Michigan legislative action thread
Posted on 01/27/2015 5:34:21 AM PST by SJackson
HOLLY, MI – In his years as a wildlife technician for the state Department of Natural Resources, Jon Curtis said he can count on zero fingers the numbers of times coyotes have taken down a large animal.
"To actually take a full-0grown horse down is very uncommon," he said of a Jan. 25 attack in Oxford Township along the Lapeer-Oakland County border that led to the death of a 20-year-old horse that was part of the Lapeer County Sheriff's Mounted Division. "I've never heard of that before."
The Lapeer County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Monday that "A group of five to six coyotes entered the paddock area and attacked the horse while it was eating. The horse was brought to the ground during the attack."
"The Meyers heard the attack occurring and their dogs responded (lab mixed)," states the release on the incident of the property of deputies Bruce Meyers and Kallie Meyers. "The dogs engaged the coyotes, which subsequently stopped attacking the horse and fled. The horse died later from the wounds that it sustained."
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office and Department of Natural Resources are now handling the investigation into the incident.
Curtis said coyotes are found in every county in the state, typically in pairs -- one alpha male and one alpha female -- covering a designated territory that varies in size based on food supply that is generally made up of smaller game.
"They primarily eat mice or maybe an occasional rabbit," he said, while from time to time attacking a small dog, cat or scavenging on larger, dead animals such as deer. "It's very unusual they would take down an animal that big."
Coyotes can be hunted or trapped at any time of year on private property, Curtis said, "If they are doing damage or about to do damage."
Someone other than the property owner may receive permission to hunt or trap the animals on private property without a license or written permit, according to DNR regulations.
Outside of pursuing nuisance coyotes, trapping of coyotes is allowed from Oct. 15-March 1, while hunting season is from July 15-April 15.
Curtis said a valid base license for hunting or trapping coyotes runs $11. There is no limit on the number of coyotes that can be shot or trapped during the designated hunting and trapping periods.
Despite the recent incident, Curtis said, "Coyotes are really misunderstood. They are usually a really timid animal or docile animal," and attacks on humans are rare.
In the event someone does have a coyote cross their path, Curtis said, "If you make a lot of noise and wave your arms, they are going to run. Usually when they see humans, they'll book it."
While he understood some people may get a bit panicky about the recent attack, he added, "They really have nothing to fear about being attacked."
We have them here in my town in North Georgia. They get cats and small dogs here all the time (the ones that are let out to roam free). If I see one, I’ll shoot it and ask questions later. Got a nice 10/22 with scope and silencer for it.
Pretty much open season on them here in Michigan but they’re more often heard than seen.
I don’t know about them running in pairs because when I hear them it sounds like several animals. But they also both claim they don’t interbreed with wolves at the same time there appears to be plenty of evidence that they do.
Black Bears are more of a nuisance in my neck of the woods. Coyotes are very elusive due to the shoot on sight policy of locals over the past 40 years.
The ones I’ve personally seen here (at least three times)are smaller - a large dog could make a good showing against one - and they were lone. Regardless, next one I see and can get to my rifle it’s gone DRT.
Where the heck does this guy live? In Texas I've seen packs of as many as 15-20 running together. And they will take down ANYTHING they think they can pull down.
Funny story - they are also NOT afraid of man. We had a pack of them moving up and down a creek that ran near our house (we lived in the city but in the middle of about 80 acres of open land near the airport. Every night this pack of 10-15 would sit just outside our fence and ‘celebrate’ their recent kill. Considering myself to be part of the dominant creatures on this turd-hill, I decided to teach them a lesson. Loading my snub nose SW 38 with blanks, I silently crept to the other side of the fence (the fence was covered with overgrowth so they couldn't see me.) I waited till they were all howling like crazy, pointed the gun across the top of them, and pulled the trigger. Let me tell you - that gun is loud with blanks. I could hear them tearing out of there like scared rabbits! Once again, man has asserted his dominance!
Of course the next night they were right back in the same place doing the same thing.
We’ve got 70 and 80 pounders here in Michigan but again its due to interbreeding with wolves that they supposedly don’t do.
70-80 lbs is a good bit bigger than here, for sure - at least the ones I’ve seen. I’m thinking for those kind at least a 22 WMR would be best small caliber.
They are mixing with wolves around here, and becoming more aggressive.
Wait until the wolf population gets to dangerous levels.
We had been counting on .17HMR, but recently are keeping 10/22 with CCI Stingers by the back door.
I guess taking down a horse is not different then taking down an elk. What is strange is if they are sure it was only one animal, then do we have a coyote wolf cross breed?
Yeah the coyotes are already mistaken for wolves due to their size and interbreeding.
This is a great argument in favor of constantly carrying a firearm.
Don’t have anything .17HMR but I do have some CCI Stinger and the 10/22.
We have coyotes and owls down by me. Every month some poor chihuahaha or Yorkie goes missing from a back yard in my subdivision. Residents keep insisting that someone is sneaking into the subdivision and stealing animals for lab experiments.
They demanded to see videos of the gates and called the police. Last time the police came I was out mowing my grass. They asked me if I saw something strange. I said aside from the vultures eating the remains of a small dog (pointed at the feast) I saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Police just laughed and left.
No we have the old story of coyote-dog mix. They are not afraid of people and will attack live stock and people. I have seen them in packs as big 12 animals. This is when I change over to the AR and rest the bolt gun.
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