyotes come and go. They will be around alot for maybe a week and then no fresh tracks for a long time. There is a bobcat that has left tracks all winter all around the house, up and over snow piles along the driveway, etc. I'm sure the track is too big for any sort of house cat.

We had a little treat Saturday watching three grouse feeding on tree buds up in the tops of the trees. I think they were on the old apple trees that have gone wild. I know that is where grouse supposedly get some of their food in winter, but have never seen them at it before. I always expected to see them on popple, but there are no popple where they were.

I picked up a copy of the Northwoods Sporting Journal, haven't gotten to Noonan's article yet.
Dave.

 

[Thomas]

Dave1949
"There is a bobcat that has left tracks all winter all around the house, up and over snow piles along the driveway, etc. I'm sure the track is too big for any sort of house cat."

Hope going to be mother w/plans hanging around..just one of nature many wonders.

We had bobcat hung around couple weeks..interesting to say the least.

 

[arrabil]

Every coyote I see around here is all ribs. And the deer population is way down too. PA has been allowing a lot of doe hunting for the last several years. Seems to be having an effect all around.