nfortunately, the issue of how to manage coyote populations in NH has become highly politicized. A small portion of NH’s residents apparently support the eradication of coyotes due to either a misunderstanding of coyote ecology or a belief in fabricated lies about them. The following information is supported by decades of scientific research into coyote populations. Anyone interested in additional information on these facts, please contact Chris Schadler at [email protected].
TRUTH: An invasive species is one that causes ecological or economic harm to a new environment where it is not native. According to the NHF&G, the coyote is a native of the North American wild dog family (Canidae) that has naturally spread its range into the Eastern United States due to the eradication of other top predators such as mountain lion, eastern timber wolf, and wolverine.
TRUTH: Coyote populations self-regulate largely on the basis of prey availability and limited heat periods. Scientific studies show that when coyotes are hunted, pack social structure which naturally limits population growth, weakens, particularly if either of the breeding pair are killed. This means more food availability for remaining pack members. With better nutrition, females who may now breed at a younger age, have larger, healthier litters. Here is the lesson learned: The harder coyotes are hunted, the faster their population grows. Despite human attempts to eradicate coyotes their numbers continue to grow; their range now extends into South America.
TRUTH: NH Fish & Game has documented an actual increase in deer herds and harvest numbers since coyotes have arrived on the scene. Although coyotes do prey on deer, live deer are a small part of their diet. As a predator they serve a vital ecological role by eliminating the sick and weak from the gene pool. Probably more deer are eaten by coyotes that scavenge winter-killed deer than live healthy deer.
TRUTH: Coyotes naturally avoid humans. Coyote attacks are very rare but have occurred where coyotes have become habituated by food. Some people use baited camera traps to photograph wildlife. One unintended consequence: bringing coyotes closer to backyards acclimates them to humans. We discourage people from using bait with their trail cams.
TRUTH: Livestock, particularly chickens, sheep and lambs, are vulnerable to predation and must be protected by good fencing, guard animals like donkeys or dogs and nighttime enclosures. Bear, bobcat, fisher, coyotes, weasels, hawks and owls – all may pose a threat, so prevention is the best strategy to avoid depredation.
TRUTH: Coyotes are active day and night. Most of their prey are rodents (60%) but they will scavenge roadkill and take wounded or sick animals at any time of day or night.
TRUTH: Coyotes have lived in cities since the Mayan civilization! They live in all towns and cities in the USA (including Central Park in Manhattan!) but are rarely seen by us.
TRUTH: Eastern coyotes range from 35 to 55 pounds, with the largest found in Ontario and Quebec.
TRUTH: Coyotes are playful and curious, like domestic dogs, but as a rule do not expend energy killing animals they don’t eat.
TRUTH: Coyotes are social animals and howl primarily to communicate with each other. Their vocalizations have been attributed to locating pack members, defending territory and to threat or distress. Because rodents make up 60% of their diet, they do not howl before a hunt as wolves do. When we hear them howling at night (or during the day), they are neither advertising a kill they’ve just made nor are they gathering the pack for a hunt. They are primarily solitary hunters (of rodents) but being social animals, will howl to reconnect with pack members.
TRUTH: Pack size varies according to time of year, prey abundance and other factors, but is generally between 2 and 5 individuals. Most – but not all – eastern coyotes live in packs with only one breeding pair. Unless either or both are killed, they prevent their young from breeding, thus controlling their own population. Every spring a litter of 4-6 pups is born but 50-75% of them will not survive their first year. As long as the breeding male & female are alive, the pack size remains relatively constant.
TRUTH: An invasive species is one that causes ecological or economic harm to a new environment where it is not native. According to the NHF&G, the coyote is a native of the North American wild dog family (Canidae) that has naturally spread its range into the Eastern United States due to the eradication of other top predators such as mountain lion, eastern timber wolf, and wolverine.
TRUTH: Indiscriminate killing may temporarily decrease local numbers, but coyote reproductive potential results in an equivalent or higher population within a year’s time. Approximately one third of coyotes live solitary lives. Should a “vacancy” appear in a territory, they can “fill” it, thus replenishing local numbers.
Note: Because coyotes cannot be removed once they occupy an area, the NHF&G allows 365 days/year hunting with no reporting of animals killed. They can also be killed at night during their breeding season. They are the only furbearer with no protection from hunting during their pup raising season in the spring. Their resilience is used as a rationale to hunt them without reprieve. The question is not “Can we?” but “Should we?”
