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Post by petev on Jan 21, 2009 18:04:41 GMT -5
I found a deer killed by coyotes next to the athletic field, near the school a couple of days ago. The deer had left blood soaked snow in roughly 10' X 10' areas in about 6 or 7 different areas, with little bits of hair in the same areas. When I found the deer, it was a young doe, probably 1 1/2 yr old, and was partly eaten. It had clearly tried to get away, until it bled to death, over about a hundred yard gauntlet of biting coyote jaws. It was certainly more terrible a fate than that of most hunter's bullets. So, I was wondering, with the occasional suggestion of our state, and others, to reintroduce wolves, if they at least kill a little more quickly than coyotes? Does anybody have experience with wolves and deer? Most hunters here hate coyotes, although I haven't reached that point yet, although maybe I will. Pete
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Post by ozark on Jan 21, 2009 20:47:17 GMT -5
As a man I accept being the most effective and effecient predator exisiing. But the only coyote, wolf or wild cats I like are the dead ones. Ozark
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Post by whyohe on Jan 21, 2009 20:55:28 GMT -5
IMO wolves are bigger and probably kill faster since they hunt in packs.
coyotes and wolves have their purpose in the wild. when in PROPER concentrations they can actually help heard. they normally prey on the weak and sickly helping to make the heard stronger. the problem IMO is they breed to fast and are hard to control. we have some coyotes out where i hunt but havent seen much in deer hear damage or turkey flock damage. the grinnies have lessend and the squirls are now under control. as long as there is plenty of these to eat i think the deer are to hard of a meal.
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Post by ozark on Jan 21, 2009 21:03:15 GMT -5
Whyohe mentions turkeys. Just my opinion but I suspect large owls (Protected) to simply light among young turkeys and kill all they want at night while the turkeys or poults can't see.
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Post by petev on Jan 21, 2009 21:48:24 GMT -5
Here, the main damage coyotes do to deer is killing fawns. My guess, whyohe, is that when an adult deer gets killed by coyotes, when there is only about 10" of snow on the ground, that the deer wasn't in great shape to begin with, and so it could be considered unfit to survive much longer. Supposedly coyotes are not native to the east, but these have something like 5 or 10 % wolf in them from interbreeding, along with some domestic dog genes, from when the coyotes first arrived here in the 70's, and didn't find enough other coyotes to breed with. So, these coyotes have become a lot bigger than in the west, and some are 50 or 60 lbs. Getting back to the subject of killing, I suppose wolves would dispatch deer more efficiently than coyotes, and seem to be an admirable animal to those who have studied them, so maybe I'll just dislike the yotes for now.
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Post by raf on Jan 21, 2009 22:33:14 GMT -5
This may disturb some of you but I don't look at Wolves and Coyotes as competitors. They've always been there and preyed on all the animals we prey on. We now look on them as competitors for the game we're after and therefore want to get rid of them. If we weren't here things would be in balance. Wolves and coyotes will take the sick and weak first as they're the easiest. THey don't want to expend any more energy that is absoultely necessary to survive. Too much and they don't survive. On rare occasions they'll take a healthy animal but that's not the norm. They're also scavangers and they clean up some of the animal that died naturally. The problem with coyotes is they're smart and found easy prey in a lot of farm live stock which is easier to take than will game. Their numbers have gotten out of hand which is a good thing for varmint hunters. Maybe what I'm saying is that mankind has messed up nature. We are now competing with wolves and coyotes. We all know we'll win.
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Post by youp50 on Jan 22, 2009 3:53:54 GMT -5
I have an extreme dislike for the Timber Wolf.
A big problem is that any animal when introduced into a habitat that will support it will have a tremendous population spike. Then a crash followed by some kind of cyclic population more to what the environment can support. The wolf/moose population relationship has been well studied on Isle Royal. Much of that data is available in an on line search.
