It is unfortunate that people that love coyotes and wolves as creatures that are cute and mystical with their howling voices, time and time again use every media channel in their power to try to make their claim that coyotes and wolves keep the weak deer population in check! Although this is partially true, they also attack healthy deer that are trapped in Maine's harsh winters, simply for the sake of killing and stock piling a food source for later consumption in the spring of the year, when these animals have as many as 4-12 pups to feed. Coyotes are prolific and they reproduce at alarming rates.

If activists had not forced the DIF&W to ban Maine's snaring program about 8 years ago, coyotes would not have been allowed to increase in such numbers. Maine residents need to stop listening to people from "Away" about what is best for Maine, from our economy to our deer herd! Maine DIF&W has some of the most experienced biologists in the world working to manage all wildlife as needed here in Mane. Maine has been a leader in success in bringing back Maine's deer population to record numbers as well as many, many other species. I am 50 years old and although I am not a biologist, I study wildlife everyday of my life. I have, hiked, snowshoed, cleared land, sat in treestands observing wildlife for more hours than most people work in a week, hunted Maine's woods and many other New England areas since I was 10 years old! Forty years of living what I preach!

In 1970 most Maine people, including biologists did not even know the Eastern Coyote existed, when they first appeared in Maine during that time, people called them Coydogs, believing they were wild domestic dogs that bread with wolves from Canada. As year evolved from 1970, so did the rapid spread of an animal that was non-existent in Maine in the 60's, the coyote. It spread to the point that snaring was the only method to control their population, protecting not only deer, but small game such as grouse, rabbits and even domestic cats and dogs! Since the anti-hunting activists won the battle and Maine was forced to cease allowing the use of snares in Maine eight years or so ago, the coyotes have again taken hold in Maine's forests from Berwick to Fort Kent and everywhere between. We have all seen the photos of deer herds yard-ed up and using ski mobile trails to walk on and to try to escape coyote attacks when the snow was up to their ears deep. Maine's deer were slaughtered by coyotes in Central and Northern Maine! In Southern Maine the snow depths were less and deer were able to sustain a larger herd size, but for example, in Berwick, Maine a bow hunter friend harvested a deer at last light, 6:00 PM and as all good bow hunters do, they leave the animal overnight to return the next morning at daybreak to locate the animal. This particular deer went only 40 yards from where it was hit, a clean excellent shot, when he returned to retrieve this animal, it was completely devoured from behind the ears to the base of it's tail and all parts in between completely gone, only the hide that lay on the ground side was left of this entire animal. I say this to show the fierce nature in which coyotes feed, and anyone that knows Berwick, Maine, would most likely be shocked to learn that this many coyotes exist in their back yard to e able to do this to a 150 lb. deer in less than 12 hours.

I personally am sick to death, with all the media talking about a simple event, such as a coyote hunting contest in Jackman, Maine. (Which only has had 5-6 people be successful in over a month form what I heard.) If the people that are putting this much effort into complaining about this event ever spent one day trying to harvest a coyote, they would quickly understand... It is probably the most difficult animal to see in Maine's wild, never mind harvest one. Maine Hunters will never even put a dent in how many coyotes are in Maine. People of Maine... Ask yourself this... When was the last time you saw a coyote in Maine? Could you have harvested it if you had a gun? Unless you are an avid coyote hunter, and Maine does not have very many "avid" coyote hunters in the entire State, you will rarely ever see a coyote because of how stealthy these animals are and they operate at night 95% of their life. I would bet money Coyotes kill more endangered species, like Lynx and Eagles, than Maine's snare traps ever did..... but that's another story!

A coyote hunting contest is absolutely no different than a deer pool, photo contest, sled dog race or any other sport that offers a prize as an incentive to make the contest interesting and fun for those people that so desire to enjoy Maine's heritage. Should e top allowing fishing derbies, because they offer a prize and people rip hooks into their lips for fun!? Hunting coyotes is legal, sportsman here in Maine buy a license to do so, sportsman in Maine provide the ENTIRE Maine Warden Service staff through license and registrations of sportsman. If you are from Maine.. stand up for it and everyone's way of life. Sportsman harvest for the better living for all Maine's creatures.. including us humans!

In closing I would like to ask you another question to ponder... Do you want your son or daughter to end up like this: in October of 2009 Coyotes attacked and killed a New Brunswick, Canada, Toronto-based folk singer, Taylor Mitchell several coyotes attacked her during a solo hike, in Cape Breton National Park in Canada, where there are no wolves,, only coyotes, just like Maine!

Downmaine~Hey, Very Well Said

Coyote = rat.

I guess it's great that rats exist but most people don't really want them around.

I remember seeing a big pack of coyote's once when I was a kid......

Coyotes are very sly, like a fox.......

You don't even know they are around, but thet are......

The White Tail Deer seems to be like nature's all you can eat buffet

Camilla Fox, director of the California-based Project Coyote,

So Camilla, I'm glad to hear that California doesn't have a coyote problem. Only it does! They are living under people's porches out there, killing pets.

12:06 AM, Downmaine wrote:and as all good bow hunters do, they leave the animal overnight to return the next morning at daybreak to locate the animal.

What? This can happen sometimes that it is dark and you need to leave the animal, but generally you wait for a half hour or an hour and go to check on the animal. You don't usually leave it overnight unless you have no other option. Don't blame the wildlife if you left food just lying around for them.

Excellent comment Downmaine, you should submit it as an op-ed piece or letter to the editor.

To clarify what I wrote : and as all good bow hunters do, they leave the animal overnight to return the next morning at daybreak to locate the animal.

Many deer are lost "completely" by trying to locate them too quickly, deer that have been hit with an arrow often times lay down within 40 yards, but when they see danger approaching they find the strength to run hundreds of yards deeper away from the threat. When there is no snow to track them, pushing them like this more often times than not, deer are lost and wasted from actions as you have described. 30 minute is no where near enough time for an archery arrow, maybe 3 hours, but tracking can be difficult in dark, so it is best to leave them until daybreak in case where you do not have 2-3 hours of light left of a day when you harvest big game animals. It is shear respect to the animal for appropriate recovery to let them completely dispatch before scaring them when they are laying down and peaceful. I have been there and done this myself, tried to recovered an arrowed deer too soon at days end, it results in a long night of tracking and chasing, with the usual result of returning to try and locate the following day, which many times is uneventful for the bow hunter. I could recite hundreds of hunting video shows that would back my claim as well. Try watching a few and see if they recommend that 1/2 hour is long enough to wait, before attempting a recovery of a deer that runs out of sight after it has been arrowed. You will see, they go home review the video tape on a TV and then determine if the shot placement was in vitals or in a vital that requires no pressure for several hours for it to dispatch. Ethical hunters truly care about retrieving and locating their game they harvest, with the utmost of respect for the animals life hey have taken.

But the point I was trying to make, Concernme, hits it right on the head! If there were not as many coyotes in Maine's woods, house cats , rabbits, grouse and other small animals would not be targeted like they are, because free meals do not just lie around Maine's wood on a regular basis. So what do they do when there is no dead animal to devour??? Eat your domestic cat because he cannot defend himself! Controlling their population does not suggest they be removed from Maine's woods entirely. Coyotes can co-exist in Maine, but like everything else in this world, man must regulate wildlife because of all the destruction man has done to this land over hundreds of years of development. Do we not go to the doctors and prolong human life? Only humans can do this for their species, animals are here and man must protect them in the interest of all species! This is what Maine's DIF&W is in place for.. Let them do their job and nature does co-exist! I've seen it happen over 40 years under their management!

Blah, blah, blah....Coyotes are horrible animals. They are the 'gangbangers' of the wood. They roam around in packs killing indiscriminately and leave carnage where ever they go. They kill cats, dogs, calves, goats, and even people if they can. They are one of only a few of natures creatures that 'kill for the thrill'. Any way if you take into consideration the harsh Maine winters, that seem to be getting worse the last few years, the deer population is getting decimated. We need to take out as many of the creatures as possible. I have many around my house, I shoot several every year and plan on setting my personal record this year. Lock and load!

9:50 AM, Downmaine wrote:30 minute is no where near enough time for an archery arrow, maybe 3 hours, but tracking can be difficult in dark, so it is best to leave them until daybreak in case where you do not have 2-3 hours of light left of a day when you harvest big game animals.

While I only hunt with a rifle, I know many hunters and I agree that many times a more considerable wait time is required for bowhunters, I just took issue with the statement that seemed to say it was the only responsible way to go, which is not always the case. I will defer to your experience on that one. Just don't assume that I am unaware of how to hunt and refer me to videos and those awful hunting shows on TV which usually are more like cow hunting on farms in Texas.

I am totally for coyote hunting in Maine. I think I said so earlier. I think they are a nuisance and way too numerous. My point was that IF you leave game overnight in the woods, the chance that you take is that there will be little or none left twelve hours later.

