In mid-January, the second annual Harney Coyote Classic encouraged what can only be called a “coyote slaughter.” The event, held near Burns, is yet another example of some sportsman’s desires gone haywire. Over the past 100 years, stories of coyotes being the worst nemesis of ranchers and farmers have been so blown out of proportion that the moment shooters need a bigger target than ground squirrels, they pick the coyote, all in the name of livestock protection and sport.
Sure, coyotes will kill and eat livestock (as will wolves and feral dogs); that’s been going on ever since the wool-growers and cattlemen decided public lands were better for grazing than their own fenced in back 40, and the presence of predators alarmed the ranchers, so they turned to the government to help them out.
That, old friends, was when the real trouble started. The wolf was easy to eliminate; the trappers just concentrated on killing pups and moms in dens and trapping family units — bingo! The wolf was gone. That worked so good the government set out to get rid of the coyote the same way, but it backfired. Instead of killing them off, the trappers just created larger populations of coyotes which only became job security for them.
But it did far more than that. In the ’30s and ’40s, Aldo Leopold, a quiet forester from Wisconsin who worked for the Forest Service in New Mexico, tried to tell the government and ranchers they were doing it all wrong, both from the methods of killing coyotes (and wolves), plus the long-term ecological damages that would result. But the ranchers and sportsmen had the bit-in-their-teeth; the wolf and coyote had to go.
The sport shooters who participated in the coyote-killing contest last week over in Burns did nothing but satisfy their urge to use their expensive weapons and ammunition to kill something.
I take no issue with killing a specific coyote who is doing specific damage to a rancher’s livestock—it is an unfortunate consequence of human/wildlife interactions. But it was engrained in me early in my “hunting” life that, “What you shoot, you eat.”
Sure, I’ve heard the old sayings about how vicious coyotes can be, but I can say the same thing about my neighbor’s dog that got into my chicken yard and—and in a frenzy killed all my hens. It just seems to me a human being can do better than surrender to the primitive state of having to kill something—just for the pleasure of it.
In 2003, the New Mexico Department of Fish and Game discontinued coyote removal activities, except where individual animals were causing damages because evidence indicated deer populations had not significantly improved in those areas where coyote control was taking place.
“The Department spent a total of $292,000 on contracts with trappers, who removed 1.334 coyotes—that’s about $219 per coyote,” said Luis Rios, Division of Wildlife chief. In 1938, Missouri sent the government trappers packing and taught ranchers and farmers how to remove the individual coyote causing a specific problem. The next year showed an 82 percent drop in livestock fatalities to coyotes.
Also, coyotes are a different breed of canine than wolves. They just don’t think alike; they evolved over different paths and different times. Sure, they both enjoy being territorial, the wolf more so than the coyote, but when you poke a sharp stick into coyote culture they fight back. I caught onto this back in 1968.
I was asked by the Defenders of Wildlife to be a watchdog over a government-sponsored coyote-killing project on the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge that was supposed to enable higher pronghorn kid survival. The Defenders made sure every coyote killed was hand delivered to me and a researcher pal from Reed College to have their stomachs looked into for prey analysis.
We looked at every coyote stomach for a week, and not one trace of a pronghorn kid was found, but we did find ground squirrels and voles in great abundance, competitors for green plants that helped pronghorn kids to grow up and become healthy adults. Which goes to prove, scientifically, that coyotes are doing more “good,” than “bad” — most of the time. Oh, yes, we did find one sage grouse, and I thought the government trappers were going to celebrate all night.
But what also got my eye was a fellow working on a table next to ours. He was removing what appeared to be reproductive tracts of the females. Curiosity finally got the best of us and we went over and asked what he was doing.
His answer was something like this: “I’ve been curious for years why the coyote’s range has been expanding ever since we started killing them some 100 years ago. I think they’ve responded by leaving territories and pair-bonding behind and just moving out on the landscape living the life of vagabonds. Now there’s one dog (male coyote) running with several bitches (female coyotes) and instead of having three to five pups, females are giving birth of up to eight.”
Then he showed us the multiple ovarian scars on the female’s fallopian tubes, evidence that the coyote has been “getting even” for over 100 years of indiscriminate killing that’s been going on.
Where once the coyote was more-or-less confined to the Southwest, now they’re (literally) everywhere in the US of A: downtown Chicago, Boston and all over New England; the suburbs of Beaverton and Los Angeles, the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley (much to the anger of wool-growers there) and in our backyards. Wouldn’t surprise me if they popped up in Quebec one of these days.