I live in an area that receives large amounts of snow, 300 inch years happen. Raf is correct in his view of the wolf being an opportunistic predator. Sick and weak deer exist in a normal life cycle. A new born fawn, a doe in labor, a rut weary buck, a winter stressed herd in belly deep crusted snow are all perfectly normal conditions in the life of a whitetail. A single wolf can remove all the deer in a small deer yard. It will hunt daily and if it should be well fed in a well stocked environment there will be many 'joy' kills. The more it has to eat the better the physical condition and ability to hunt. Those of you in rural areas have owned or heard of the bird dog puppy that ran wild in a neighbor's chicken pen, killing all the birds and eating none.
A timber wolf has no concept of use and abuse. It will merely kill and eat as it can. When it has exhausted the prey in an area it will migrate on.
Given the triangle of top predators; man, coyote and wolf my money goes on the coyote. In the lower 48 man had been successful at eradicating the wolf, but the coyote is a different story.
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Jan 22, 2009 5:41:34 GMT -5
Tough subject here with many angles. I lean towards RAF's well put post. We have coyotes here in decent numbers. They also get hunted hard right now with dog packs. Contrary to what someone mentioned above, coyotes may hunt in a pack. This was witnessed by my bow hunting friend in a snowless feild several years ago. A healthy young deer was taken down and fed on within his sight. There were enough yotes at the scene, that he stayed in his stand for a few hours after dark. We were at camp getting worried about him.
Anyway, we have too many deer and fair turkey numbers here and the coyotes are seen more on the roadside mopping up car hits then hunting them on their own. I agree that there must be a balance and that balance can be tipped with the right conditions. Hunting and managing both species has always seemed to me the best way. Yes, man is the ultimate predetor with forethought and 300 yd long teeth that kill with little pain and struggle...and always a full belly and warm den. Other predetors only have crude ways to sneak, stalk and kill. They do it the best they can and almost exclusily in order to survive. Once we had clubs, rocks and spears.
It's a tough call for game managers who have to fend off useless politicians with no concept of balance. When woodchuck hunting I have shot foxes and yotes when they were spotted showing severe mange. Yes, out of season, but in need of a pill. That has never made me feel "illegal" only ethical. Self directed management is also a fine in a structured world but common sense and doing right can cross that line without a scolding...IMO.
I don't begrudge a coyote for eating as long as his eyes are the same size as his stomach and he cleans his plate and takes care of his family. Sometimes when they fall out of line, they get a schooling from dogs, bullets and disease. That's just the way it goes.
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Post by whyohe on Jan 22, 2009 5:59:34 GMT -5
wilms, that is interesting. the studies that i have read point to that USUALLY coyotes dont hunt in packs. i have heard that the coyotes over here in pa and ny have been mixed in breeding but i havent seen any verified studies yet. this may verey well account for the larger size and the pack hunting.
my father-in-law at ont time had a problem with "wild" dogs. i feel they where once domesic that where droped off and went wild. he had to shoot a few cause he had one that did kill for fun. it killed my niece and nephews little dog and he seen it chasing deer. so i can see some inter-breeding happening.
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Post by youp50 on Jan 22, 2009 7:59:07 GMT -5
In my observations, coyotes are a versatile predator. Small game and rodents are probably first choice on the menu, possibly insects in season. If the small game population is depleted and the rodents that do not hibernate are under three feet of snow the coyotes will move on to bigger prey. The coyotes up here do exceed 60 pounds and pack up to hunt healthy deer. I have owned one bear hound, a Plott by breed that twice ran a deer to the bay. The deer was able to fend off one dog, I broke the dog from deer. If a domestic dog can do it, so can and will coyotes.
I believe that the coyotes that raf is talking about find livestock easier to catch than wild game. Around here there is not much in the line of livestock.
Another factor in the formation of coyote packs is the presence of timber wolves. Wolves will kill and eat coyotes. My camp is on the edge of a flood plain valley on a major river flowing into Lake Superior. The flood plain is in excess of one mile across at the camp and maybe 150 feet vertical drop. On a calm night it is possible to hear many miles. This past year I have heard up to three different packs of coyote down there. IMO the alpha males call is how the coyotes identify each other pack. Typically they start to sing at dusk. If two packs are close to each other, when the second pack starts to sing the first shuts up and the big dog barks, this shuts up the second pack and that packs big dog barks and all is quiet. I have heard a lone wolf howl and all the coyote packs including the alpha males raise Cain. I have also heard a wolf pack howl and all the coyote packs shut up and were not heard again for several days. Presumably they left for greener pastures. As a coyote trapper, I know that perfectly good sets will not catch coyotes if they are not in the area and that coyotes do migrate around their home range.
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Post by ozark on Jan 22, 2009 9:12:10 GMT -5
Someone said that one coyote sounds like a half dozen because it appeared to bark and then lung forward to chew the sound up into small pieces. They have never got thick here and there is evidence of coyote/dog crosses. Some have black and white colors. We call these Coydogs. I shot one that was nearly all black. My wife and I seen this animal chasing deer the afternoon before. It was a silent chase as the animal didn't bark or emit other noise. I have not heard of wolves being in Arkansas but we may have a few. Occasionally, a Mountain lion (Couger) is seen in our area. We have a good supply of bear and some have been seen chasing fawns. I like Bobcats because they seem to manage their own population. Never get thick but always a few around. Many farmers have complained about the elk causing damage and in some cases the Game and Fish Commission have paid farmers for damage done. All these wild animals have their place in the overall system and all are nice to have around in reasonable numbers. Here, we have many people living in the rural areas and they act as needed to control populations. Sometimes I get fed up with bears that don't know how to stay in their place and crowd mine. but generally, I enjoy all the creatures in the great outdoors. Oh, maybe not ticks, chiggers and certain spiders. Ozark
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Post by raf on Jan 22, 2009 9:51:09 GMT -5
I read an article some years ago about the changing behaviour of coyotes. Coyotes are usually solitary hunters looking for mice, rabbits and scavenging dead carcasses. In some region coyotes live along side of wolves. Wolves have always been pack animals. The packs are very structured with a dominant male and female that do the breeding. Subordinate wolves help to raise the pups. Where the wolves have been eradicated the coyotes fill the gap and have learned the only way they'll take down a deer is in packs. Once they formed a pack they start to take larger animals. This is when they become troublesome. A lone coyote would never go after a healthy deer and prey on sick adults of a small fawn, but in a pack they do. I wish I could remember more but it was very interesting.
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Post by petev on Jan 22, 2009 10:25:14 GMT -5
I read an article some years ago... raf, every point you made is exactly the same as my understanding of the current coyote animal. In this area, we do not need a study to know that they hunt deer in packs. So, on the other hand it was a surprise, when I read that out west where they come from, they are solitary hunters. The coyotes are becoming bigger, and that enables them to take deer easier. whohe, there are studies that are quoted in the newspapers occasionally, studied the genetic makeup of coyotes in the east, and was the basis for the statements in my second post, about their genetic makeup. youp said, "[the wolf] will hunt daily and if it should be well fed in a well stocked environment there will be many 'joy' kills. The more it has to eat the better the physical condition and ability to hunt. Those of you in rural areas have owned or heard of the bird dog puppy that ran wild in a neighbor's chicken pen, killing all the birds and eating none." I have not heard this before, and remain skeptical for now, but I have heard that a wolf pack, given their size, needs to kill a deer every few days to survive. Raf and wilms thanks for the great information and balance in your views. Willms, if I hear much more about "too many deer" out in Western N.Y., plus your earlier pictures, I may have to make a trip out there one of these years, maybe for late muzzleloader! These were great posts, guys, and far exceeded what I had hoped for. The experience of many hunters cannot be compared to just reading about these things. In a few weeks, the coyotes here will "sing", supposedly as part of their breeding ritual, and even though they are controversial, it makes me feel like I am in wilderness, even if only in my imagination.
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Post by raf on Jan 22, 2009 13:19:20 GMT -5
I wanted to pass along one more thing that I didn't mention. In all my years have seen a lot of coyotes and shot lots when they passed my deer blind if things were slow. They always were alone until this past season. Early one morning 2 coyotes appeared and I got the impression they were hunting as a team. One would go through the bush and the other would keep pace on the out side the same bush, waiting for something to be flushed out. They did this several times.