I'm pretty sure that a tiger is the only known animal to kill for sport.

“In a natural cycle of predator-prey, the predators like coyotes will keep down the sick, diseased, compromised animals and actually help to keep the herd genetically robust by keeping those weaker animals out of the gene pool.”

Hmmm....

"Another view is that coyotes and deer are neither good nor bad, but rather creatures trying to carve out a living in the same ecosystem."

OK.

Let's rewrite this sentence:

"Another view is that the H1N1 virus and white blood cells are neither good nor bad, but rather micro-organisms trying to carve out a living in the same person."

Props, BDN for summing up the problem with the sentence: "The health of the deer herd has economic implications, so that is no small consideration." As usual it comes down to how much an animal's life is worth to kill it. Yes, I've lived with wild animals, so maybe ask yourself if your dog or cat has a personality when it isn't struggling to survive. At least Caiaphas thought he was protecting Isreal from the wrath of the Romans when he convinced the Sanhedrin, the supreme tribunal of the Jews, to kill Jesus. (John 11:47-53)

The actual quote from bradycampaign.org that: "The risk of homicide is three times higher in homes with firearms" Can be found at:

http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/gunviolence/gunsinthehome click on the "Overview" target dot.

BDN, I hope our time apart was mutually beneficial. I won't apologize for being touchy about insults to homeless people because one shouldn't knock dumpster food until one has tried it, but "...and peace will guide the planets and love will steer the stars" "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" - The Fifth Dimension.

I could kill the bobcats, since they are such a "serious threat," but I'd probably kill a lynx and go to prison.

I just read a true account of a boy that was breaking the rules and feeding a deer that was hanging around a campground. When the boy ran out of food the deer reared up and its hooves split the boy open and unfortunately the boy died. The BDN is right we need to forget this idea of good and bad animals. All animals, even us two-legged ones, don't always do what is best.

The majority of comments here every time there is a wildlife protection based story remind me of how people will ignore science and history (over 100 years of failed coyote control programs) when it is not indicative of what they would like to do . Even the advocates of coyote snaring fail to remember that that abysmal program did not result in more deer in any area where snaring was practiced. It did, though, catch and kill many non target animals, including deer, eagles, lynx and just about any other kind of animal out there. We even had a moose or tow caught in a snare. I have all the statistics, pulled directly from the files of Henry Hilton, former head of Animal Damage Control for the state back then. When science and history will not teach those who do not know what the truth is, then truly, I would agree that" there are none so blind as though who will not see." The constant ignorance of science and history, combined with anecdotal knowledge, largely gleaned second or third hand, is a sad commentary on those who would kill everything our state allows them to. It is in our states best interest to continue to provide education, both through outreach and a change in state policy, to those who believe in "The Big Bad Wolf", or in this case, Coyote. Predators serve a valuable, likely the most valuable role, in a natural food chain. Those who hate coyotes should point their anger in the direction of the real culprit when it comes to our deer in Maine, the forest products industry which has, over the past twenty years, reduced the number of large deer yards in Maine to a number best expressed on two hands. When we start to zone these valuable deer yards and act as if the deer population is important to us, then we will start to solve the real or perceived deer problem in Maine. I only say perceived because little more than 100 years ago there were few, if any, deer in Northern Maine. The ungulates in this area were Caribou and Moose. Deer populations were largely reserved for the central and southern portions of the state, interestingly enough where deer numbers are fine, as is a stable coyote population. Thank you, BDN, for continuing the education of those who choose to see only part of what the truth is.

Excellent post daryld.

The uninformed opinion that sportsmen are "hateful" or "angry" at their legally harvested prey is generally offered by those who have a disconnect from the meat on their table and the furry little critters outside their door.

Very well said, Bangor Daily. You have it right: it is the four-season deer habitat and winter weather that govern abundance of deer in Maine. Intense forest harvesting in northern and eastern Maine for three decades has decimated the winter deer yards. Some of us who have been in the woods since the '40's have a good understanding of the changes.

Coyotes and deer coexist perfectly productively throughout the continent. Deer in many regions, including parts of Maine, are so dense they are destructive of lawns, gardens and forest productivity in the presence of coyotes. Maine's ineffective snaring program continued for twenty years while deer populations continued to decline in eastern and northern Maine as coniferous forest was liquidated after the spruce budworm outbreak. Deer were traded for moose by the drastic change to young hardwood after intense machine logging in the habitat. And then, when the illegal snaring program stopped in 2003, hunter success in the previously snared regions did not decline one bit. In fact, hunter success increased every year for four years after snaring stopped. There's a theory this was the result of reduced predation loss because the snarers stopped making snowmobile tracks into the deer yards which increased predation, and because the dominant coyote pair were left in place and excluded others which would have increased predation loss. Whatever the theory, the clear simple facts remain that hunters killed more deer after snaring stopped than they got before. Everybody knows that deer crashed severely after we had the last two hard winters in a row. They are clever, but Coyotes can't make deep snow and no trees.

All this attention on killing coyotes as a cure for the deer problem is equivalent to saying that bailing the ocean will solve the rise in sea level from global warming. Coyotes will always be with us – they can't be “bailed” by any amount of killing after 150 years of trying country-wide. They cycle in density in balance with the abundance of prey just like fox, bobcat, lynx and other predators cycle with hare, grouse, mice and other prey.

There is growing evidence that management by private landowners here in Maine to enrich deer habitat by growing food plots and seeding forest roads and landings with favorable forage, is increasing deer populations locally. These methods are well worked out in states where landowners can charge for use of their land for hunting. Landowners can't charge for use of their land for hunting in Maine – it has been made a crime. It is likely that deer are going into the winter near the food plots better fit and more likely to produce more fawns. Study is needed to establish whether deer in those areas are beginning to build new wintering areas where there is coniferous cover and whether this may be a constructive path to restore our deer herd. Coyote killing contests simply scapegoat a fine natural animal for the flaws and faults of our habitat management and for the weather, and most seriously, they offer false promise and detract attention from efforts that could offer real promise for success.

There are other important things to consider. It's sometime popular to point to “people from away” wanting to change our way of life here. Well, our wildlife “belongs” to all the people of Maine. Only 12% of the people buy hunting licenses. At their own cost, without any payment in return, the private landowners of Maine provide almost all the habitat and the land that hunters use. Many Maine landowners in the 88% who do not hunt want their share of their wildlife alive, not dead. There are about 6,000 coyote hunters who get the right for $1 to be on unposted private property behind remote residences night and day. Mischief of all kinds can and does result. Tracks in the snow in the morning behind your bedroom are not comfortable things to find. Dead roadkills or other bait on your land without permission is not very pleasant. These coyote contests are not limited to Jackman. Private land is rightly now being posted against hunting by landowners who previously shared the use of their land in some areas in response to these “contests”, for reasons having to do with peace and privacy on private property, and because of concern for lack of respect for their share of our wildlife,.

In closing, I would note that Downmaine's condemnation of coyotes is based on a serious set of misunderstandings. I would speak to two.

You can't have it both ways: “they also attack healthy deer that are trapped in Maine's harsh winters, simply for the sake of killing and stock piling a food source for later consumption in the spring of the year . . .” and “ a bow hunter friend harvested a deer at last light, 6:00 PM and as all good bow hunters do, they leave the animal overnight to return the next morning at daybreak to locate the animal. This particular deer went only 40 yards from where it was hit, a clean excellent shot, when he returned to retrieve this animal, it was completely devoured. . .” The facts are that coyotes are not wanton killers like domestic dogs, they kill only what they eat, they consume it entirely, and they can't stock pile anything away from consumption by other creatures in the Maine woods in winter. It is also true that they kill quickly, usually by the throat, and they put a good many wounded deer out of their suffering in hunting season.

Toronto, Ontario, singer Taylor Mitchell's death in the National Park on the plateau in Cape Breton was a shocking, surprising, unusual tragedy. I know the place and I know the animal.

Because we hear this tragedy brought up often in this way to try to justify cruelty and condemnation of a species in the wild, it is important to make it clear exactly how cruel, unjust and shameful the argument is. There are many, many more people killed and maimed every day in this country by domestic dogs than by all species of wildlife. To his point, a son or daughter are in more danger from a neighbor or a family member, than from any wild animal in Maine.

In fact, two more people were killed right here in Maine by a man from Cape Breton itself than have been harmed by wildlife here.

Let the mother who forgave the animal and grieves for this tragedy, be in peace.

We have too much hate-mongering all around us.

Restore the Habitat to Restore the Deer.

Bravo, BDN! Right on the money!

NEWSFLASH! You couldn't eradicate coyotes in maine even if you tried. Go home and stop whining. its a maine tradition and they have every right to do as they please.

This is nothing but pure anti hunting propaganda hiding under the guise of journalism. To quote Camilla Fox as an authority on the subject is laughable. Even a Federal Judge has discredited her.

