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March 2010 The Great Outdoors
Coping with coyotes
 by Jack Spaulding
Outdoors Writer
A few days ago, I was south of Shelbyville, driving between a housing subdivision on one side of the road and open farm fields on the other. I noticed a young man had just exited a pickup truck and was walking across the snow covered field. He was dressed in snow camouflage, carried a rifle and a white 5-gallon bucket along with his predator calling equipment. I knew immediately, the young man was going out to try to lower the coyote population.
Coyotes can be a nasty problem. When we lived out in the country in southern Rush County, we had several pet cats living outside and sleeping in the barn. They disappeared … one by one … as the coyotes picked them off. Coyotes will kill and eat cats and small dogs if given the opportunity.
Coyotes have become more brazen and less fearful of man. It is not unusual to hear of isolated instances where pets were attacked while on a leash and being walked by their owner.
And, coyotes have come to Indiana in force.
One of the best explanations of how the coyote possibly came to Indiana was told to me and accredited to a theory by John Russell of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
His theory is coyotes came by way of the interstate highway system. No, the animals didn’t come by vehicles traveling on the interstate system, but migrating along the grassy ways of the medians and large side berm areas. The coyotes to our west are open grassland critters who feed on voles, mice, striped ground squirrels and other rodents who soon inhabited the long grassy corridors created by the interstate.
Coyotes are opportunistic feeders and are highly adaptive to their surroundings. Readily available food sources are attractive to them, and small woodlots, riparian corridors and open fields represent suitable habitat. In short, coyotes will eat virtually anything.
It is not uncommon for coyotes to be seen in urban and suburban areas of Indiana, but the DNR says seeing them doesn’t necessarily mean there are more of them.
The DNR says one reason for higher visibility of coyotes at this time of year is because February is coyote mating season. Consequently, coyotes may be more mobile and more apt to be out in the open during daylight hours.
Another factor is the presence of snow cover. The brown coat of a coyote in motion can be seen more easily against a white backdrop.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources does not track population numbers on coyotes, but an annual survey in which deer hunters log wildlife sightings provides some insight. In 1992, the first year of the survey, hunters reported seeing 10 coyotes statewide per thousand hours of hunting. By 1995, the index reached 20 sightings and remained steady between 24 and 28 ever since.
 Documented human-coyote conflicts are extremely rare. To reduce the chances of a conflict, the DNR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture offer the following advice:
• Do not feed coyotes.
• Do not allow pets to run free. Provide secure nighttime housing for them.
• Feed pets indoors whenever possible. Pick up leftovers if feeding outdoors and store pet and livestock feed where it’s inaccessible to wildlife.
• Eliminate water bowls and other artificial water sources whenever possible.
• Position bird feeders in a location less likely to attract small animals or bring the feeders indoors at night.
• Do not discard edible garbage where coyotes can get to it.
• Secure garbage containers.
• Trim and clean shrubbery at ground level to reduce hiding cover for coyotes or their prey.
• If you start seeing coyotes around your home, discourage them by shouting, making loud noises or throwing rocks, but NEVER corner a coyote – always give the coyote a free escape route.
Coyotes are wild animals protected by Indiana law, which requires the DNR to provide for the protection, care, management, survival and regulation of wild animal populations. Under authority, the DNR establishes the methods, means and time of taking, chasing and selling wild animals.
The DNR controls the population of coyotes primarily by a regulated hunting and trapping season, which runs from Oct. 15 through March 15. A hunting or trapping license is required, unless the individual is hunting or trapping on land he or she owns. In addition, Indiana law allows landowners, or a person with written permission of a landowner, to take coyotes year-round on private property. With landowner permission, coyotes can be killed by any means, including high-powered rifles.
More information about coping with coyotes or other wildlife can be viewed by clicking on the Dealing with Nuisance Wildlife icon at www.dnr.IN.gov or by going to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2351.htm.
My advice for landowners with coyote problems: Be receptive to inquiries for permission to hunt from responsible outdoorsmen.
till next time,
Jack Spaulding is a state outdoors writer and a consumer of RushShelby Energy from Milroy. Readers with questions or comments can write to him in care of Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224; or e-mail jackspaulding@hughes.net.
Coyote photo ©Jupiterimages
Written By: eceditor
Date Posted: 2/25/2010
Number of Views: 146
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