Wiley E- the thread you recommended to me was interesting- but you know me- I take no ones word unless it is proven to me- until then, my theories are as valid as any other theories. I wish I could remember where I read the study (based on statistical predictions)on coyote populations. It was in the last 6 months- maybe in FFG. When I do come across it, I will let you know. Regarding the thread on litter size, Steve Allen has many theories based on studies that he has done or has access to. Some of what he says I agree with, some I don't. Some comments 1) Someone who's opinion I admire greatly, states "a canine is a canine is a canine". I read where a coyote can have up to 19 pups when ideal conditions are met- How can this not be true? I had one beagle bitch that regularly had litters of 11-13 pups, and coonhound often have litters in the mid to high teens. Therefore, I easily believed the occasional high of 19 pups for coyotes. 2) Mr. Allen states that he has never seen where coyote abundance is determined by feed availability. I might be accused of being simplistic, but I believe that the abundance of food has a direct bearing on carrying capacity. While habitat is also critical, you can't isolate one from the other. I know that ND does not have an unlimited food supply in mid winter- as the habitat decreases, so does the food supply, and therefore so does the available amount of coyotes- typical winter migration patterns are in response to the above. 3)Since I believe food sources are finite at certain times and determine carrying capacity, a smaller beginning population of breeding females means each female will be in better shape, and since in hounds the condition of the female is a large factor in the amount of pups she births successfully and raises, why wouldn't this be true for yotes? Larger litters birthed in good conditions (ie less competition for food/territory) means a larger number of pups raised to adulthood- less stress/contact means less disease. 4) Age group differences are interesting- but not as important in the overall picture as it might seem- after all, it is the end results that we are looking at- the number of pups that are carried over to fall- the peak adult population levels. If you really want to think about age differences- in hounds, based on %of field champions in each litter, it was shown that the first litter on most females was her best- the quality of the pups declined with each succeeding litter. Of course, a good female produced champions in each litter, just a smaller %. The true percentages might be even higher, given the common practice of breeding females to an unproven stud just "to see what they produce", and if those pups turn out well, to breed the bitch to a better stud. The conclusion was to breed your bitch to the absolute best you could the first time- it was the most important breeding she would ever have. Now, does this hold true in coyotes? After all, "a canine is a canine.."
If it is true, then the young females are producing the genetically superior pups-so maybe their survival rate is higher- now that's a can of worms... Now Mr. Allen, you obviously have a tremendous knowledge of coyote habits and statistics, and I applaud and enjoy your posts- but like I have learned on other forums- very little of this coyote business is uncontested fact- a lot of conjecture and a lot of educated guesses. I am not saying you are wrong, and for all I know you are right- just giving a different viewpoint trappnman
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Your American heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
[This message has been edited by trappnman (edited 04-16-2001).]
[This message has been edited by trappnman (edited 04-16-2001).]
If it is true, then the young females are producing the genetically superior pups-so maybe their survival rate is higher- now that's a can of worms... Now Mr. Allen, you obviously have a tremendous knowledge of coyote habits and statistics, and I applaud and enjoy your posts- but like I have learned on other forums- very little of this coyote business is uncontested fact- a lot of conjecture and a lot of educated guesses. I am not saying you are wrong, and for all I know you are right- just giving a different viewpoint trappnman
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Your American heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
[This message has been edited by trappnman (edited 04-16-2001).]
[This message has been edited by trappnman (edited 04-16-2001).]