Daryl D is constantly claiming that hunters have no clue in regards to this subject from a scientific standing, meanwhile he refuses to acknowledge the latest scientific studies which clearly show the damage to ecosystems created by unmanaged predator populations. Instead he, and others like him, continue to state old theories as fact, while manufacturing some of their own.

To expect to get the truth on this issue from an animal rights extremist group is certainly not very realistic, poor journalistic research at best.

While I have to admire these groups ability to make the media (such as BDN) and many politicians sing on cue, the fact is the silent majority is finding it’s voice as well, and change is in the wings, and they know it.

The rant by” our watch” is so full of scientific untruths and misleading statements, I couldn’t possibly cover them all. So hers a few. It’s a scientific fact that coyotes are opportunistic killers. They kill whether they are hungry or not, simply because they can.

The statement on the hunter deer kill rising after the snaring program was stopped is simply deliberate misleading. Perhaps he meant Southern Maine experienced an increase. Suppose?

Perhaps all these experts can explain suitable deer winter habitat with no deer? We do have plenty of that.

The representation of hunters being a low percentage of our state population while explaining that the rest of the citizens really want hunting stopped is great. To downplay any economic loss based on this narrow mindset is ridicules. Many communities benefit from a thriving deer population, thousands upon thousands of whose residents do not hunt. Millions of dollars have been lost yearly in some of the most financially repressed towns in Maine as the result of the whitetails decline. Perhaps this is not a factor to these radical groups, but I guarantee it is to the people in these towns.

When our State finds, or is forced to find the backbone to ignore these PC loudmouths, and embarks on a true science based wildlife management implementation, it will be a good day for MAINE indeed.

Let Mother Nature take care of her own. We humans are so damned self-righteous. I live in Eastern Maine and I have seen an overwhelming number of whitetail deer whiile also listening to the chorus of coyotes in the deep dark night. No doubt some of that chorus was in celebration of or anticipation of a whitetail kill. Mother Nature is beautiful and brutal. Cruel and unrepentant, but balanced all the while.

I do not hunt anymore because it is far easier and cheaper to shop for meat at the store. I get no thrill of the kill, and I suspect that predators are the same. Are they really that intelligent? I doubt it.

Bear kill as many deer as coyotes, but there are so many people earning a living guiding bear hunts that the state chose not to address that issue.

KurtJLane (Roadkill), you continue to spread your bs as if it were the truth. To say that Camilla Fox was discredited by a Federal judge is an outright lie. I have every word of every transcript and nowhere is she discredited. She has served as an expert witness in three federal cases involving wildlife, including the case here in Maine. While the intervenors, Fur Takers of America, US Sportsmans Alliance (hey, aren't these out of state organizations??) and the state tried to get her testimony thrown out the judge actually ruled (that means he said you didn't have a leg to stand on) that she was a credible expert witness and her testimony is part of the court record in this case. This is simply more of your ignoring the truth to continue to espouse your completely uninformed opinion that snaring should be brought back and that we should carry out a war on coyotes and predators in general because they get "your" deer.

Believe me when I say that I'm not saying hunters have no clue, I'm just saying you and those of your ilk have no clue. The state knows the truth, the biologists know the truth, IF&W, USF&W and most of Maine know the truth but we're supposed to believe that you know better than everyone else? I'll let the general public make their own mind up. Truly Kurt, you epitomize what I said earlier, "there are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see"

By the way, I have the study Ourwatch quoted from showing that deer populations increased when the snaring program stopped in areas where they formerly snared. The state has it as well. Maybe someone will read it to you if you get it.

Kurt: From a hunting guide and hunter: It's the habitat not the coyote. Many hunters from jackman HAVE TO get that deer every fall for the rite of "manhood". Then some of them hop into their trucks and head up to Ontario to kill 2 more. If these sportsmen are so dedicated let them buy licenses and hunt with a camera for a couple of seasons and let the population recover. Coyote populations have been stable for twenty years, the deer pop. has waivered due to hard winters and habitat destruction. The good Jackman resident Plum Greed has cut deer yards like the locals cut their grass. This "contest" does speak of ignorance and utter exasperation. Killing coyotes will do nothing but perpetuate the myths of predaphobia and the eternal solution of KILL SOMETHING.

Daryl,

I bet you where red faced writing that witty responce. Unlike you, I don't expect anyone to go on my word regarding predation, I would like them to research on their own, at true scientific sites, not radical animal rights sites.

And your wrong about my motives. I do not wish for any "war on coyotes and predators". I'm only looking for common sense wildlife management.

See you in Augusta?

CecilG

How do you know that the coyote population has been stable for 20 years? Our State has no idea what the population has done. Can you point me to a study showing this? There is no doubt that the change in habitat has affected the deer, however, to contend that this and the weather are the only factors is plain wrong. I live in an area with no large deer yards. We have been practicing predator management for the last 15 years. We have deer. However,go 10 miles in any direction and that changes. I research predation and it's effects, I am not speaking from ignorance or exasperation. Perhaps you could do a little research as well.

As for the BDN, yes we should value one animal over another. The Whitetail deer hunting industry generates millions in the rural ares of our State. It is as green an industry as you can find. The wise usage of our renewable natural resources to generate income is a good thing. How it is becoming evil in this day and age of green and carbon footprint talk is hypocritical at best.

But in his ruling, Woodcock wrote he found the plaintiff’s “generic evidence and speculative inferences much less convincing than IF&W’s specific records.” Woodcock also put much more stock in the testimony offered by Kenneth Elowe, director resource management for DIF&W, than in the plaintiffs’ witnesses.

Call it what you will Daryl, he certainly did not belive her.

Elowe is no one to trust. Lee Kantar was quoted in the Sentinel saying that the coyote population had been stable for twenty years.

To hate coyotes for eating deer is so incredibly unnatural that it boggles my mind. All large predators in Maine will eat deer. If it weren't for the money issue and the people killing deer for pleasure issue we wouldn't even be having this conversation. Deer are part of the food chain, ( big fish eat little fish), that's the way it goes. Deer, like people, have requirements for their survival , so that coyotes, bears and people can eat them. People have screwed up the habitat deer need to survive in northern and down east Maine, period. It has nothing whatsoever to do with coyotes. If you guys are so worried about deer stop shooting them for a couple, three years and stop ruining their shelter. Then you will have all the deer you want to shoot for a little while anyway.

If humans are a natural predator, ok, they are part of the process but it is idiotic to say that coyotes aren't and should be eliminated. I don't even know why I bother to read this stuff and feel compelled to respond. I can't believe what I am hearing from "hunters" about the predator/prey relationship. It is so lacking in understanding of the natural world.

I just want to qualify my remark about "hunters" in my previous post because there are some hunters posting here that do get it. Let's replace the word "hunter" with "those who hate coyotes for being what they re and doing what they do.".

Kudos to the BDN for an excellent editorial. Unfortunately, as long as such ignorance and hatred of four-legged predators as has been demonstrated by many of the commenters persists, and as long as those who kill wildlife pay for the biologists and the appointed bureaucrats to run IFW, there will never be science-based coyote management here in Maine. Thankfully we have a governor who opposes coyote "derbies" as cruel and unsportsmanlike. It's too bad that this opposition can't be translated into legislation that would make such activities illegal. The really sad thing is that our state government is controlled by an ignorant, malevolent minority that gets its way because it hollers the loudest.

I find it interesting that both sides of this issue feel the other is running our State Gov.

The majority of the "hate " talk is coming from the anti side. The hunters just want decent management, at this time non-existant.

JGlowa,

Since Maine coyotes are a result of cross breeding with woives ( a complete contradiction to how we are told they interact) why would a re-introduction of wolfs in Maine be viable? A pure genetic strain would not exist very long. seems like a total waste of time and effort.

Perhaps you can explain to us the associated physical diffences between Maines crossed strain of coyotes and the western coyote. I am most interested in the structural differences that would make it easier for Maines coyotes to kill large ungulates. Maybe Daryl will help.

This is too much fun

I shoot coyotes in the gut with .22lr and let them suffer, like the deer do. I plan to shoot as many as possible this year. It's quite rewarding knowing that everyone I shoot is going to save dozens of deer.

You hit the nail right on the head in the closing line of your excellent editorial regarding the persecution of coyotes in Maine when you wrote " a more sophisticated understanding of the role coyotes play in the ecosystem is overdue".

Amen!

