Leonard- I am not trying to reopen what is obviously a highly frameable point on this forum, but as Wiley E. knows, if I have a point to make, I am not shy.
In a perfect world, ie without human intervention, predators and prey achieve a balance (in many different ways)wherein both benefit. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. Some predators like the coyote, are not only able to adapt, but as some think genetically change to fit their environment. In any case, in many areas of the US, coyotes are the dominant predator, and are a threat to livestock and the "native" wildlife. I read a study where it stated that if you killed 75% of the coyote population in a given area in one year, then 75% of the next years population, and so on, it would take 50 years to eliminate the coyotes from that area, assuming no others would move in. If you did this for 45 years, then stopped- it would take 5 years for the coyote population to rebound to the point where you first started. Impressive. Studies have shown in low population areas, female can have up to 19 pups in as litter. Coyotes are here to stay. Now, I am a trapper, a fur man. I love to put up coyote fur, and I respect the coyote. But no man should ever have to justify himself to anyone else on WHY he kills coyotes. Coyote control is justification in itself. Someone once said that the savior of the foothold trap will be the coyote. I have no trouble explaining myself to people when they ask why coyote control is needed- there are a hundred reasons. Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade- I kill coyotes to protect livestock, to give wildlife such as fox and deer a chance, to allow the local bird population to rebound, to do my part to control predators to keep poison a dim memory. In my area, bluebirds are now common- 40 years ago they were a rarity, 30 years ago they were gone. Same with eagles- I tell people that if you eliminate hunting and trapping, poison is the last defense. I am not trying to step on anyone's personal beliefs, but just giving an honest opinion. trappnman
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Your American heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
In a perfect world, ie without human intervention, predators and prey achieve a balance (in many different ways)wherein both benefit. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. Some predators like the coyote, are not only able to adapt, but as some think genetically change to fit their environment. In any case, in many areas of the US, coyotes are the dominant predator, and are a threat to livestock and the "native" wildlife. I read a study where it stated that if you killed 75% of the coyote population in a given area in one year, then 75% of the next years population, and so on, it would take 50 years to eliminate the coyotes from that area, assuming no others would move in. If you did this for 45 years, then stopped- it would take 5 years for the coyote population to rebound to the point where you first started. Impressive. Studies have shown in low population areas, female can have up to 19 pups in as litter. Coyotes are here to stay. Now, I am a trapper, a fur man. I love to put up coyote fur, and I respect the coyote. But no man should ever have to justify himself to anyone else on WHY he kills coyotes. Coyote control is justification in itself. Someone once said that the savior of the foothold trap will be the coyote. I have no trouble explaining myself to people when they ask why coyote control is needed- there are a hundred reasons. Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade- I kill coyotes to protect livestock, to give wildlife such as fox and deer a chance, to allow the local bird population to rebound, to do my part to control predators to keep poison a dim memory. In my area, bluebirds are now common- 40 years ago they were a rarity, 30 years ago they were gone. Same with eagles- I tell people that if you eliminate hunting and trapping, poison is the last defense. I am not trying to step on anyone's personal beliefs, but just giving an honest opinion. trappnman
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Your American heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing