One thought on “Wildlife Hysteria: Nova Scotia’s War on Coyotes”

1. Re: Article “Wildlife hysteria: Nova Scotia’s war on coyotes.

   The authors of this article, Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Orton, attempt to justify
   deficiencies in controlling predator animals by pointing out deficiencies in
   the control of domestic animals.

   They correctly suggest that a person would have a greater chance of a dog
   bite then coming across a coyote in Pleasant Park in Halifax. However, if
   dogs were required to have a muzzle on them while in the park that would no
   longer be the case. They ask the question if we eliminate all the dogs in a
   neighbourhood if the mailman gets bitten. The obvious answer is no, but that
   does not mean that the dog would not be put down and every effort be made to
   prevent the future occurrences of such an event.

   The authors ask us to accept the fact that coyotes are “wild ” and humans
   need to adapt to this, but this is exactly what is being done. The fact that
   coyotes are in their words “an evolving and extremely adaptable species”
   should lead any reasonable person to conclude that we humans need to control
   that evolution and adaption to the point that we eliminate, as much as
   possible, any aggressive responses they may have to humans.

   That control cannot be achieved with the authors’ totally unrealistic notion
   that we adopt a “non-dominant” relationship with coyotes. Primarily
   scavengers, coyotes are none the less predators. To suggest we not attempt
   to bring them under control is not only naive, it is potentially dangerous.

   Of all the predators on the planet humans are the most dangerous and
   efficient. To suggest we be anything otherwise is not only unnatural, it
   imperils us. The primary question we must ask in this case is what the
   purpose of a bounty on coyotes is. The provincial NDP government has been
   under pressure to rectify the problem and allay concerns about public
   safety. Best evidence, accepted by both sides of the argument, has it that
   coyotes are extremely capable of reproducing at a rate that would easily
   replenish any losses that occur from human predation. Given that, the
   government has inadequately defended their policy. Preservationist arguments
   like the one given by Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Orton flourish in such a vacuum.

   Both sides have missed the elephant in the room. The most important concern
   for any prey species is survival. The primary agent required for that
   survival is fear. It is common knowledge that coyotes rarely attack humans,
   what is less commonly considered is why that is the case. Fear, while not
   necessarily the only cause is the most significant factor. Black bears have
   been hunted for centuries in Nova Scotia. They resultantly have a healthy
   fear of humans. The same can be said of any predator- prey relationship even
   if the prey is a predator, as is the case with coyotes.

   In so much as a bounty helps to increase that fear, it is useful. However,
   that bounty has resulted in far fewer coyotes meeting their end that those
   that fall during regular licensed hunting seasons where a hunter brings home
   a coyote while not setting out to do so. There are cheaper and more
   effective ways of instilling fear in coyotes then a trapper bounty. Predator
   calling is practiced in a wide number of jurisdictions. The DNR has a ready
   source of road kill that can be utilized in such instances, if they wish to
   promote the practice.

   Given the coyotes resilience there is a widely acknowledged acceptance that
   the species will continue to inhabit the province in large numbers
   regardless of what humans throw at them. That in itself is not the problem.
   How they interact with humans while they are here is. Regardless of the
   situation, the imperative is that humans come out on top in every instance.
   Given the model laid out by the authors that outcome would be placed in
   serious doubt.

   Al Muir, Stellarton,Nova Scotia
   752-7877