#coyote
Why do we hunt coyotes?
Coyotes are presently the most abundant livestock
predators in western North America, causing the
majority of sheep, goat, and cattle losses. For
example, according to the National Agricultural
Statistics Service, coyotes were responsible for 60.5%
of the 224,000 sheep deaths attributed to predation
in 2004.The total number of sheep deaths in 2004
comprised 2.22% of the total sheep and lamb
population in the United States, which, according to
the National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA
report, totaled 4.66 million and 7.80 million heads
respectively as of July 1, 2005. Because coyote
populations are typically many times greater and more
widely distributed than those of wolves, coyotes
cause more overall predation losses. The United
States government agents routinely shoot, poison,
trap, and kill about 90,000 coyotes each year to
protect livestock.
Coyotes typically bite the throat just behind the jaw
and below the ear when attacking adult sheep or
goats, with death commonly resulting from
suffocation. Blood loss is usually a secondary cause
of death. Calves and heavily fleeced sheep are killed
by attacking the flanks or hindquarters, causing shock
and blood loss. When attacking smaller prey, such as
young lambs, the kill is made by biting the skull and
spinal regions, causing massive tissue and bone
#coyote #hunter #hunting #outdoors
#predatorhunting #dog #workingdog