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Post by youp50 on Jan 22, 2009 15:00:00 GMT -5
Pete,
Here is something to ponder, a dog is a domesticated wolf. Many of the wolf traits are bred out. The desire to hunt and kill is not. All dogs if given a chance will find something to chase and kill. I have seen puppies of mine working the spring ponds for frogs. They were not hungry, just killing frogs for the fun of it. The people that want you to believe that wolves are fuzzy and good will not tell you they are very accomplished killers. They are also a lazy animal. They will not expend anymore energy than needed to eat. Around here that means their diet is seasonal. In the spring they are very efficient at backtracking does to a fawn. Autumn time is time to kill the beaver. You see a beaver has to come out to gather food for the winter. So the wolf waits on the beaver to come out. Deep winter and our heavy snows force the wolf to prey on deer.
A well fed wolf pack needs to eat a certain amount of meat on a regular basis. Given your understanding of a wolf pack needing to kill a deer every couple of days to eat, what do you suppose they do on their days off?
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Post by whyohe on Jan 22, 2009 17:33:40 GMT -5
here is some old info from the PA state game commission. its from 2006. this is the entire artical, it is the only way to post it.
Eastern Coyote Search Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency Home Printable Version eMail Shedding Light on the Eastern Coyote
The folklore and rumors about this somewhat mysterious furbearer seem to have a life of their own. Coyotes have been in Pennsylvania for more than 50 years. We're not sure if they migrated here or were always here. But they weren't stocked by the Game Commission, insurance companies or foresters.
In Pennsylvania, eastern coyotes have become more common than black bears, bobcats and otters over the past 30 years. How these animals live, where they came from, and what we should do about them are topics that are popping up more and more in conversations among Pennsylvanians every day.
Once an animal automatically associated with the West, coyotes now live in every state east of the Mississippi River. In 2005, hunters and trappers harvested more than 20,000 coyotes statewide, according to agency Game-Take and Fur-Taker Survey results. They can be found almost anywhere: from the suburban sprawl surrounding Philadelphia to the remote ridges of the Alleghenies. There are few areas remaining in the state where coyotes aren't found.
But don't expect to see or hear them regularly. This secretive canine prefers to operate under the cover of darkness - unlike its western counterpart - when there are fewer encounters with people. Coyotes - as well as their scat and tracks - are being seen more and more by hunters, hikers and other people who spend many hours afield.
Few Pennsylvania mammals have an ancestral background as untraceable or a lifestyle as obscure as the eastern coyote's. Photographic evidence of coyotes in Pennsylvania first appeared in the 1930s. Their fondness for remote areas and scant numbers pretty much kept them out of the public's eye for decades, except for the occasional one shot by a deer hunter. That changed in the 1980s, when their population began to expand in leaps and bounds.
The Game Commission has spent considerable time and effort over the past decade trying to shed further light on eastern coyotes. This has included research into the canine's behavior, food preferences and origin. What follows is a summary of some of the more interesting information we've uncovered and answers to frequently-asked coyote questions.
How can I identify an eastern coyote?
The eastern coyote is a member of the canid, or dog family. It is larger than its western cousin - typically attributed to wolf-coyote hybridization - and usually has one of four pelt colorations: tri-color (German shepherd-like), red, blond and dark brown (appears black at a distance). Adult males weigh 45 to 55 pounds; females, 35 to 40 pounds. When seeing one for the first time, many people mistake eastern coyotes for dogs. Look for black lines running up and down the front of the front legs, yellow eyes and a cylindrical-shaped, low-hanging tail. Adult coyotes are much larger than foxes, and they tend to travel trails, dirt roads and habitat edges.
Did the Game Commission release coyotes in Pennsylvania?
