Coyote-human coexistence urged as animals migrate [to San Francisco's Golden Gate Park]

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 2, 2012 | Peter Fimrite

[WilliamIII]

The revelation, along with photographic proof, that at least three coyote puppies were recently born in Golden Gate Park raises some interesting questions about the future of the park - namely, how much time before roving packs of yipping wild predators drive humans and their decidedly un-wily pets out?

That, at least, is what the alarmists are asking, and the answer, according to the experts, is "never." The presence of coyotes in the city is good for the ecosystem, city officials and wildlife experts said, even if a few feral cats go missing.

"It is important that people recognize that coyotes are part of our ecosystem and that they have intrinsic value and ecological value," said Camilla Fox, the executive director of Project Coyote, a Larkspur nonprofit that consults with cities, ranchers and other groups on ways to live with coyotes without resorting to bullets, traps and poison.

[Jeff Chandler]

According to Turkish shepherds, three Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are capable of overcoming a pack of wolves and injuring one or two of them. They were bred to leave the herd to go hunt for predators before the predators could attack the flock.

Anatolian Shepherd dogs are used by the Cheetah Conservation Fund. These dogs are bred and then given to the farmers to use in protecting and guarding their livestock from cheetah attacks.

So yeah, I doubt that a pack of yotes would be much of a bother for a couple of them.

[Jeff Chandler]

Are you in Idaho?

Not at this moment.

[paul51]

My Doberman is not afraid of any coyote.

Better teach your dobie better than that

[paul51]

that looks like it was a pretty healthy specimen

[muir_redwoods]

My comment was directed to a man with one Doberman. One Doberman and three coyotes = one dead Doberman and three well fed coyotes.

[Silentgypsy]

The rats were exactly what came to mind. I lived in an inner urban area for my first 36 years. The rats were as big as cats, and not in the least intimidated when I walked my dog at midnight. (They’d sit up on their haunches in the gutter at look at us. My dog was half German Shepherd, so she was a decent size.) There are times when coexistence doesn’t work.

[GladesGuru]

Management of animals is best done by a man with a gun, not a predator with an appetite, no brain, and a propensity for killing frenzy behavior. Best if that man with a gun is not a gooberment trough feeder. Sell hunter permits for all populations needing “Direct Reduction”.

[Carry_Okie]

According to Turkish shepherds, three Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are capable of overcoming a pack of wolves and injuring one or two of them. They were bred to leave the herd to go hunt for predators before the predators could attack the flock.

I take it you don't know much about shepherds. They know better than to employ a strictly defensive predator management strategy. You see, they either hunt, a lot because it takes a lot of hunting and trapping to keep wolf numbers down, or they hire a hunter to do it. It's been that way for thousands of years. The problem is that hunting alone rarely works completely. One can kill 50% of the wolves or coyotes annually and the numbers will remain static; a 70% take is necessary to bring the numbers down (that's according to the preeminent wolf biologist in North America, L. David Mech by the way).

The failure to grasp the numbers is why the Montana and Idaho "wildlife management officials" are still scratching their heads while the wolf numbers grow to proportions that have already been catastrophic to the elk herd. Either raiding dens or poison baits are the only things that truly work. The former is how the first humans on the continent killed off Canis dirus. The latter is how Americans purged the continent of wolves in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

There's a shepherd featured in the latest copy of Range Magazine page 38, Pete Arambel, who breeds livestock protection dogs. He uses a combination of breeds with different training and attributes to protect his flocks against increasing numbers of coyotes: border collies for the flock, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, Komondor, Maremma, Akbash, Anatolis, and Kangal to circle the flock and provide defense. He crosses them too.

Guess what? It's not enough. He's only barely making it. He's adding the Spanish mastiff. Now he not only faces coyotes, but wolves too, with the prospect of grizzlies to come.

If people allow this problem to go unchecked, the packs will grow and get bolder as they run out of food. I've heard of wolf packs in Russia of over 40 animals. Shepherd dogs would be no match for a coyote pack that big. Nor have you addressed the question of controlling the dogs doing that job in an urban park.

Tell you what: You get out there in a Golden Gate Park full of kids and pet dogs with your killer dog pack and I'll use 1080 baits and we'll see which one of us makes money. My bet is that you won't be able to afford the insurance to even start. Heck, I'll even lace my baits with Ecstasy to make the treatment palatable (it's the way to go!). There is simply no substitute for managing the wildlife. At least they make good fur coats.

