Coaldigger55
New member
An interesting topic in todays Williamson Daily News (Williamson W.Va Mingo County) Just thought some of you guys may be interested.
http://www.williamsondailynews.com/articles/2006/07/23/news/03news.txt
War declared on local coyote population
Saturday, July 22, 2006 2:59 PM CDT
WILLIAMSON - Disabled coal miner Lee Goff of Riffe's Branch has declared war on the coyote population of West Virginia and believes he can outwit the clever critters by organizing chapters of Coyote Hunting Clubs in Mingo and the state's 54 other counties.
Goff's enthusiasm for his project was very evident as he spoke at length during a recent meeting of the Mingo County Commission. He hoped to convince the commission to donate funds to help his project along, but Commission President Greg “Hootie” Smith cautioned: “You would have to have an active group in this county before we could consider putting money in the project.” Goff assured Smith and Commissioner Halcy Hatfield that any money donated by the commission would remain in Mingo County. Money would be used to pay bounties on the predator, he stated.
He said he has received word from numerous persons interested in forming a Mingo County Coyote Hunting Club. Goff told this reporter Friday that he is looking at a building as a potential meeting place for the club when it is organized.
He exhibited photos from other parts of the state, showing dozens of slain coyotes, and stated that the coyote, which has been a significant predator in the west for a long time, has expanded its range to the eastern United States in recent years.
“I think the coyote will become a serious problem and we should be prepared to cope with it,” Goff said. He almost lost his small dog to a coyote and only Goff's presence at the time saved his pet.
Goff was well-armed with information when he appeared at the meeting and distributed information on the Eastern Coyote's impacts on wildlife populations.
He said the coyote is an adaptable animal and there may be more coyotes today than there were in colonial times. He reported that 1,000 coyotes had been killed in Wyoming County the last several years - more proof that the coyote is moving in on Eastern areas of the U.S.
“Since last Jan. 1, 68 coyotes were killed on a mountain in the Oceana area,” Goff reported at the meeting. Something was coming into the area, taking dogs and even house cats, but there have been no incidences reported in which human have been attacked or harmed.
“The coyote is one of the smartest animals there is,” said Goff. “But we could be smarter by organizing a Mingo County chapter of the Coyote Hunting Club with at least 100 members.
It has been said that the coyote's favorite food is anything they can chew. It is a carnivore that is able to adapt to the available food supply. Wildlife spokesmen say primary wildlife species the coyote preys upon are white-tailed deer and small mammals such as rats and mice. Their diet also consists of rabbits, groundhogs, ruffed grouse, turkeys, chipmunks, squirrels, muskrats, fruits, berries, carrion and the occasional house cat.
As for the last part of the above sentence, reports have been circulated in West Williamson that one woman lost three kittens to a predator, described as a coyote. One driver said he saw a coyote on a street in the headlights of his car as he drove through the neighborhood one night. It is a fact that newborn kittens have disappeared from time to time, lending credence to reports that coyotes may have been responsible.
The coyote is now a permanent member of the fauna in West Virginia and despite being a known predator, is a part of the natural ecosystem. Although bounties have been liberally used on coyotes in the west, no bounty system has ever worked.
The thinking is that liberal trapping seasons for the coyote should continue, and that methods to encourage the sport of predator calling and means to target the coyote as a furbearer and game animal should be explored.
Coyotes can be shot or trapped but in hunting seasons and within the bounds of regulations of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Anyone interested in Goff's plan to form a hunting club with coyotes as its targets may contact him by phone at 475-4635.
By CHARLOTTE SANDERS
Senior Writer Print this story | Email this story |
http://www.williamsondailynews.com/articles/2006/07/23/news/03news.txt
War declared on local coyote population
Saturday, July 22, 2006 2:59 PM CDT
WILLIAMSON - Disabled coal miner Lee Goff of Riffe's Branch has declared war on the coyote population of West Virginia and believes he can outwit the clever critters by organizing chapters of Coyote Hunting Clubs in Mingo and the state's 54 other counties.
Goff's enthusiasm for his project was very evident as he spoke at length during a recent meeting of the Mingo County Commission. He hoped to convince the commission to donate funds to help his project along, but Commission President Greg “Hootie” Smith cautioned: “You would have to have an active group in this county before we could consider putting money in the project.” Goff assured Smith and Commissioner Halcy Hatfield that any money donated by the commission would remain in Mingo County. Money would be used to pay bounties on the predator, he stated.
He said he has received word from numerous persons interested in forming a Mingo County Coyote Hunting Club. Goff told this reporter Friday that he is looking at a building as a potential meeting place for the club when it is organized.
He exhibited photos from other parts of the state, showing dozens of slain coyotes, and stated that the coyote, which has been a significant predator in the west for a long time, has expanded its range to the eastern United States in recent years.
“I think the coyote will become a serious problem and we should be prepared to cope with it,” Goff said. He almost lost his small dog to a coyote and only Goff's presence at the time saved his pet.
Goff was well-armed with information when he appeared at the meeting and distributed information on the Eastern Coyote's impacts on wildlife populations.
He said the coyote is an adaptable animal and there may be more coyotes today than there were in colonial times. He reported that 1,000 coyotes had been killed in Wyoming County the last several years - more proof that the coyote is moving in on Eastern areas of the U.S.
“Since last Jan. 1, 68 coyotes were killed on a mountain in the Oceana area,” Goff reported at the meeting. Something was coming into the area, taking dogs and even house cats, but there have been no incidences reported in which human have been attacked or harmed.
“The coyote is one of the smartest animals there is,” said Goff. “But we could be smarter by organizing a Mingo County chapter of the Coyote Hunting Club with at least 100 members.
It has been said that the coyote's favorite food is anything they can chew. It is a carnivore that is able to adapt to the available food supply. Wildlife spokesmen say primary wildlife species the coyote preys upon are white-tailed deer and small mammals such as rats and mice. Their diet also consists of rabbits, groundhogs, ruffed grouse, turkeys, chipmunks, squirrels, muskrats, fruits, berries, carrion and the occasional house cat.
As for the last part of the above sentence, reports have been circulated in West Williamson that one woman lost three kittens to a predator, described as a coyote. One driver said he saw a coyote on a street in the headlights of his car as he drove through the neighborhood one night. It is a fact that newborn kittens have disappeared from time to time, lending credence to reports that coyotes may have been responsible.
The coyote is now a permanent member of the fauna in West Virginia and despite being a known predator, is a part of the natural ecosystem. Although bounties have been liberally used on coyotes in the west, no bounty system has ever worked.
The thinking is that liberal trapping seasons for the coyote should continue, and that methods to encourage the sport of predator calling and means to target the coyote as a furbearer and game animal should be explored.
Coyotes can be shot or trapped but in hunting seasons and within the bounds of regulations of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Anyone interested in Goff's plan to form a hunting club with coyotes as its targets may contact him by phone at 475-4635.
By CHARLOTTE SANDERS
Senior Writer Print this story | Email this story |