The eastern coyote's origin has been a topic of debate for some time. Some folks actually believe the agency has stocked coyotes in recent years to reduce deer numbers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Coyotes have been documented in Pennsylvania since the late 1930s and '40s. How they got here, or whether they were here all along, is the missing link to the coyote story. Some biologists believe coyotes have always been a part of Pennsylvania's wildlife community. Others believe western coyotes migrated north into Canada, bred with gray wolves and the resulting hybrid moved south into New England and New York and, eventually, Pennsylvania. Another possibility is that coyotes held in captivity escaped or were set free.
Game Commission stocking stories began in the late '80s after a coyote pup ear-tagged by a wildlife conservation officer was shot by a deer hunter. The pup, which was fitted with a telemetry collar and bobcat ear tag (#0026), was trapped on a Greene County farm where coyotes were killing sheep. It was hoped the pup would lead the officer to its den. Within days, however, the young coyote couldn't be located with radio gear; it apparently had shaken its telemetry collar. The coyote, minus its collar, was shot a few months later. Stories began to spread that it bore a ear tag from a western state, and that at least 25 other coyotes had been released, given the tag's number. The rumors continue.
The Game Commission has never released out-of-state coyotes, or trapped and transferred coyotes, and won't in the future. We have, however, trapped, tagged and released Pennsylvania coyotes for research purposes in recent years. We've also liberalized hunting seasons. Coyotes can be hunted year-round with few exceptions and there are no bag limits. Our coyote population can handle this pressure because it's underutilized and very resilient.
Where's the proof of coyote stockings?
The Game Commission is interested in meeting with anyone who can produce evidence of coyotes being stocked in the Commonwealth at anytime in the last 100 years. We're especially interested in seeing any of the so-called imported coyotes - tattooed, ear-tagged or whatever - that have been seen or found by eyewitnesses. If someone comes forward with evidence, we'll look into it and report our findings to the public.
Do coyotes howl and run in packs?
Coyotes howl infrequently, but when they do, especially on a cold quiet day, or right before dark, it carries for a long way in wild areas. Howls are thought to be used by coyotes to announce their location. Coyotes are known to howl in response to loud noises like fire alarm whistles. They also seem willing to respond to most coyote howling calls, so long as they hear them. Eastern coyotes don't pack like wolves, but do run in family units and pairs. Although families usually break up in autumn, they occasionally stay together until breeding activity starts in mid winter.
Are eastern coyotes a threat to people?
Coyotes usually steer clear of people. They'll leave an area at the first sign of human intrusion. But under the cover of darkness, as human activities slow almost to a halt, coyotes sneak into areas they normally avoid during daylight hours. They canvass agricultural fields, visit picnic sites and backyards in rural areas, and work the waysides of interstate highways in their quest for food. Most people bump into coyotes while hunting, hiking or driving at night. Coyotes rarely display aggressive behavior toward people. If people appear, they usually run. That's good. Still, coyotes deserve our respect. Barring the black bear, it's the state's largest predatory animal. That should be enough reason for anyone to give this animal due respect. There have been a few incidents in the northeastern United States where coyotes have attacked people. Why is unclear, but those who study these animals believe the coyotes mistook the persons attacked as wildlife prey.
Do coyotes kill deer regularly?
Coyotes do kill deer - both adults and fawns - and will feed on deer remains from highway accidents and gut piles left by hunters. A fawn study conducted in 2000 and 2001 on the Quehanna Wild Area and in Penns Valley - near State College - concluded that predators accounted for almost half of all fawn mortalities in the study. Black bears and coyotes were nearly equal in the number of fawns they killed and together, black bears and coyotes, accounted for two-thirds of all predator mortalities. Nonetheless, the fawn survival rates established for the two study areas were comparable to geographic areas similar to our state in the northern reaches of the white-tailed deer range and did not adversely impact the deer population's ability to replenish annual losses caused by hunting, predators and other limiting factors. In addition, we have not seen evidence that coyotes are killing a significant number of healthy adult deer in Pennsylvania. Being opportunists, they tend to spend more time patrolling the shoulders of state highways to consume deer killed in collisions with vehicles than stalking mature whitetails.
How can I tell if a coyote killed a deer?
