https://ctwoodlands.org/news/coexisting-with-coyotes/#:~:text=Aided%20by%20the%20removal%20of,wolves%20in%20the%20Great%20Lakes.
Coyotes came into the north east because man got rid of wolves and other predators. So while you many have been where there first man did play a part in coyotes coming into your area.
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I never said that humans were not a factor.
It is still true that coyotes didn’t come to Massachusetts until mid-20th century, which is well after the wolf population was more or less eliminated.
There is some evidence that grey wolves are migrating south from Canada into the New England states, but the numbers confirmed at this point are in the single digits.
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coyotes have the lowest incidence of rabies of all the rabies vector species. New York has an excellent wildlife biologist with the department of natural resources - although it has another title than that - she has studied them as most States have and they encourage people to NOT kill them as they have found them invaluable in being an apex predator / scavenger - essential in keeping wood/field rats and rabbits in control. I encourage everyone to contact their State Wildlife Department - they Have their Master’s degree in coyote studies.
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I just read an article about a guy that shot and killed an 84-pound grey wolf during a coyote hunt in the southern lower peninsula of Michigan. He apparently thought it was a coyote but wildlife biologists determined it was a grey wolf - and that was confirmed by DNA analysis. The article also said there is a known population of grey wolves in Michigan’s upper peninsula, believed to number in the 600-700 range. Despite several reported sightings in the southern peninsula over the past decade or so, there have been very few signs of them in that region that were confirmed by Michigan DNR.
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There is also a very famous population of wolves on Isle Royale, Michagan.
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@DownYonder I’m so sorry to hear that. I like wolves. I just read an article that spoke of wolves and coyotes breeding and as it’s been a long time, they’re calling them “Eastern Coyotes” differing from those in the west as they have more wolf characteristics.
It’s strange. We haven’t seen any coyotes in months and then we see the black coyote in our furthermost pen. We yelled and I’m not even sure he heard us. My daughter is adamant about following them, so I followed her and we trekked through green space. She saw him again and said he was skinny and didn’t look good. Wishing him well, just wishing him off our property too!
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I live in a rural area. I believe the government (local maybe?) pays a bounty and the locals do hunt them at night. You must have the right equipment. Since this started I hear them a lot less than I once did. There is no easy way to get rid of them.
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Raccoons, however…
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And squirrels.
I’m a teeny bit concerned that squirrels are smarter than humans. But on the other hand, they’ve allowed us to exist and feed them for this long, so …
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They would take us over, but they keep getting distracted!
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We live with coyotes on our farm. We hear them at night. This is their home, too. If my animals get hurt or killed, it’s my fault, not theirs. I won’t go to war with wildlife. They have a role to play and I’d prefer not to get overrun with rodents or lose my garden to rabbits.
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We, or anyone in our area, didn’t get any sleep the other night. The local coyote pack got real busy and loud around 9PM. Every dog in a half mile was going nuts. Things didn’t quiet down until midnight.
They were here first and we just live with them. I’ve seem a lot of bobcat sign recently. I have seen a bobcat in nearly 15 years. I bought a wildlife trail cam so hopefully I’ll get a shot of our local feral cat. So far just pictures of deer and me.
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We are in a coyote infested area. At night I turn a radio in the barn on LOUD tuned to a fire and brimstone religious station for the sound of excited emotional human voices to scare them away. In over ten years we have never lost a barn cat. Jesus saves !..……barn cats
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We have a lot of coyotes here too. It took 10 years but we lost 2 of our three barn cats last summer. Heart breaking and now I worry about bringing new ones in … though I need help with rodent control
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Coyotes are the lowest on the rabies vector species to get rabies. This information is usually available by calling your DNR State office and speak to a Wildlife Biologist - furbearer .
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You may think I’m crazy but I run those suckers off with pots and pans and screaming at them — they rarely come here anymore!!
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That’s hilarious! I should try it. I think they’re still coming on the property, but being careful to remain out of sight. Before they were pretty bold coming around in daylight and at night. We used those security whistle, a foghorn which did absolutely nothing, our “Howler” - a Halloween motion sensor red light with differing sounds like a wolf and a dinosaur. Hopefully they got tired of everything. We also chased them not just back to the woods, but followed them into the woods. Have fun!
