Coyotes killing livestock

[weldingisfun]

I know there is a bunch of intelligent people that read this site so I thought I would ask a question. I have been having trouble with coyote's killing my Reg. Boer goats. Since July 4 I have lost 4 of them to the coyotes. (This is starting to get expensive to me about $200 each) They have even killed one of my neighbors Cutting horse colts which is big $$$$ (they came home in the middle of it). I feel that we have had a pack of just plain killers move in. I keep the goats in a High tinsel fence with Hot wires 6" apart. My neighbors and I have declared war on them but have only been able to kill 1 of them. This is the first time that we have had trouble with them in 2 years that I have lived here. Just a note these coyotes are not scared of horses or Jacka$$'s. My question is do any of you have a secret in killing them? Any thoughts on how to handle this? I have the attitude “ Kill them all and let God sort them out”. I have thought about going fishing for them by hanging treble hooks from trees with bait on them. What would you use for bait?

Tim,
I thought I had a coyote problem in the Spring of 2005. Had 21 of 28 goats (Boers) killed within a week. I called the County Fish and Game guys and found out there is a trapper on contract with the county. He came out and surveyed my place to put out some cyanide traps. His final determination was that it wasn't coyotes but dogs. He couldn't do anything then. He recommended that I call the County Sheriff. When I did that I found out that they can only live trap dogs. I also learned that there are so many state laws protecting the mistreatment of dogs that I could have ended up in jail, or been fined, for trying to protect my livestock.
Where is the logic in this? A coyote kills to survive and the County will help you kill it/them. A dog, as in my case, kills to kill and there are State laws protecting the the dogs?????
My dog problem got solved, don't ask.
Check with your County Fish and Game. I'm betting that they will help you, if it is actually coyotes. Plus, I'd put out snares and if you get a neighbors dog,,,,well it shouldn't have been on your property anyway. Warn your neighbors about your intentions and then set out the snares.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Where is the logic in this? A coyote kills to survive and the County will help you kill it/them. A dog, as in my case, kills to kill and there are State laws protecting the the dogs?????
My dog problem got solved, don't ask.
Check with your County Fish and Game. I'm betting that they will help you, if it is actually coyotes. Plus, I'd put out snares and if you get a neighbors dog,,,,well it shouldn't have been on your property anyway. Warn your neighbors about your intentions and then set out the snares.

That's not good. My wife grew up way out in the boonies and people (of course city people) would frequently abandon dogs out in her area. Sounds like every couple weeks they would be calling animal control to have one picked up. I wonder if it's the same in your area. The people abandoning dogs are probably the same ones whose state reps write the laws making it impossible for you to deal with them.

Where we live now, many people (including us) have dogs. Once in a while neighbor dogs will be on our property, but we know who each of them belongs to, and we have never had a problem with them anyway - they wander home. We don't have other people's dogs on our land more than a couple times a year, fortunately. If we ever did have a problem with a neighbor's dog we would just call up the neighbor, not the county, and judging from impressions so far the problem would be addressed. If you don't have too many neighbors and you're friendly with them, I would try to meet all their dogs and then you'll be able to identify anything that's not a neighbor's animal as fair game (pending your own personal review of the laws on point).

 

[cp1969]

Tim,
I thought I had a coyote problem in the Spring of 2005. Had 21 of 28 goats (Boers) killed within a week. I called the County Fish and Game guys and found out there is a trapper on contract with the county. He came out and surveyed my place to put out some cyanide traps. His final determination was that it wasn't coyotes but dogs. He couldn't do anything then. He recommended that I call the County Sheriff. When I did that I found out that they can only live trap dogs. I also learned that there are so many state laws protecting the mistreatment of dogs that I could have ended up in jail, or been fined, for trying to protect my livestock.
Where is the logic in this? A coyote kills to survive and the County will help you kill it/them. A dog, as in my case, kills to kill and there are State laws protecting the the dogs?????
My dog problem got solved, don't ask.
Check with your County Fish and Game. I'm betting that they will help you, if it is actually coyotes. Plus, I'd put out snares and if you get a neighbors dog,,,,well it shouldn't have been on your property anyway. Warn your neighbors about your intentions and then set out the snares.

I read this whole thread wondering if anyone was going to mention dogs.

Coyotes get blamed for a lot of dog mischief.