Coyotes usually kill deer by grabbing and holding onto their throats. Then they consume the internal organs, particularly the liver, which is very nutritious. Dogs, on the other hand, take down deer by grabbing the hind quarters, which is also where they typically start eating.
Will coyotes prey upon domesticated animals?
Coyotes are opportunists. They'll eat almost anything. Coyotes do spend considerable time mousing, but they'll settle in a second for a rotting road-killed deer, or a cat or small dog that strays too far from the house. Coyotes raising young can be a problem for farmers during spring and summer. Sheep, chickens and ducks are especially vulnerable. Most times coyotes kill what they need and leave with it. But on occasion they seem to go on killing sprees.
Once an animal that could be found only in Pennsylvania's most remote settings, coyotes, with each passing year, have been discovered closer and closer to civilization. As they adapt to living in the suburbs, their way of life may change. Given this situation, the profile on Pennsylvania's coyotes may be incomplete. But let's face it, as cunning and large as this canid is, it's quite capable of almost anything as it relates to disturbing and killing pets and some farm animals. So play it safe, give coyotes the consideration they deserve.
Would placing a bounty on coyotes help reduce their numbers?
Bounties were placed on coyotes in western states for decades and they didn't lead to any significant population reduction. The main reason was that about 70 percent of a coyote population has to be removed annually in order to cause a population decline. Even then, coyotes - like many other species - have demonstrated an ability to offset population declines by increasing their litter size. It's spurred by a built-in biological mechanism that responds to population deficits.
A bounty system has never successfully eliminated or significantly reduced coyote populations anywhere in North America. Coyotes have a superior ability to adapt to a changing environment. Attempts to reduce coyote populations in western states using year-round poisoning, hunting and trapping resulted in millions of dollars being spent over many decades with little reduction in coyote numbers. The result of any predator control method is temporary and often very localized. No measurable good ever resulted from the Game Commission's predator bounties in the 1900s. They truly were a waste of money.
Is it easy to hunt or trap coyotes?
Coyotes are very elusive when it comes to hunting and trapping them. You shouldn't expect to head afield and harvest them without considerable effort and planning. Although a substantial number of coyotes are taken annually by trappers and by hunters who call them, the largest part of the harvest is taken by deer hunters and fox trappers. The Game Commission has maintained liberal hunting opportunities for coyotes with an eye toward interesting more Pennsylvanians in pursuing them. And, more are. But it's tough to take one. Just ask anyone who hunts coyotes. The same applies to trapping. To generate more interest among trappers, the agency now permits certified trappers to use cable restraints for taking coyotes.
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Post by youp50 on Jan 22, 2009 18:15:25 GMT -5
Do you guys in the eastern states hear coyotes sing at dusk or dawn? Do you here them howl after making a kill?
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Post by petev on Jan 22, 2009 19:36:07 GMT -5
Here in southern N.Y. we here them rise up in a crazy yapping for a few minutes around dusk during deer season, and also after dark from Nov. to March I guess. But in February they really sing, anywhere from midnight to 2 a.m. Never heard one at dawn, or even after around 3 a.m. Usually they are short episodes, except for after dark in Nov., Dec. or March from about 8 p.m. to11 p.m. when they might rise up and yap for 10 or 15 minutes, go silent for a half hour, then do it all over again, all told for 2 or 3 hours. I can't say I've ever gotten the impression that multiple packs were howling, that must be quite a show!
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Post by whyohe on Jan 23, 2009 6:05:33 GMT -5
my father-in-law hears them at dusk from time to time.
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Post by youp50 on Jan 23, 2009 8:39:04 GMT -5
I think that what I am calling a coyote pack is merely a bunch of coyotes, a family group if you please. I do not believe the coyote is developing a wolf like pack where only the alpha male and female breed and they are always in the same vicinity. I think that coyote family members can come together to hunt. I have witnessed lone coyote and their sign. I think that the coyote pups are raised by two parents not the pack as the wolf does. Perhaps a better term would be coyote cooperative.
I am sorry for my confusing use of the word pack.
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Post by huntingmike on Jan 25, 2009 23:08:52 GMT -5
Here in TN I have heard them sing at dusk and at different times of the night.
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Post by youp50 on Jan 26, 2009 5:41:21 GMT -5
Now that winter is set in and times are slower, perhaps you would have some time to walk around the woods more. If you happen to hear coyotes in the dark listen a little. Does it sound like one or more is chasing something? Do they get quiet for a bit and then several start to sing? Try to get a distance and direction on them and go over there and look around in the morning. You might want a 22 along if you take your little lap dog. See if you can't find evidence of a deer kill.
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Jan 26, 2009 6:19:19 GMT -5
I watched a show once on coyotes. It showed a yapping episode. It basically was the Alpha male or female returning to the den. The yapping was accompanied by respectful "cowering" in the presence of the dominant animal(s). So, it was a greeting.
When I hear yapping around here, it is usually in about the same place. Probably a den there.
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Post by petev on Jan 26, 2009 12:22:51 GMT -5
I wanted to check on our N.Y. D.E.C. website to get some input on some subjects that have come up concerning the wily coyote. Most of us in N.Y. regard the DEC to be very knowledgeable, but not always honest with the public (sorry if any forum members work for DEC, but it's true). Anyway some information follows on coyote packs, diet and predation on dogs. They have killed some dogs here, and it gives extra incentive to me to get my male out of the woods before dark when bird hunting. Anyway the following are cut and paste excerpts from the DEC website: DOGS AND COYOTES- Do dog owners need to be concerned about coyotes? The answer is maybe. Conflicts between dogs and coyotes occur primarily in the months of March and April. It is during this time that coyotes are setting up their denning areas for the soon-to-arrive pups. Coyotes become exceptionally territorial around these denning sites in an attempt to create a safe place for their young. Coyotes view other canines (dogs) as a threat to their young. Essentially it comes down to a territorial dispute between your dog and the coyote. Both believe that your yard is their territory.
Owners of large and medium sized dogs have little to worry about. A coyote knows it is physically superior to a small dog and expects the dog to be submissive. This discipline will continue until the dog submits or is eventually killed.
Very small dogs, e.g., small poodles, are viewed by coyotes as easy prey and are at risk to be killed year round.
DESCRIPTION: Length:4 to 5 feet (including tail)
Weight: 35 to 45 pounds (males usually larger than females.)
Color:Variable, from blonde or reddish blonde to dark tan washed with black. Legs, ears and cheeks usually reddish. DIET- What do New York coyotes eat? A coyote's diet depends on one thing - what is easiest to find or catch and kill. During the summer, coyotes will feed heavily upon berries, insects, and rodents. During early fall they rely on abundant grasshoppers. Small mammals become the prey of choice during late fall and winter. As winter becomes harder and small mammal populations decline, coyotes turn toward their largest prey - whitetail deer. Deer killed by vehicles and other causes (carrion) can be an important food source for coyotes. Lacking any carrion, coyotes can, will, and do kill healthy adult deer. Coyotes in the spring time can have an impact on fawn survival in localized areas. PACKS- After hearing a family group of coyotes howl, it is easy to get the impression that the woods must be overflowing with coyotes. In reality there were probably five or six. A few coyotes make a tremendous amount of noise when they want to. The eastern coyote does not form a true 'pack' with multiple adults living together like their relative the wolf. Instead they are organized as a 'family unit'. Each family unit is made up of the adult pair and their pups from the current year. A family unit will defend a territory of 6 to 15 square miles against other coyotes. It is the territorial behavior of coyotes that limits their numbers in any one area. The coyote population in New York during the Summer is approximately 20,000-30,000.
Young of the year coyotes are driven from their parents' territory between September and March. These young coyotes travel up to one hundred miles in search of a vacant territory to claim as their own. How Did Coyotes Arrive in New York?
There are two theories to explain the presence of Eastern coyotes in New York. The first theory is that coyotes were here before Europeans settled North America. The second, and more widely accepted theory, is that the Eastern coyote is a relatively new species in New York. This theory suggests that western coyotes extended their range eastward, eventually forming a distinct subspecies.
