Predator Problem

There has been an on going problem here locally and statewide in Texas. It has affected

people in cities and out in the country, pet owners to ranchers and farmers. The problem

that I am referencing is that of the over population of the native coyote. This predator has

become a nuisance in more ways than one. The sad thing about cities growing is that

the wildlife get pushed out of their habitats or they try and stay and live with humans

eventually causing problems. I have seen this first hand in my home town of Port Aransas.

For the past two years my town like many other Texas cities has been fighting

with what to do with the over population of the coyotes.

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They start getting into trash for food and even start eating small house pets as a food

source. When a species becomes overpopulated many become ill and sick and they

start spreading diseases. The coyotes really do attack pets, many cats and small dogs

around town have fallen victim to hungry coyotes. Its really sad and sometimes

traumatic! My parents neighbor lost two of her small dogs to coyotes and it was

heartbreaking to see that happen to an eighty year old women! I see them on a weekly

basis running down a street or the highway. You can hear them all the time calling at

night! Its crazy cause we are not out in the country! My parents even had a cat named

Buster disappear. Maybe coyote bait….. But I like to think some tourist took him back

home with them and he is now living in Minnesota!

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Another first hand issue I have seen with coyotes is on my family’s farm and friends

ranches. It is bad enough that farmers are going broke over keeping their herds of cattle

fed during a drought but now they have to worry about predators getting the baby calves.

The same thing goes for our deer populations, the fawns are falling victim to the coyotes

far more than they use to. Biologist have done flyovers on some of my friends and

families ranches and have noted that there needs to be action taken on the coyotes or it

is going to be an issue with the deer population.

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This coyote problem is very worrisome to me and many others. It’s just an issue that hits

close to home literally and I felt like venting about it! Now what is to be done? Well that is

up to the cities to decide. I am not saying eradicating them totally just getting a hand on

the over population. Predators are needed in the wild to keep the food chain in check but

not in the numbers that they are in now. I know they were trapping and relocating the

coyotes out of city limits but it hasn’t seemed to do any good. They are still around town

in abundance. As far as the ranch and farms go some people trap and poison but many

people shy away from both because they don’t want to get other animal species by

mistake. So that leaves it up to predator hunters…….your help is needed in the south!

May 31, 2013 | Category: Blog | Comments: none

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