Not a firearms story, but important nonetheless.
Boy is snowboarding on Colorado golf course directly behind his home. Coyote comes after boy. Boy is bitten, but successfully fends off coyote with his snowboard. Coyote continues to circle boy, but is rebuffed again. Coyote eventually wanders off but keeps eye on boys from a distance.
Why did this happen at all?
1) Voters in 1995 banned trapping in Colorado, despite objections by wildlife biologists and state wildlife officials, who recognized then (as most other state wildlife officials recognize today) that trapping is an effective means of control of these wild animals.
2) People in Colorado have begun feeding coyotes, either through carelessness or on purpose.
3) Coyotes are beginning to see people as food.
Why did this happen at all?
1) Voters in 1995 banned trapping in Colorado, despite objections by wildlife biologists and state wildlife officials, who recognized then (as most other state wildlife officials recognize today) that trapping is an effective means of control of these wild animals.
2) People in Colorado have begun feeding coyotes, either through carelessness or on purpose.
3) Coyotes are beginning to see people as food.
One of the many unintended consequences of taking important decisions out of the hands of experts. Here in Ohio we have coyotes mating with wild dogs, creating "coydog" packs that do not fear humans. A growing problem across the nation.
Unintended consequences . . .
3 comments:
I think the most likely explanation is that the animal is a hybrid; I've seen hybrids form packs, unlike coyotes. They are also a lot more aggressive than coyotes.
Bob, I think you are probably right. Coyotes are solitary. I am merely going off what the news reports are saying. We have the coydog problem here in Ohio. They have been aggressive and have pursued hunters. But still, there are several states that let the electorate vote on how to control wildlife, and in each instance they are having these kinds of problems. Thanks for writing.
I have trapped in Ohio and surrounding states for 25 years and I will tell you that coyotes will pack up especially in the winter months. We have seen this in Ohio bringing down a deer and I saw them do it in Montanna killing a calf. I have also observed 3 coyotes hunting very closely with a wolf.
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