Louisiana currently has an outdated and 19th century mentality about how to coexsist with Coyotes........In fact, the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife has labeled Coyotes as "outlaw quadrapeds"............The State allows every type of hunting method to rid the land of our Songdogs including lasers, night vision devices and noise suppressors...........The "Old boys" in Louisiana are completely transparent in their hatred as well as their "who cares about the facts" mentality regarding how effectively Coyotes control rodent populations........The author of the article touches on these benefits but then unconditionally states that coyotes can multiply rapidly and overun Louisiana.............He does not choose to communicate that generally one finds 1 to 2 coyotes per square mile in any given habitat and that as a mid sized carnivore is limited by prey density..............Louisiana mirrors Maine as an extreme anti-coyote State,,,,,,,Camilla Fox of PROJECT COYOTE has her work cut out for her in educating people in both of these States

Coyotes are a growing problem

Alan Matherne
houmatoday.com

 

Coyotes are considered nuisance animals by most people. In fact, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries classifies them as "outlaw quadrupeds" and provide for extreme methods of controlling them, including night hunting with lasers, night vision devices and noise suppressors.

The coyote, which is a member of the dog family, began to appear in Louisiana sometime after 1942, and the first capture of a coyote here was in Vernon Parish in 1949. Since then, coyotes have expanded their range and are found in all Louisiana parishes. Populations of these animals vary depending upon habitat type and food availability.

In the past few months, there have been local reports of coyote sightings and killings of pets and livestock. Does that mean that coyotes are "bad" animals? Of course not. Coyotes are valuable members of the wildlife community.  As predators, they help keep rodent populations down and as scavengers, eating old, sick or injured animals, they help keep the woods and fields clean.

It's when populations of coyotes become unacceptably high and the habitats of these creatures and humans intermingle with them, that problems occur. Although technically carnivores, in practice they are omnivores, eating whatever is available, and as such they can sometimes have adverse effects on wildlife populations.

When wild food sources are scarce, they will seek food of all types, including livestock, young deer and even pets.

Hunting is one way of controlling these predators and trapping is another.I  n order to help land owners, managers and other users control coyotes, feral hogs and other nuisance animals, a field day sponsored by the LSU AgCenter through the Sea Grant program, "Predator Control 2012," is scheduled from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday at the LSU AgCenter facility, 119 Robin St., Napoleonville.

The program includes a program from Walter Cotton, a world-class nuisance animal trapper and hunter, wildlife damage biologist and predator-control expert. Cotton will demonstrate methods for capturing with snares and foothold traps and provide hunting and calling techniques.

The problems associated with coyotes and feral hogs will be discussed and methods for legally taking — including night hunting — nuisance animals and outlaw quadrupeds will be explained by LSU AgCenter staff. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and local law-enforcement personnel will answer questions.

This program is free and open to the public, but space is limited and preregistration is required. To register, visit www.bayoulog.com/events or call any of the three local LSU AgCenter offices, 873-6495 in Houma, 446-1316 in Thibodaux or 369-6386 in Napoleonville.

Alan Matherne is the LSU AgCenter's area fisheries and coastal issues agent for Terrebonne, Lafourche and Assumption parishes. He can be reached at 873-6495 or amatherne@agcenter.lsu.edu