Cherie & Ken Mason

Mr. Lane:

Eastern coyotes are more correctly named "coywolves" because in most of the northeast U.S. and in all of eastern Canada they are ALL wolf/coyote hybrids. To answer your first question, to my knowledge no one is proposing or has ever proposed that wolves be reintroduced to Maine. That is a fairy tale made up by wolf haters and others to misinform the public and to discredit wolf advocates. Since 1994 when I founded the Maine Wolf Coalition, I and MWC have been advocating for natural wolf recovery through research, education and protection-not through reintroduction. If wolves in Canada are simply allowed to live, their populations will naturally grow and their range will expand south back across the St. Lawrence River and back into the northeast U.S. That is happening right now. There are tens of thousands of square miles and hundreds of thousands of deer, moose and beaver that could support hundreds of wolves in the northeast U.S. and Canadian Maritimes. The wolves that will live here will be hybrid animals that are best able to survive based on habitat, prey, and human persecution. While I don't support reintroduction, bringing in pure wolves and establishing a core population is probably the best way to minimize interbreeding with coywolves if that is a concern. There are two species of wolves that have been documented in the northeast within the last 15-20 years. The gray wolf is the larger of the two (80-90+ lbs.) and it does not breed with coyotes but it can and does breed with eastern wolves. The eastern wolf (50-75 lbs.) is the smaller of the two and it is this animal that can and will breed with coyotes if its own numbers are decimated. This did in fact occur across southern Canada in the 1930's and '40s. These wolf/coyote hybrids crossed the St. Lawrence River and it is their descendants that live throughout the northeast U.S. and eastern Canada today.

It's unfortunate that humans exterminated wolves in places like Maine. Wolves have much larger territories than coyotes or coywolves. For example, an area that will support 20-30 coywolves might support only 3-4 wolves. Of course, a lot depends on the availability of prey and habitat and that can vary widely, but generally speaking, a given area will support far more coyotes or coywolves than wolves. Through our ignorance, people continue to kill coywolves and our state and federal governments encourage it or do nothing to control it. If anything, killing them will only cause their populations to increase as they produce more pups to compensate. There is no scientific or biological evidence that killing coyotes or coywolves will have any lasting impact on their populations or the populations of their prey. Those who enjoy killing coyotes and coywolves either don't know or don't care that their actions have no beneficial effect on prey populations. In fact, they can have just the opposite effect if deer become overpopulated and suffer mass starvation. I believe people kill coyotes/coywolves primarily out of ignorance, out of a need to have dominance over nature, and/or because of the perverse thrill they get out of killing another living creature.

As far as the differences between pure western coyotes and coywolves, coywolves are larger, more wolflike and they have larger head and stronger more muscular jaws. Coywolves have a "plastic" physiology meaning that there are many variations of size and shape. They are an animal that is rapidly evolving and changing and will never be exterminated as long as the earth continues to support life.

For more information on coywolves from a real coywolf expert, I encourage you to go to Dr. Jon Way's website at http://www.easterncoyoteresearch.com

Wow there certainly are some bar room biologists making a few post about this one. I don't think half of you go into the woods, ever. Coyotes only kill sick and weak deer? Really. Explain the incident in Princeton a few years back on the St. Croix Flowage regarding deer and coyotes. Coyotes take deer down by the throats and kill them quickly and eat it all at once? Really. If you find a deer that has been killed by an animal grabbing it by the throat then it wasn't killed by a coyote. A policy that favors one animal over another with commercial motives is short sighted? Really. Then why did the state a few years ago snare coyotes in deer yards and only stopped due to the threat of a lawsuit by environmental extremists? Why did the state of Maine hand out ammunition to people for free to shoot cormorants in the bays after the rivers were stocked with salmon smolts that were about to make their migration to sea? Because once upon a time logic exisited in departments that called the shots regarding conservation of our fish and game. Now adays' there seems to be an increase of a "vision of love and natural balance" required when handling predator issues. Set your emotions aside, open your eyeballs along with your ears and listen to people who know. Get involved or stay out of it. Buy some lead and start killing coyotes. Do it for your children.

Evidently there has been recent scientific research that does in fact state that Coyotes and Wolves have cross bred. So back in 1970, when old time Mainers called these inbred animals coy dogs.. They were right! Well close, it was even worse, They were Coy Wolves, a far stronger, more aggressive fierce killing machine, that should have been exterminated before it polluted Maine's forests "like they are now" !

This discussion has proved a few things:

1- What we all call a Coyote can reproduce quickly and survive any hunting pressure Maine hunters & trappers can dish out, even Maine's snaring program.

2- Maine's coyotes are really a Wolve Hybrid mongrel not even a species of it's own, therefor not even a wolf or a coyote technically! (Rats are have their own specie)

3- Maine has a no limit, all year around open season on them, with a night hunting season as well, making it legal to hunt coyotes!