My son, Dean, retired from the Air Force and living in upper New York state, has a family of coyotes living on his 40-acre bee farm. “Just like back home in Oregon, pop,” he said, via a text with photos of the coyote family.
We don’t have to pity the coyotes; they can take care of themselves. What we should do is put a stop to the senseless killing of wildlife to satiate the ever-growing desire on the part of some sportsmen to kill something.
We should adopt what Leoplod tried to tell us in 1939: take the coyote out of the hands of what is now the Oregon Department of Agriculture and place them in with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife where they can be managed as part of Oregon’s wildlife ecosystem.
I’m pretty sure the tiny sagebrush and meadow voles, the coyote’s bread-and-butter—who can reach population numbers that have put cowmen out of business—are clapping their paws with glee with all those terrible, ugly, dangerous coyotes killed near Burns.
It’s interesting to note that the organizer of the hunt, Duane Freilino, says he will never pull another stunt like that—because of money. He paid the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Project Coyote five grand and agreed to never organize another coyote hunt—for the wrong reason. It seems money runs the world of wildlife killing, not common sense or “management.”
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 4, 2015.
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Mr. Anderson, speaking only for the ‘Ranchers’ that you mention in your article, what Ranchers did you interview and which Ranches did you visit and research for this article? No, coyotes are not our ‘Nemesis’, yes the coyotes kill and dine on NEWBORN CALVES, not livestock in general. (and no we are not alarmed) You suggest since the 30’s and 40’s long term ecological damages would result. Would you be specific please? No, we do not have an ‘urge to kill’ with expensive weapons.(and please be specific about these ‘expensive’ weapons you have implied we use) Ranchers are NOT ‘senseless killers of everything’ and no, ‘tiny sagebrush and meadow voles cannot put ‘cowmen’ out of business. I have never heard of you and neither have many other ranchers here in Harney County. Your article is an example of the trash that passes for ‘journalism’ today and I am disappointed you felt the need to include your fabrications about Ranchers in your story.
Debbie Bentz
Bentz Angus
the jmk hunt was not closed for the killing of coyotes, and did not have a 2015 hunt, the last hunt was in 2014, are you sure you have the dates and people straight??
And what’s up with the rancher thing, I’m pretty sure none of the ranchers in that area sponsored any kind of coyote hunt or contest, and have more important things to do than drive around shooting coyotes. I find it amusing that this is the only item you can find to report on. The Jmk hunt issue was over a year ago, and your still trying to drag it up. This is another attempt by some incestuous, inept, paper boy imop
I think its hilarious that these “animal rights” groups come up with non-existent statistics which can be easily debunked with a visit to the fish and wildlife service website and view their publush scientific data which is based on facts. This story mirrors that of other stories being publish under different author names. Each and every story claims hunters are targeting babies and pregnant animals in order to stir up anger and resentment towards licensed hunters. This author is just another keyboard ccommando
Please visit coyotes and wild predators need protection and go to the album pages to see some very clear examples of what the writer is describing; killing for fun. It is disturbing and ecologically damaging.
Great article and kudos to Mr. Anderson.
I fail to understand why an above commenter is tripping over herself in an effort to protect ranchers. Perhaps she misinterpreted and should re-read the article, since the emphasis seems to be on “sport shooters”:
“Over the past 100 years, stories of coyotes being the worst nemesis of ranchers and farmers have been so blown out of proportion that the moment shooters need a bigger target than ground squirrels, they pick the coyote, all in the name of livestock protection and sport.”
Ask any coyote hunter why he/she is so quick to run to these “slaughter festivals” and you will hear one of two commonly used excuses for coyote killing: They kill livestock so we’re helping the ranchers” or “They’re killing our deer”(antelope, or any other species du jour).
If Ms. Bentz has a bone to pick with anyone and speaks “only for ranchers”, I’d strongly suggest she get the word out to a particular breed of “sport hunter” to immediately cease and desist using ranchers and livestock as their perpetual excuse to kill coyotes en masse. Sport hunters are inaccurately and publicly portraying ALL ranchers as being the catalysts of their carnage, their buddies who support and encourage mass slaughter of coyotes and other important predators.
