Sheep Industry News June 2024

POLITICAL ANTAGONISMS One example of a Catch-22 situation is that many PDM programs have based the success of their trappers on the number of coyotes removed while the goal of any PDM pro gram should be to reduce the number of coyotes in a given area and consider the number of livestock protected. This is especially true in range lambing sheep operations, where killing lots of coyotes can go hand in hand with lots of dead lambs. This is why it is far more important to monitor and compare livestock losses than the number of coyotes killed, which can vary greatly between different trapper districts with different coyote populations. The goal should be to reduce coyote numbers so there are less coyotes to remove in a historic problem area. Another common situation is when livestock losses are not occurring due to an effective PDM program. Some live stock producers might forget the reason why livestock losses are not occurring. On occasion, livestock producers have been heard saying (paraphrasing), “I don’t know why we are paying a trapper when so few lambs are being killed by coy otes.” In many cases, the reason losses are so low is because of the trapper’s effective efforts. This is where the number of livestock protected is important to identify as it is an easier number to document. EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT It is important that PDM trappers utilize all the tools available to them and are knowledgeable about where each method can be used. Here are the following methods utilized by PDM programs and some of the limitations of each of them. Foothold Traps. These are a very effective means of removing problem coyotes. They are probably the most effective means of removing problem animals, but have limi tations that can discourage their use under certain circum stances. Foothold traps can be limited in their effectiveness of coyote removal due to the presence of other wild nuisance animals in the area. The use of foothold traps must also consider the presence of domestic dogs, guard dogs and other pets in the area. Foothold traps can be negatively impacted by snow and muddy conditions. Foothold traps need to be checked in a timely manner, which restricts the number of complaints that can be addressed at any given time. With that, under the right circumstances that consider these limitations, foothold traps can be highly effective in removing problem coyotes. With properly modified foothold traps with thicker jaws, domestic dogs and livestock guard dogs can be released

fact based on carcass rib length and chewed rib bone ends (coyote feeding behavior). This feeding behavior is usually in combination with jaw bones with canine chips or puncture holes in them, and hemorrhage stains on the neck vertebrae bones. Sheep band behavior can also indicate predation when sheep become nervous and tend to avoid certain parts of the pasture. Calf kills can be somewhat different than sheep in that calves are usually taller than lambs, so coyotes will often attack calves in the flank area and often bite the tail of young calves. Bobtail calves can be a sign of coyote predation on calves. Again, the presence of blood at the kill site will usual ly indicate the difference between a calf killed by coyotes and one that died of natural causes and was fed on by coyotes. Cow behavior can also be indicative of a kill as compared to a calf that was born dead. A cow that has fought coyotes after and/or during calving is generally stressed and excited. Calves can also be indirectly killed by coyotes when cows step on their calves while fighting off coyotes. Both livestock producers and trappers should be on the constant lookout for coyote tracks and listening for howling activity particularly during denning season (April to May). The best time to listen for coyote activity is when the yard lights start coming on in the evening. This is when locations of coyotes – based on howling – has the most value because coyotes are often near the den at this time as opposed to morning locates where coyotes can still be traveling to and from the den area while hunting. Locating with sirens or electronic calls should be limited so those methods are not abused to the point they are inef fective when needed. Problems can occur when livestock producers allow private callers to work the same ground at the same time as designated PDM trappers. There is a time and place for private coyote trappers and hunters to kill coyotes without interfering with the PDM activities, and that is during the prime fur season when coyotes are moving everywhere – typically late November to the middle of February. After February, those pursuing these activities and the producers allowing it should consider how they are going to impact the PDM activities of those designated with that responsibility for that area. The use of decoy dogs has become popular among the private sector, but can create a worse livestock loss problem when only one coyote out of a breeding pair is killed and the den is not taken and removed. PDM specialist efficiency can decrease significantly when coyotes that could be removed by calling and shooting have been recently exposed to the same techniques and are now educated to those methods.

June 2024 • Sheep Industry News • 17