Fur instead of feathers today. And a question about predator and “pest” control at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Despite my intentions to stay home for the entire Labor Day weekend to avoid the crowds I ended up going to the mountains again yesterday where I photographed this coyote near a stream oxbow. “His” coat was a lighter color than I’m used to seeing on Antelope Island and he looked lean but healthy. I wasn’t particularly close to him but in this area coyotes are fairly spooky and for good reason. It’s cattle country, ranchers generally aren’t fond of coyotes and Utah has even placed a $50 bounty on them.
Just having to type the last part of that last sentence makes me angry.
At one point he spotted something interesting in the grass some distance in front of him but there was a small rise between him and the potential prey so he jumped it. This is the beginning of the jump.
I wish my shutter had fired at the apex of the jump but I still got him with three feet off the ground…
twice.
When he landed he took several quick steps toward the spot that had caught his interest but apparently it was a false alarm so he continued to hunt in the grass. Soon he disappeared behind the willows so I went on my way.
Several days earlier I made the long trip to Bear River MBR but it turned out to be cloudy up there so the light was poor and I was bird-skunked anyway. The only subject I found of interest was this raccoon feeding on a huge carp in very shallow water. The light was so poor it was never my intention to post any of these shots (I took way too many of them) but looking at them again reminded me of a question I wish I’d asked Bear River MBR Manager Erin Holmes when I interviewed her a couple of weeks ago.
I had many questions on my list for Erin and one of them was “Do you practice predator control on the refuge?” She said that the mission of the refuge was to nurture and protect all native wildlife and that includes predators but I pressed the issue asking “What about red foxes?” She pointed out something I already knew saying that both red foxes and raccoons are sort of in a gray area as far as being native, especially to Utah where neither is truly native. I wish I’d pressed her further but the implication of her response was that they do practice predator control on both species (which I already knew about red foxes.)
But the question I wish I’d asked her is “Do you control/kill muskrats on the refuge?” Muskrats aren’t predators but they’re native to Utah and I know they cause considerable damage to refuge dikes with their burrowing activities so if they control them I’m curious to know how they square that with their mission to protect “all native wildlife”.
I’ll be asking Erin that question next time I see her.
Ron
As much as I don’t like the killing of animals just for killing sake, I wouldn’t worry about coyotes. Their populations cannot be controlled.. in fact the opposite happens. I highly recommend reading Dan Flores’s book, American Coyote’. As far as native animals of North America, I recommend Dan Flores’s book, ‘American Serengeti, the last big animals of the Great Plains’
I know that Rich Hansen at Ogden Bay doesn’t allow coyotes to be killed. They keep down the fox and raccoon populations. Pheasant and ducks biggest enemy are raptors. Their nests are destroyed yearly by crow and magpies.
Michael, I know Rich well from when he managed Farmington WMA. He does a great job and I like him personally (that last part is irrelevant I know).
Erin told me that there’s a basic philosophical difference between the mission of Bear River MBR and our state refuges. The mission of state refuges is primarily to protect and nurture waterfowl and game birds for hunters. Bear River focuses on all native wildlife.
Beautiful, beautiful Coyote! What a stunner! Glad you scratched your wanderlust itch yesterday. 🙂 And always happy to see a furry pig/trash panda out in “the wild.” We have a couple of rather rotund members of his family in our neighborhood. I know they’re considered pests by a lot of people, but I don’t mind them (fortunately, our city trash containers are very heavy). Raccoons and Opossums are capable of some degree of independent finger movement, so they’re able to winkle their ways into tight spots and cupboards, much to the consternation of a lot of humans. Imagine if they had opposable thumbs! 😉
Marty, I’ve had zero experience with opossums but I think I’d like them. Good point about opposable thumbs.
I love seeing the coyotes, but here in Rio Rancho, they run up and down our streets (our fault for not leaving them room.) We had one approach a group of kids at a bus stop recently. The Next Door app exploded with folks for the coyotes and against. I’m for, but I do honor the safety of the littles. We certainly have made a mess of things. 🙁
We certainly have and it’s getting worse.
Both beautiful animals. Raccoon and carp: an invasive species eating an invasive species, both brought here by an invasive species. I think my head is going to explode.
Interesting perspective, Lyle.
What glorious images! NOT a surprise–you always bring home the ooohs and ahhhhs! Thank you!!
A couple of weeks ago, I was up at 3:30 a.m. and I went outside to hear a chorus of coyotes singing under an almost full moon in the field right across the street from me and close by. I counted five or six distinct voices, each blending into the other, their voices rising and falling, maybe celebrating a shared kill? I don’t know. I haven’t heard them since. In the interim, about two weeks ago, a lone coyote attacked and killed one of my next-door neighbor’s chickens and ran off with it toward a new house being built maybe 300 yards from my house. Shortly thereafter, I heard gunshots. I don’t know the end of THAT story, but I fear it ended badly for the coyote who was just trying to survive, taking an unprotected chicken dinner. Survival in the desert is hard, and if you aren’t willing to protect your farm animals, well, they’re vulnerable and edible! DUH!