Just a week ago I read an article about coyotes attacking two children in Colorado. People might think twice if they see the problem hit home. Sure it might be a little hard to understand when it’s not your livestock, children or livelihood.
Educate yourself people..
Thank you, Mr. Anderson, for sharing your detailed and important statement on this issue. As is the case in New Mexico, the only supporters of “kill contests” are those who organize the event, and stand to profit from it. Killing contests are an ethical disgrace. Ethical hunters and ranchers understand this, and support effective wildlife management policies, not blood baths for those eager to just kill something. As New Mexico representative Jeff Steinborn said in 2013, “It’s not okay to trivialize life to the point where we award a prize for taking a life.” Representative Brian Egolf echoed this, saying “Killing for killing’s sake is wrong.” As current House Bill 316, supported by the bi-partisan team of Senators Moores and Steinborn, makes its way in the state legislature, Oregon legislators should take note. Most people support an end to killing contests. We know the science behind modern, effective wildlife management. We are appalled by indiscriminate killing and we will let our legislators know that this is not acceptable in our community.
Debbie Bentz, wile e, and SSFguy,
Who do you think you are trying to fool here? Believe me, everybody taking the time to read this story has been well educated on the scientific facts, as well as the mainstream opinions of both ranchers and sport killers aka hunters alike. Perhaps you would do well to inform yourself of all the facts before you bother commenting next time. And if the shoe fits, wear it, if not, don’t be offended by the words of someone who makes an honest living reporting issues……
You don’t have any idea what I going on evidently. The coyotes in eastern oregon are a huge threat to a ranchers lively hood. They kill any livestock and they don’t just kill to eat. They kill for the fun of it too. By having these coyote hunts it helps to decrease the loss of livestock. And think about this, the more livestock that’s alive the less expensive and the food on your table gets. We don’t just kill coyotes for the hell of it we kill them for a reason and a good one at that. So if you don’t like it stay the hell out of our bussiness. If you want to see the damage that coyotes do come out and look at it. Half the time you will see upwards of 10 coyotes eating on a cow that they killed and you are chewing us out for killing them! No sir that isn’t right. If you don’t have anything nice to say dont say it and mind your own damn bussiness!
Predator Masters NOT welcome in #AZ Protest planned Sat, Feb 7th 3:30-5 pm @ IntlWildlifeMuseum 4800 W Gates Pass Blvd #Tucson
People mind your own damn business. Sorry for being blunt, but spouting uneducated facts about someone else’s lives doesn’t help. Science is science, congrats for knowing it. But what you don’t know is our lives. Our home. We are the only reason there is any wildlife left in Oregon. So until you ruin your homes so that coyotes can have back their natural territory then just mind your own business and quite being hypocritical idiots. This article is a perfect example of peoples pure and raw ignorance.
If you don’t like coyote hunting or even hunting in general then deal with it! How do you think your ancestors lived, they didn’t go down to the local Costco and buy vegetarian shit they went out and killed game to eat. They also killed predators such as coyotes because they kill game such as deer and elk so get over the fact that people kill animals for good reasons. And for any of you who are sage grouse protectors ( which is totally insane) the coyotes eat them and their eggs. So get that in your head. All hunters and ranchers are doing is trying to make this world habitable and all you liberals are doing is destroying it.
I used to work for the Federal government. . .doing body counts on piles of shot coyotes. Often not dead and half alive animals suffering for breath and then killed in the worst way possible. I got blood and suffering all over my hands and heart. I will never recover from such awful practices. And don’t give me such bullshit about needs and wants of cattle and sheep and ranchers. I grew up on a farm and a ranch and regardless of what is said. . there is no way to justified such mass killings and murderous practices done to wild animals. None. And in the Native American way there is a deep curse on such people that keep doing these things and have done them since the days of Manifest Destiny where millions of my people were killed in the name of god and robbed of their land. koyaanisqatsi the blind heart of killers and robbers of the wild heart of lomatuuwaqatsi.
patriots unite against the communist take over of our freedoms
2016 Harney County coyote-killing contest going on as planned.
http://www.ktvz.com/news/harney-county-coyotekilling-contest-going-on-as-planned/37424094
The lawsuit and settlement referred to in the final paragraph here were not against the Harney County Coyote Classic, but against the gambling portion of the JMK Coyote Hunt.
http://www.bendbulletin.com/home/2279767-151/coyote-hunt-organizer-wont-stage-any-more-events#