Coyote?

[bp fick]

Last year we were over run with bush/shrub/plant eating rabbits, more likely, hares. The mild winter allowed the snowshoe to lose his big advantage in deep snow. The new pack of coyotes knocked that population right down. Haven't seen one hare this spring. Web of life thingy.

 

[Tig]

What kind of animals did they lose?

We have them here, they make quite a racket when the pack howls at night.

I love to listen to them at night. One night last winter the pack was close. But don't they always sound "close"? I found their tracks in the snow the next day. They were wrestling and playing by the looks of the body imprints and tracks. Counting the tracks that came and left the area I was surprised that there were only a few of them. When they get going it sounds like a dozen or so. They sure make a racket.

 

[Ken45101]

I love to listen to them at night.

I'd rather listen to wolves than coyotes {shudder}.

Ken

 

[jayste]

For sure a coyote. You guys have better eyes than me on the female/nursing thing. They are survivors and will eat house pets if need. We're missing a "fixed" male cat right now and I'm sure he's AWOL due to coyotes. If two of them catch a house or domestic cat out in the open then the cat better be quick and tree better be near by.

 

[R_Walter]

Doesn't look like any coyote I've ever seen and I've seen, shot, hunted, trapped and killed a bunch. The head's not right, coyote's tails are furrier and they carry them lower and the body is too long in relation to the head.

 

[bp fick]

Doesn't look like any coyote I've ever seen and I've seen, shot, hunted, trapped and killed a bunch. The head's not right, coyote's tails are furrier and they carry them lower and the body is too long in relation to the head.

Yes, the tail isn't real bushy. However, with all the coydogs out there now, does it really matter?

 

[Tororider]

Yes, the tail isn't real bushy. However, with all the coydogs out there now, does it really matter?

exactly

 

[DennisArrow]

That is for sure a full on coyote mama........."classic" head, coloring, fur, and yes the tail lacks the "bush" and actual length.......But no question.......LOOK at the face, nose, ears, and body..........Dennis

 

[N80]

I'd say that is a coyote too. Head position does look a bit dog-like but I think its still just a coyote. We have tons of them here. There have been nights when you can hear them howling 360 degrees around my place.

Around here there seems to be a lot of variation in size, shape and coloring. We frequently see nearly black ones. I've seen one of these at close range, maybe 10 yards.

There is no evidence of them eating calves but they often hang around during calving season to eat the after birth and they will eat a still born claf that the mother has left. There is at least on credible witness who claims he saw one trying to get a newborn calf but the mother and several other cows easily ran it off. In general, you see them in the pasture with the cows and the cows pay them no attention.

Around here they do not seem to have had any effect on the deer population. I've got more deer on my place than ever. Its harder to tell with turkeys. There have been a lot of variables affecting turkey population lately.

I've never shot one. Never wanted to. But I might start sometime. Looks like fun. I have a mouth call and have called them up numerous times.

 

[Redbug]

I have read there has also been some interbreeding with coyotes and domestic dogs. I guess when a wild female dog is in heat a coyote male can mate successfully.