Farm Horizons • April 3, 2017
• Page 6
While their numbers have remained constant, coyotes have often been held responsible for the decline of other wildlife populations. Stangel, however, said this belief is another misconception, and that“ many other factors are to blame for the decline in some populations.”
“ Typically
, the answer is tied to habitat,” he added. According to 2015 Trapper Harvest Statistics, coyotes and red foxes have an inverse relationship when it comes to harvest count and, therefore, population size.
During the 1980s, widespread logging and fire activity within Minnesota forged a better environment for small mammals, which also attracted their predators.
Before coyotes moved into the area, there was an abundance of red foxes. Because these animals have smaller territories than coyotes, more of them would inhabit a given area, thus creating more predators in that region. Since coyotes have larger home ranges, Stangel explained there are physically fewer of them on the land- scape.
Even though a coyote’ s presence can mean fewer predators in an area, many Minnesota residents would still like to be rid of their coyote neighbor. Netland said it is important to consider whether the predator has actually caused any problems before choosing to remove it. He explained that exterminating a non-troublesome coyote could cause a more aggressive one to move into the territory, thus creating more serious damage.
Stock photo
The coyote mating season runs from January through February, with about five to seven pups being born in April. They will start learning to hunt when they are eight to 12 weeks old, and will search for their own territories by autumn or mid-winter.
He also stated it is more likely for a free-range chicken to be attacked by hawks, owls, raccoons, skunks, weasels, or minks than by a coyote.
If a coyote is causing problems, the situation needs to be addressed on a case-by-case basis by property owners or tenants. The MN DNR does not trap, shoot, or relocate coyotes. •