Deadly coyote attack on horse: DNR wildlife technician offers safety advice, hunting regulations

MLive ^ | 1-26-15 | Roberto Acosta

[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."

[cva66snipe]

In the past two decades East Tennessee has been overran by the vile mangy mutts. More so in the past 5-7 years in most places now. I have them on my land unfortunately. One of the most unnerving things you can hear at night outside your house is Yotes 100' or less from you cutting loose into their pack howling. Nothing shuts them up faster than a nice loud 357 :>}

They are embedded into urban areas. I was driving down a four lane highway in Oak Ridge one night and had one in front of me. He cleared a 5' concrete median wall with little effort.

I tell the guys I allow to hunt my place too shoot them on sight. They aren't doing anything any good being there.

The Game Officer in the article must be naive. Even dogs have been known to bring down cattle. When the Yotes are hungry and smaller game is scarce what do they think they Yotes will do? Order carry out? I take my Ratty's outside for doing their business and I now do so well armed.

[olepap]

Hey midnight, I went to a SC Wildlife seminar on the Coyote and the Feral Hog. They are both highly intelligent creatures. The Feral hogs are very difficult to trap, because they learn so quickly and they teach each other. They devour root crops and cause much damage. Feral Hogs are difficult to kill, because they are almost armor plated. Their heads have sloped armor and the brain is hard to hit. Same goes for the heart, it is not where you expect it and the shoulder blade protects it.

OBTW, I didn't think Brown bears were particularly dangerous, unless you get between them and their cubs or them and their lunch.