[EBH]

Fools....just fools....the coyotes won’t just breed between themselves...they’ll breed with domestic dogs too!

Fools...RABIES....
The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that Cleveland Metroparks officials have closed part of the North Chagrin Reservation after a pair of aggressive female coyotes bit a bicyclist and a pet dog over the weekend.

A Bath man’s Pomeranian dog recently suffered a vicious attack by what appears to be a coyote. The dog survived deep lacerations and blood loss and is recuperating with about 100 stitches.

A coyote has attacked a 3-year-old girl playing in her backyard in suburban New York, the second coyote attack on a child in the same suburb within four days.

A mother’s day in the park with her 7-year-old turned into a nightmare when she and her son were stalked by a pair of coyotes at Edison Woods MetroPark.

When three deputies arrived, the coyotes “acted aggressive and charged at them,” prompting the deputies to shoot, Capt. Paul Sigsworth said.

[Steamburg]

Aside from the guarantee of libtard hilarity. I actually find coyotes to be better neighbors than liberals. First, I don’t raise sheep, that would be a deal breaker. However, they keep the vermin population in check. Their howls are preferable to rap music. They quickly leave if you shoot a couple of them. They don’t borrow your stuff or drink your beer. Yep, coyotes are definitely better.

[Jeff Chandler]

I imagine in the regions of Turkey where the Anatolians are used the predator population has long ago been reduced through hunting and trapping. In such an environment a pack of Anatolians guarding the herd would work just fine.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Golden Gate park does not need coyotes. The homeless bums on the east end near Haight Street are more than enough.

[Steamburg]

Portland, huh? Is it the coyote or local cuisine that makes tabby disappear?

[pigsmith]

[

I assume this is a young coyote because his behavior seemed more 'naive and innocent' than that of a more wary, older one. Tried to make friends with my Blue Heeler, was not received well at all, retreats to think what to do next. The previous week I saw this one playing (through the fence) with the neighbor dogs.

There has been no trouble with coyotes that I know of in this well-populated area of 2-5 acre lots. Most travel solo but I have many pictures of groups of five or more traveling through my yard in winter; I wonder if the coyote generations living here somehow teach their young to tread lightly? I've seen a neighbor's chicken stolen once, but I hold fault more with the chicken owner not doing a better job of coyote-proofing his chicken coop. The unfenced part of my yard has a footpath worn through generations of coyotes passing through.

I'm not condoning the foolishness of allowing wild animals take over an area of human occupation like they are doing in Golden Gate Park; those here 'seem' to know they must not cross paths with those well-established creatures who walk on hind legs and carry fire sticks, because they sure do not linger here in this immediate area for long.

[Carry_Okie]

I imagine in the regions of Turkey where the Anatolians are used the predator population has long ago been reduced through hunting and trapping.

The content of your imaginings relates to why Anatolian shepherds are still poor. The reasons are simple: Large dogs take a lot of food. The food is meat. Meat is what they are selling. Dogs aren't perfect. They take a lot of time to train. It's a big investment and some don't make it. Those are losses too. Meanwhile, the soil needs the blood, guts, and bones the dogs are eating. The soil makes the raw material for his sheep. It's a losing game.

[Darnright]

If that's an Anatolian you ain't kiddin' a couple of those will make short work of a pack of coyotes.

Another formidable breed is the Sharplaninec from Macedonia and the surrounding area.

[Wordkraft]

I couldn’t help but notice that the “activist”, who is insisting that SF welcome and coexist with the predator coyotes, does not live in SF. She lives on the other side of the bay and the coyotes will have to take the golden gate bridge or the ferry boats to get into her back yard.

How convenient for her.

[Aria]

Heyyyy......there’s nothing wrong with our food. Lots of salmon, berries, apples, vegetables....

YUM!

[Monkey Face]

We have coyotes here, and they prey on small dogs and feral cats. The coyotes were here before we were, so I’m not going to throw rocks at them. They are seen by SOMEone on a daily basis.

[Cyman]

“Hell, it’s likely to be intermarrying before next year.”

Who do you think was the daddy to those three pups?