Whichever theory is true, coyotes have been present in New York at least since the 1930's, and firmly established themselves by the 1970's. They are here to stay. Coyotes or Coydogs? The large canid which resides in New York is a true species; they are not a hybrid. The proper name is the Eastern Coyote, Canis latrans. Coyotes and dogs theoretically can interbreed to produce what is called a 'coydog'. (There have been reports that the coyote does have some wolf and dog genes, if you believe newspaper reports of studies-Pete)
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Post by youp50 on Jan 26, 2009 13:05:07 GMT -5
Pete,
On the coyote hybrids. I think dog/coyote hybrids may have a tendency to not reproduce. Not that they are sterile, but dogs come into seascon all times of the year. If a wild hybrid were to do this pups born in the fall or early winter would be disadvantaged. However, that trait would be bred out and the dog genes remain in the pool with the anytime breeding being a recessive trait.
On Timber Wolf hybrids. The Endangered Species Act supposedly does not cover hybrids, only purebred animals. A proposed legal defense is genetic testing as all the Timbers have reportedly have some coyote and /or dog genes. Needing legal defense would require killing a wolf and getting caught. I have no intention of needing a legal defense. The DNR, they can be known as Do Nothing Right, has stated that wolves are being illegally killed and rewards are being offered. The public is not usually notified of all wolf killings. Some wolf killers have become very bold and placed carcasses in obvious places.
I think this DEC information is pretty accurate.
I did have a cooperative of coyotes come into a coon dog treed one night. I found a high gear and was met by the dog heading for the truck. We traveled together without the need for a lead that trip. The beaglers around occasionally report a lost dog to coyotes. Almost always a 13 inch (small) female.
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Post by petev on Jan 26, 2009 14:03:09 GMT -5
Pete, On the coyote hybrids. I think dog/coyote hybrids may have a tendency to not reproduce. Not that they are sterile, but dogs come into season all times of the year. If a wild hybrid were to do this pups born in the fall or early winter would be disadvantaged. However, that trait would be bred out and the dog genes remain in the pool with the anytime breeding being a recessive trait.] That is exactly the explanation DEC gives, although some genetic study said that the colors such as red come from intermixing with dogs. And they claimed about 5% of genes from the wolf. But, yes the breeding cycle of a dog would be disastrous to the survival of a mixed litter in the wild, although I guess some could be born at an OK time too.
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Post by youp50 on Jan 28, 2009 14:14:24 GMT -5
This is why large predators rule the winter here.
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Post by ricksalisbury01 on Jan 28, 2009 20:24:37 GMT -5
Wow!!! I just quit complaining about the 10 inches of snow here in Ohio!!! A picture is worth 1000 words.
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Post by ozark on Feb 1, 2009 19:45:47 GMT -5
I have never witnessed coyotes hunting in packs. I do think that common sense tells us that should a lone coyote happen upon a weak deer it would pull it down. If other coyotes are nearby and hear the bleating or see the struggle they would move in and take part. If some person happened along to see four or five at the deer they would assume that it was a pack of coyotes. It would be difficult to make them think differently because they are an eye witness to the scene. I did see a lone coydog chasing a healthy deer. It was not going full steam but just maintaining a steady pace as if the deer would eventually tire and stop. I have no idea if coyotes have a means of communication where they can call others to a kill or not. I know from years of hunting with dogs that when one dog stricks scent it barks and others hearing the voice race to join the chase. All coonhunter can confirm this statement.
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Post by petev on Feb 1, 2009 22:43:36 GMT -5
Here in N.Y. the D.E.C. says coyotes may hunt as a family unit, which is different from a pack like wolves, which have a number of unrelated members, which are subservient to the alpha male and female. Today, I noted blood spattering along a couple of deer trails with a number of coyote tracks also. So, I am guessing that the coyotes nipped the deer and keep after it by scent, or sight until it is exhausted. I would think in a chase of several miles that animals in the dog family would always outlast a deer.
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