(image from Joan Deaver)
Update: John Flaherty sent this along ~
(News Journal) James Fisher reports ~ Delaware considers allowing coyote hunting
GEORGETOWN, Del. — Hunting rules proposed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control would allow the hunting and trapping of coyotes in Delaware.The proposals, introduced this month for public comment, would let hunters seek out and kill coyotes between Nov. 1 and the end of February. Coyotes and red fox could be trapped between Dec. 10 and March 10.
Representatives of hunters groups and farmers have sought a coyote hunting and trapping season for two years, calling them disruptive predators. With regulations proposed, they are pressuring the state to allow coyote hunting for an extended period, or even year-round, saying anything less could give rise to large numbers that would menace the state’s deer population, as well as livestock on farms.
“Delaware is putting the landowners and the citizens behind the eight ball by starting out this conservative,” said Chip West, a landowner and the president of the state’s Quality Deer Management Association chapter.
West asked Sussex County Council on Tuesday to support a longer coyote hunting season than the one DNREC proposed, and after a few minutes of discussion, the council unanimously voted its support for a year-round coyote season.
“I’m an animal lover and all that, but I don’t want them on our farms,” Councilwoman Joan Deaver said of coyotes. “And I sure don’t want them in my district.”
Cape Gazette editorial ~ Think a little more about coyotes
Many years ago a coyote took up residence at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The critter lived along a hedgerow, trotting up and down the fields now and then; other times it sat at a distant corner where two fields met and kept an eye on things. Eventually it either died or moved on looking for a mate. No one complained about the animal.
It became part of the refuge’s wildlife mix and joined the occasional bobcat or cougar sightings in the exotic animal lore of the wild fringe of marshes and woods along the coast.
Since that time there have been a few more coyote sightings. But anyone would be hard-pressed to state with any credibility that there’s been any great spike in Sussex coyote numbers. Wildlife populations, because of management of natural areas and certain protections, have been enjoying decent health in recent decades. Coyotes are right there in the mix. The range of the dog-like animals is expanding across the nation. On the Delmarva Peninsula – a virtual island because of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal – we shouldn’t expect to see any kind of steep spike in coyote numbers. It’s just not that easy for them to get here.
Sussex Council recently passed a resolution calling on the state to declare an open season on coyotes throughout the year. The discussion included concerns about impact on real estate values and the economy as well as fears about the toll coyotes could take on crops and livestock. Discussion would have benefited from testimony by a wildlife biologist conversant with the habits of an animal that we, in Sussex, have little experience with.
For example, do we know whether our rapidly expanding deer and resident Canada goose populations could be controlled to a certain extent by having more natural predators like coyotes?
Empowering farmers to control varmints like ground hogs, deer and coyotes that cause demonstrable problems in their fields makes sense. But in a rapidly urbanizing county with homes increasingly closer together, problems created by declaring an open season on coyotes by anyone with guns and traps could be greater than problems created by the coyotes themselves.
Thanks for editorial on coyote hunting County council should rethink coyote plan Coyote trapping should not be allowed Council supports coyote huntingAnd two News Journal letters ~
Extincting coyotes and red foxes affects human's ecosystem
I’ve read all of the articles and comments regarding the proposed bill to allow year-round hunting and trapping of coyotes and red foxes in Delaware.
First, I think there are some serious questions as to whether or not the appropriate analysis has been applied to this proposal to assure us that this year-round trapping will not totally decimate the coyote population and render it extinct. I’ve written to the director of The Division of Fish and Wildlife, Dave Saveikis, and asked this question of him.
Secondly, it concerns me that there are still people living in Delaware today that believe trapping can in any way be justified when practicing wildlife management. This, to me, indicates a very low level on the social evolution scale. People who propose this seem to have a very backward mentality and might propose returning to the days when slavery was legal, women couldn’t vote, and first cousins were allowed to marry.
I strongly urge members of the Delaware Legislature and members of the Sussex County Council to reconsider this bill and at least re-check your figures because once a species is made extinct, you don’t bring it back. It would not surprise me that the farmers in Sussex County would very much like to see coyotes rendered extinct, but I think they have a very limited view of how this would affect the ecosystem. So again I encourage those people who will be making the final decision to do so with a highly responsible mindset.
Howard Eney
Newark
It is hard to understand the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s proposed new rules that would allow the hunting and trapping of coyotes and red foxes in Delaware. By their own estimate, there is only about 100 coyotes living in the state. I have been hearing for years that we have a deer overpopulation problem, and need to cull herds to reduce deer car collisions and to reduce crop and landowner damage. We finally have a natural predator in the coyote, and we are now worried that coyotes will damage deer populations?
While coyotes may eat some deer, mostly they feed on smaller animals, such as groundhogs, mice, voles and squirrels. Having larger predators is an asset to homeowners and farmers to help keep rodent populations down. Eastern coyotes are a beautiful mix of coyotes and Canadian gray wolves. They very rarely attack larger livestock or people. Human killing of coyotes for predator control might actually increase their populations as coyotes and foxes compensate for the artificial reduction in their population by breeding at earlier ages and having larger litters. In addition, more young will survive because of the increase in availability of food sources.
In the words of Albert Schweitzer: “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” Please speak out against the killing of coyotes and foxes.
Cathy Rash
Vice President of Wildlife Issues, Delaware Action for Animals
Newark
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