Question:
I have coyotes killing some of my deer! What do I do now?
Step 1: Breathe.
Let's first start by looking at the big picture.
I was recently talking to a well-published outdoor writer
about this very issue and we both agreed that many of today's deer hunters are
"spoilt". Obviously, he speaks with a heavy southern drawl. Anyway,
we shared this notion not in a derogatory fashion but rather in a manner that
points out the fact that we, as deer hunters, have been so very fortunate to
have lived through the glory days of deer hunting. Face it, our generation, and
I am talking about those who remember the days when hunting was "tough,"
has experienced an amazing time when it comes to deer hunting. For awhile, it
seemed each successive season we were breaking new records in regards to the
number of deer killed. And in all actuality, we were.
Deer seemed to be everywhere and in many parts of the state
deer were nearing the point of being out of control. This wasn't just
restricted to Tennessee either. There were actually many Southeastern states
that were ready to sound the alarm if deer populations continued to grow. Does
the "shoot more does" rally cry sound familiar? How about the
extraordinarily doe-centric regulations that were enacted in some areas such as
"earn-a-buck" or "three does per day". Many places were at
wits end and this was primarily due to deer being introduced into places that
were devoid of natural predators. Fortunately coyotes came along.
Didk he just say "fortunately"?!?
As a matter of fact I did.
You see, healthy ecosystems are designed with a system of
checks and balances. They ensure one species does not dominate the system and
cause significant or irreparable harm to the entire system. And believe it or
not herbivores, like deer, can be one of the most damaging species of all to
the system, even more so than any predator. The reason being, herbivores have
the potential to change landscapes. In other words, they can damage the
"home" in which all animals live.
Still don't believe me?
Numerous studies have been conducted on the impacts of
overgrazing by deer on the habitat. Besides reducing forest regeneration (trees
can't grow big if they're eaten when they're small), overgrazing may actually
encourage the spread of invasive species on the landscape. Since deer prefer
the more palatable native plants, unnaturally high numbers of deer may then
encourage less-preferred non-native plants to take over. If left unchecked,
deer can alter landscapes thus resulting in less overall species diversity. In
other words, they can literally impact what species are present. So having too
many deer may actually be more detrimental to the ecosystem than having too few
deer.
So what are we talking about here...deer or coyote?
Answer: Both.
The fact of the matter is they need each other. It is unwise
to select for one species over another without having major ramifications on
the entire system. Although coyotes are not indigenous to Tennessee they are
filling the niche left behind by the extirpation cougars and wolves. They are
restoring natural predator-prey relationships. And those relationships form the
foundation of the system of checks and balances that maintains species
diversity.
Keep in mind, coyotes are not going to wipe our deer, they
will simply keep their numbers in check and make the herd stronger over time.
Remember that pesky little law of "survival of the fittest"?
Predators prey on the young and the weak thus leaving only the strongest to
survive. On a side note...humans, with their selective harvest and propensity
to target the strongest may actually be selecting for less-desirable (smaller
antlered if you will) deer but that is a whole 'nother topic.
Anyway...Step 1 is to take a deep breath and breathe.
Deer are not in trouble with having a new predator in town.
They will learn to adapt and we will ALL be better off for it. And I promise in
Step 2, I will get to the coyote management practices many have been asking
about.
Additional reading:
http://earthsky.org/earth/overgrazing-by-deer-is-changing-the-face-of-u-s-forests
http://news.psu.edu/story/315340/2014/05/09/research/research-indicates-coyote-predation-deer-east-manageable
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