We have mined deeply into both the professional experiences and opinions of our best Coyote and Wolf biologists and researchers regarding what ecologicial role our Eastern Coyote is playing in our Eastern Woodlands. With Moose returning to New England and New York inspite of elevated temperatures, brainworm transmited by deer and a modern plague of deer and dog ticks, can our "Coywolves" play a mitigating role through both adult and calf predation?
Reddhole 8 provided us with the Mathieu Dumond New Brunswick, Canada Coyote/Moose study posted on Tuesday that did reveal that Moose were a major dietary item in this locale ten years ago. While scavenging on naturally killed or human induced moose mortality was certainly a key aspect of Coyote feeding, it also appeared that late Winter weather stressed Moose might be being taken by larger size family groups as well as opportunistic calf feeding during late Summer.
In the attached Coyote Habitat Selection article by Dominic Boisjoly et/al in 2008(also referenced by Reddhole 8), the Moose population in Eastern Canada in the Matane and Duniere Wildlife Reserves are benefitied greatly by human clearcut logging(4 to 5 individuals per km2). Clearcut Forests represented more than 50% of the Reserves total acreage providing outstanding browse opportunities for Moose. This type clearcut is the preferred habitat of Coyotes in Eastern Canada who are historically limited in range by intact Boreal Forest. Coyote diet consisted of over 70% Moose, 18% hares, Caribou and berries each 4%. It is mportant to note that the majority of Moose carcasses that were eaten by Coyotes died from natural causes rather than by direct attack by Coyotes...........................On top of this, only 7 Moose calves were potentially taken by Coyotes(exact casue of their death could not be accurately determined by the researchers).
Boisjoly's analysis reveals that while Moose are major components of Coyote diet in Eastern Canada, scavenging rather than predation seems to be how this foodstuff is obtained.
So, the prevailing notion that Eastern Coyotes are not fulfilling Eastern Wolves and Cougars historical predation function on Moose in Eastern woodlands seems to continue to hold true. C.lycaon(Eastern Wolf), we await your return with your sympatric feline "top cat", P. concolor(Cougar) so that our Eastern forests are restored with all of their "cogs and wheels"................so as to provide optimum biological diversirty and health to our environment.......................Long live the Eastern Coyote in a multiple predator Eastern Forest system!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment