From: Project Coyote <info@projectcoyote.org>
To: Project Coyote <info@projectcoyote.org>
Sent: Wed Jul 14 19:31:19 2010
Subject: Biologist: Rye plan to kill coyotes not effective long term
Biologist: Rye plan to kill coyotes not effective long term
Theresa Juva
tjuva@lohud.com
RYE — Trapping and killing coyotes will not help solve the city's coyote problem, says one expert in coyote and human conflict.
"This ends up being a vicious cycle of trapping and removal," said Camilla H. Fox, executive director of Project Coyote, a group of wildlife biologists based in California that helps communities across the country deal with coyotes.
"While that keeps the trapper employed and allows government officials to say they are doing something to appease members of the public who are concerned, it's not a long-term solution," she said.
Rye launched an aggressive coyote hunting program after two young girls were attacked by coyotes while playing outside their homes June 26 and 30.
Since then, police officers have been authorized to shoot any coyote they see and professional trappers are authorized to kill coyotes caught in traps.
The city recently began using The Collarum, a new kind of trap that loops a cable around the animal's neck and restrains it.
So far, however, no coyotes have been trapped or killed since the attacks.
Fox said she agrees with Rye's advice that people should be "big, bad and loud" when encountering coyotes. "Hazing" the animals and scaring them by using blowhorns and paintball guns is effective, she said.
But trapping is not, Fox said.
"There is no scientific research that demonstrates that trapping and removal will instill fear in the coyotes that remain in the area," she said. She said killing works only for aggressive animals.
"Removing the problem animal is one thing; to go in and respond through a whole-scale population reduction effort is another matter," she said. New coyotes will just come in to fill the vacancies, she said.
Police Commissioner William Connors said he has read that trapping and hunting coyotes can make them afraid, but he acknowledged there are differing opinions.
"Obviously there is some dangerous behavior on the part of certain animals," Connors said of the two recent attacks. "The immediate goal is to either eliminate the dangerous animals or establish a fear."
Officials from Rye and neighboring municipalities are scheduled to meet today with the state departments of environmental conservation and agriculture to create a long-term plan.
City Manager Scott Pickup said that could include hiring a full-time animal-control officer to track coyotes.
"It makes sense," Pickup said. "We can't have police officers continuously engaged in this."
http://www.lohud.com/print/article/20100714/NEWS02/7140316/Biologist-Rye-plan-to-kill-coyotes-not-effective-long-term
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