 

[texasjohn]

Tim, welcome to TBN!

I know your pain.... coyotes here annually kill neighbor's lambs.

There are Government trappers that, if you can find and convince them, will come to your place, set traps/snares/call/cyanide to kill coyotes. Contact your County Agent to help locate the trapper.

The best method is leg traps with a scent set. Snares work but catch other wildlife as well.

If you can shoot them, that is a certain way, but they are truly wily and you can spend LOTS of time just sitting around waiting for them to show up. If you want to try shooting them, I'd use the electronic calls available at sporting goods stores, as others have indicated.

In this county, if you observe a dog that is molesting your property (you or livestock) then you have the legal right to remove the threat to your property... means kill ém. However, neighbors sometimes are not understanding. Thus, best NEVER mention to ANYONE that you have addressed a dog problem on your place.

Good luck addressing the problem, sounds like it is truly bad.

Actually, I'd bet that dogs start the kill, then coyotes are seen around it... since they are drawn to carrion. They are typically less aggressive than you are indicating... but dogs often exhibit the behaviour you indicate.. and in packs of domestic pets. Doesn't matter, remove coyotes when you can, remove dogs if predation continues.

 

[Brant]

Great Pyrenees dogs, like mine in the picture, are often used as livestock guardians. Many people find them quite effective against coyote's. Mine is just a pet, but he can be pretty intimidating.

 

[Bill Barrett]

Put an ad in the paper for free coyote hunting. That may bring in some local coyote hunters that will remove as many as possible for free.

This is a opption, you would have plenty guys help you out around here.
Not 100% but green pelt 35.00. Most guys use .223 .243 .222 here.

 

[cp1969]

Great Pyrenees dogs, like mine in the picture, are often used as livestock guardians. Many people find them quite effective against coyote's. Mine is just a pet, but he can be pretty intimidating.

Beautiful dog. Don't know that I've ever seen one before.

 

[Bird]

I know where there are some people who keep Great Pyrenees dogs with their goats. I have't ever talked to them about the dogs myself, but from what I've read, the dogs are raised from birth with the sheep or goats and then are very effective guard dogs. And of course, they're beautiful dogs.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

The easiest way to tell if it's dogs or coyotes killing your goats is to look at the kill. Dogs will kill to kill or if they go after meat they'll go after muscle.

A coyote on the other hand will go after soft tissue. They'll gut a goat taking the soft tissue the first night. When they come back they'll settle for the muscle.

If the kill isn't gutted the first night then chances are most likely it isn't a coyote. They won't bother with muscle tissue until that's all that's left.

If it is dogs and you do remedy the problem keep it to yourself. It is heart breaking to have to kill someone's pet but when it comes to pets versus livestock, pets lose.

I almost lost a good client because I stood up for a farmer shooting the client's dog when the dog was chasing cows. One of the things that comes with living in the country is the consequences for irresponsible actions can be devastating. Pet owners are responsible for containing their pets when not doing so presents a threat to another's property.

 

[Western]

Hey Tim,
Tim not to insult you, but are you sure it was C that made the kills? Generaly "farm dogs" that are left free roaming, will cause more damage to wildlife than C will. C are usually seen around kills and are often blamed. That said, if they are after your live stock, the best thing you can do is contact your County Commissioner and find out about getting a county or state trapper in there, they will use cyanide bait stations, snares ,leghold traps and are very adapt at catching yotes. Reason..yotes are probably smarter than most people you will meet as far as survival goes and are extremely intelligent and adapt very fast to attempts to get them, say you call one in and miss the shot, odds are he won't come to another call, or if he does you won't see him. I would try a trapper since you have $$ at stake, a good trapper that will take care of business. Great P dogs are better than a donkey IMO if you go that route. I have taken around a 1,000 yotes and they can be a PIB. I bet you have one yote that will teach it's off spring that your goats are easy. One more thing, I have never caught a farm Dog in a leg hold trap or called one in, snares are trickier but you can do things to avoid catching the farm dog. The trick to trapping is location, set and smell NO HUMAN ODOR. why I recommend you try a trapper, you dont want to educate them more than need be. Not all yotes cause livestock problems, some do some dont. most feral dogs kill whats easy to get. A good trapper usually will catch the type animal he is after.
Good Luck