Friday end of the Week Wrap up on a Thursday.

[GDR]

This theory simply doesn’t work. There is no way to get only the ‘bad’ ones. I could not get the ones that were getting lambs earlier this fall and I pulled out all the stops. They kept sneaking in on me somehow. I hear often of the theory. But it doesn’t work. Coyotes are so abundant and their territories overlap. If a family group somehow had control over an area, you would never catch 5 adults in one night within a hundred yards of each other like I have. Yes, some yotes are worse, but I strongly doubt that any would pass up a twenty lb lamb if they had the opportunity.

I get the theory. But as a student of coyote behaviour and many years of hands on practical experience, I see no sign whatsoever that it holds water. Our guard dogs are generally great, but nothing is 100 per cent.

My theory as to what happened is that last winter I caught fewer coyotes than prior years. They were there, they just were not actively hitting baits, so my catch was down hard. More made it through winter and had pups in spring than should have. That meant higher predation. In the springs following years where I caught twice as many as last year, predation was nil, because fewer pups were born.

Good thing I am catching more this winter again imo. I wish the theory is how it worked I real life, but it simply isn’t...

There is some merit to Grassfarmers idea. I use the theory if they dont bother me I don't bother them. Have only lost 2 lambs in 34 yrs. One was already dead and I decided to leave it in the pen till am, so really only one lamb lost. I have a friend who snares big time too, he also says I'm wrong and figures a high percentage are transient.

I'm happy to hear when guys like you have a plan and sell furs, dont like so many guys killing them without harvesting the furs. I know they can be frustrating if the cause problems but they do have a purpose in nature. Rodent control but more so the clean up of dead and dying animals.

I was at a predator control workshop one time and they said litters vary from 1 pup to 17 and are quick to adjust to natural population control in the area.

Good luck snaring!

[Sheepwheat]

Transient! That is the word I was looking for explaining my experience. What I find is coyotes make great loops through an area, in my area it seems like a maybe two week rotation. I would be more than happy if a breeding pair had control over an area. Wipe them out and it would take time for new ones to move in. That is not the case at all.

On another note, I have caught enough mangy and scrawny coyotes that would have for sure died soon, in a much less appealing way than in a power ram. Feel bad for those.

Bottom line is I think there are far more coyotes around than we think. I hardly ever see coyotes, yet wow, when you get set up, they come out of the wood work for free meals!

[grassfarmer]

This theory simply doesn’t work. There is no way to get only the ‘bad’ ones. I could not get the ones that were getting lambs earlier this fall and I pulled out all the stops. They kept sneaking in on me somehow. I hear often of the theory. But it doesn’t work....

Sounds like you maybe have a dog problem as well as a coyote problem. The neighbours here run 100 ewes with 2 LGDs plus another 2 LGDs that free range over the rest of their property (and some of mine) They haven't lost a lamb in years to coyotes. Maybe it's not a case of "good" coyotes or "bad" coyotes but coyotes that your dogs can manage or not manage.
Less coyotes packs around here than there was in AB. Most I see is 2 at once - I once saw 17 in a pack going through my cow wintering field in AB!

[Sheepwheat]

Sounds like you maybe have a dog problem as well as a coyote problem. The neighbours here run 100 ewes with 2 LGDs plus another 2 LGDs that free range over the rest of their property (and some of mine) They haven't lost a lamb in years to coyotes. Maybe it's not a case of "good" coyotes or "bad" coyotes but coyotes that your dogs can manage or not manage.
Less coyotes packs around here than there was in AB. Most I see is 2 at once - I once saw 17 in a pack going through my cow wintering field in AB!

For sure guard dog failure. Will be adding more for next year. New pasture with tough terrain is all I can think of.

17 at once is nuts. Yeah here most you see are singles or sometimes two, if you see them at all. Coyotes around here are true wild animals and rightfully fear man.

[SASKFARMER]

Seen five a few years chase a really big buck through our fields by the RES and the buck made the wrong choice crossing a small lake. Ice was thin and he went down. The coyotes went after him and circled till he went under. It was a mutual of Omaha wildlife moment.

None of us harvesting had a gun with us or they would have been gone also.

[SASKFARMER]

SKippy taking a personal day.

My god, he works so much.

Or is it better we should just leave him to sit and play by himself and not come into work at all?

Less Damage control needed.

THE CBC AND STAR CAN'T AFFORD MUCH MORE TO HELP HIM>