4- Hunting contests & fishing derbies that award prizes are legal in Maine

5-Anti-hunters love wildlife so much they will donate entire estates to the welfare of animals, so organizations that love wolves, coyotes and hybrids, can use those funds to fight against the minority that love to hunt and fish and truly believe in their right to continue their heritage as hunters and fisherman.

6-Hunters & fisherman kill animals for sport and food. Then they have to donate there hard earned $25. to SAM to try and ward off the anti-hunters once again! Our estates get left to our children, because we have a life nd a family to leave it to!

So the battle rages on! Maine The Way Life Should Be!

Huh.. what does that imply!?

Some interesting reading from our own local biologist herein Maine. Everyone has opinions and some have life experience!

http://samcef.org/coyotes_deer_trappers.htm

http://samcef.org/coyote_control.htm

I have lived in Greene, Maine for 20 years. This is the only data I need to understand the coyote situation: I spend a lot of time in the woods and until this past year had only seen 3 coyotes in those 20 years, usually deep in the woods at dawn or dusk. This year I have seen coyote 4 different times, within a 2 mile radius of my house. All 4 times I was in my car and the coyotes were walking bravely along in broad daylight. I don't care what anyone says, the coyotes population is getting out of hand and if it is not gotten under control soon, it will be extremely hard to get them back under control once their population explodes.

Mr Glowa

Thank you for your reply. I am glad to hear you are not pushing for a re-introduction. However your actions as a group appear to conflict with your stated intentions. To attempt to have the USFW stop all harvest of large canids in the New England States,namely coyotes, certainly conflicts with the re-establishment of a pure wolf strain. If such a wolf is an impossibility, whats the point?

You also state the old compensentory reproduction story, when in fact coyote litter size is a direct result of the breeding females age.

A recent study that involved the removal of a percentage of coyotes from an area resulted in a much higher percentage of fawn survival, so yes, there is scientific evidence that managing coyotes can have a beneficial impact as far as prey species are concerned.

I find again and again, that those who have a disgust with the harvesting of animals pick and choose their science in an effort to force those who participate in the natural order of life to follow their synthetic standards.

KurtJLane- Excellent.

Outdoorsman: That incident you recall is a real bar room tale. There was no proof that coyotes were involved, more likely to be local native owned dogs. The men in the picture were primarily felons, some convicted of gaming law violations.

Downmaine: Stop the whining about anti hunting. I hunt and I am against predaphobic slaughter.

Good day to all! Prepare yourself for the hallucinations of CecilG.

predator control will work when 50% or better of the population is eliminated. now lets get to work!

To whoever is responsible for mounting the harrassment campain against me via e-mail and my home phone, thank you. It only confirms my opinion of you and your mentality.

I took a visit to Mr Glowas recomended site. Here is a qoute.

" Respect the animal for what it is; before you take any potential control actions on it, first think if you would do the same thing to your dog. They are social, intelligent animals who care for their families just like humans do."

Obviously an unbiased scientist.

Mr. Lane:

In your 1/10 message, you completely mischaracterized my position. I challenge you to provide any documentation that I am attempting to have the USFWS stop the killing of coywolves in New England. I know you can't because you're making it up. My position is that I want the USFWS to regulate the harvest (killing) and commerce (trade/sale) of coywolves and their parts. Because of the potential for killing wolves, the feds need to get involved. If wolves are being killed, then something must be done to stop it. The only way we will know will be if someone effectively monitors what is killed and by whom.

As far as the point of having a hybrid wolf, I don' t care if it's a pure wolf or a gray/eastern hybrid. The primary purpose for wolf restoration as I see it is to simply allow nature to take its course and to naturally restore an apex predator that humans exterminated. Let nature determine if that predator is needed. Certainly the coywolf wouldn't exist if there wasn't an ecological niche. By killing wolves, we are again playing God. I would hope we would have learned our lesson by now. I reject your use of the word "harvest" when referring to the killing of widlife. The word "harvest" by definition means the gathering of a crop. A crop refers to something that is planted, grown and and cultivated. Maine's wildlife are not planted, grown or cultivated. They simply exist. They belong to all of us and none of us. Humans don't harvest wild animals, we kill them.

JohnGlowa- It certainly is a harvest. Deer are a resource that hunters harvest. The DIFW issues doe permits, has certain regulated hunting seasons, and regulate the number that can be taken, etc, etc. The deer herd is maintained this way, therfore one cannot argue that the herd is definitely "grown". I reject the use of your word when you say kill. It is an unethical definition and completely biased regarding all who hunt wildlife.