Coyotes in NC (Durham, Cary, Greenville: 2009, legal, oil)

[trese]

I understand your fear and frustration, ChelleC---what will it take for someone to do something about them? I do not have small children but I would be concerned if I did. Once they get "human blood"-they will prey on humans.

[Catbirds]

Originally Posted by blackhawk309

No, the government has never released coyotes in NC. However, for years and to this day, wealthy NC fox hunters buy live coyotes for fox hound training within fenced pens. Several hurricanes ago, these coyotes escaped. Also they have migrated from Virgina and Tenn into NC. Every NC county has coyotes, some with very dense populations. I know of 1 guy that trapped over 50 just during Dec, Jan, and Feb in Mitchell Co. this year. The art of hunting them is rapidly growing in NC. They are the hardest, most difficult animal in the wild to hunt, mostly due to their high intelligence and ability to adapt to any surrounding. Experts say they are the smartest wild animal in the world. Last year there was estimates of 300 coyotes living in downtown Manhattan NY. Just this past month the Wildlife Comm. revised hunting regulations to give hunters more flexability in hunting yotes on NC gamelands. On private owned property, they can be hunted year round, but not on the gamelands and National Forests. Maybe someday, as the population gets worse, that restriction will be amended. I am a member of the NC Predator Hunters Assoc. Feel free to visit our website and talk forum if you have yote problems or would like to learn the facts from fiction. Thanks.

Thanks for the information, Blackhawk. We have been told for years up here in mountains, that coyotes were introduced up here to keep the deer population down. It always seemed nuts to me since they have no natural enemy. I understand if someone can not understand hunting coyotes, because I am an animal lover as well and all my critters, all 4 of them, are rescues. You must understand, these animals are very dangerous. I talked to a lady back in the fall that had sheep on her farm. She said that the coyotes would circle the sheep and kill them. She finally gave up trying to raise sheep. They kill pets and farm animals.

[blackhawk309]

I truly understand people's emotions when it come to killing animals. But with the rapid explosion of the coyote's population everywhere in NC, they are already becoming serious problems in many counties. The coyote was never native to NC. They mate and breed in Jan, Feb, and have their pups May or early June. The average litter produces 4-6 pups, although with good food sources and a healthy female, litters can reach 12 pups. The female will normally produce 10-12 fetuses, but her body will only retain however many she can sustain and feed. The balance of fetuses will be absorbed within her and never born. So if you're in an area where you occassionally see or hear a coyote, by this fall, you will have at least twice that many, based on a 50% survival rate of the pups. Possibly you could have 5 times as many yotes given the right conditions.

Why kill them? If you are a dairy or beef farmer, the loss of several calves can be very expensive to your operation. They will resort to killing small household pets. The rabbit, quail, pheasant, turkey, and squirrel populations are declining already. As for deer, they will follow does around and eat the fawns as soon as they are born. Full grown deer are rarely attacked unless a pack of coyotes have formed. I know of several deer bowhunters who had their deer eaten by coyotes before the hunter could retrieve it. Reported attacks on children are increasing, more so when they are rabid. If hunting and trapping is not encouraged, I can only imagine what the coyote population will become in just a few years. You do the math.

[Luv_my_em]

My cat who I love dearly has disappeared....We live in Sugar Grove near the NC/TN border. She has been gone three days now and I have come to the conclusion that a coyote or the Great horned owl that hangs out around here has ended her life! Very disturbing.

[Luv_my_em]

Update....She returned today unharmed! Whew!!! What a scare. Although after reading online about possible predators, I will not be letting her out at night, especially if shes going to wander.

[trese]

I am so happy for you, luv_my_em! I am a dog person so I don't know cat's behavior but I think it would be safer for her to stay in the house especially after dark.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Well, I hunt in Alamance County, a large Dairy operation allows me to hunt, the stipulation is, when I see a coyote, kill it, they go after calves. Thus far I have killed three.

[magabith]

Originally Posted by Luv_my_em

Update....She returned today unharmed! Whew!!! What a scare. Although after reading online about possible predators, I will not be letting her out at night, especially if shes going to wander.

i am so happy your cat has returned to you.. keep her in if you can. God love her little heart

[nicolemclemore]

We have tried hunting the coyotes in Davidson County, with no luck! It's VERY frustrating! They are sooooo smart & sneaky! I've never hunted ANY ANIMAL in my life, but anything that will attack a child or pet are different........
The one that was in my driveway was about 60-70 lbs!!! My boxer is 89lbs and the coyote was NOT backing down! With his fur, he actually appeared bigger than my dog! My neighbor came home last week to find a coyote after his Lab puppy! Another neighbor of mine was hunting them from a deer stand when 3 appeared. He said that 2 of them were the size of a full grown GERMAN SHEPHERD! Believe it or not, his gun locked up!!!!! UGH!!!!!
When is someone going to do something.......after a child gets attacked!?!?!?!?!?!? My entire family has lived in Davidson County for over 50 years and they all say that they've NEVER had a problem with coyotes. Now, I've heard of 30+ different families having problems with them! A friend of a family member cleared off some land in Northern Davidson County recently. He discovered a coyote den and found 15 DOG COLLARS INSIDE!!!!!!!
I read online that a coyote can jump AND CLEAR a 4 foot fence, and can climb an 8 foot fence! So, how do we protect our pets & children?

[ChelleC]

I saw a coyote standing in the field across the road from my mom's house this morning at 6:30am when I was dropping off my son. Seeing that, I of course walked him into the house rather than letting him run up by himself like I normally do. When the coyote realized it had been spotted it simply turned around and trotted off in the opposite direction. It didn't seem the least bit upset and never even looked back. We are thinking of hiring people to come in and hunt them.