I’m wary of encountering coyotes while in the fields hunting the birds, especially when they’re down on a kill and I can’t get to them quickly. Being captive-bred birds, I don’t know if they have the sense to leave their kill if they’re under attack, but while I adore them, I also know they don’t lead safe lives. I’m concerned about encountering a pack rather than just a singleton, but I don’t want them gone, either! One of the reasons I chose this house was that it was out from the city where wild critters live, so I accept the risks along with the rewards. DARGH! Have I mentioned that I have no respect for my species and that humans regularly dance on my last darn nerve?
As for Erin, I’m sure you’re aware that whatever her answer, it will be delivered in government/PR speak, leaving out pertinent details and playing fast and loose with truth. You probably won’t get a simple and clear yes/no answer. But I’m sure you know that.
There was something else I was going to include, but evidently, I’ve turned my head and it leaked out somewhere. I wonder what it was? I’ll probably remember as soon as I hit send OR at 3:00 a.m. I’m a geezer now…sigh!
Your story summarizes the situation many face with coyotes well, Laura.
I actually have quite a bit of confidence that Erin will come clean with me. She somehow seems different than the types you mention. I hope that’s really the case.
Raccoons are hard on ground nesting birds.
They certainly are.
When I first moved to the high desert, 1984. you could hear Coyote’s every night. Now we never hear them. Partly due to losing their habit, and like you said, people shooting them. It too makes me angry. This was their land first.
Jean, yes development has played a big part in us not seeing or hearing them in areas where they were common before. On the other hand they often adapt to live very closely to humans, often too close for the comfort of some.
The first photo of the coyote looking straight and might be asking the question “Are you going to shoot me?” is surely painful. I’m curious if you’ve heard from ranchers and if there are others measures besides shooting down these beautiful creatures. Thanks for these photos.
Elmer, I haven’t had any direct discussions with ranchers about the coyote issue.
Nice shots of the coyote in action. 🙂 Of course, we have coyotes and coons here tho haven’t had any coons in the yard in several years or skunks for that matter. Many do coyote control here and coons and skunks are fair game also. We harass the coyotes so they pretty much stay across the creek. With clucks cooped and “close” we have no need to get lethal with them. Coons are another story when present – TOO destructive getting in old sheds, trying to get at dog food/chicken food in trash cans, at the bird feeders, and in the pond. We don’t have fox. Muskrats aren’t any bigger pain than the “bank beaver” we have and are left alone. Beaver have their place in the mountains but not on the prairie in my opinion and are trapped out when they get out of control. Trees are just too precious here…… Yes, agriculture was here first and new folks (usually) are told when they buy that tractors etc. at 5 a.m. are something they get to live with as well as dust at certain times of the year. I’ve never heard “the cows were here first” – hope they didn’t mean they don’t have to contain them! 😉 Thx for the post and change of pace! 🙂
Judy, we never saw raccoons on the Mt. farm near Cut Bank until sometime in the 70’s (I believe) when a family of them took over a small old barn and a house that was no longer used (the house I grew up in). The destruction they caused inside the house was hard to believe including tearing wallboard off the walls and ceilings, spreading insulation all over etc., etc. What an incredible mess!
Joe says they weren’t here until about that time either – good thing as they are also hell on chickens…………..
Enjoyable photos! I find all nature a treat to view, predators included. I rarely see coyotes, they are around but I seem to miss them. Raccoons…another story. As a bird feeder here in the country they seem to show up automatically and when they bring their youngsters I enjoy the antics even though they can be hard on the feeders. Once the corn is ripe in the fields they stop coming around. For the most part, we are the introduced species…we keep pushing further and building further into what was there and complain when it upsets us. I remember a farmer at church asked me when we first moved into the country why we chose that over living in the city and I gave him my reasons, he said just remember the cows were here before you. So every time I end up following a manure truck, get behind a slow moving tractor, or smell the ‘dairy-aire’ when the wind is right I remember that statement.
Thanks, Kathy.
I wonder if your farmer remembers that the wild critters and the Native Americans were there before he and his cows were.
Excellent!😀
Unfortunately not always the case! 🙂
Thank you.
I loved this diversion from feathers to fur (and neither are animals we have). I am also really looking forward to hearing Erin’s response to your question. I agree (wholeheartedly with Dick’s last sentence. Many of the ‘introduced’ species which we so readily cull were introduced by us, for very variable reasons.
EC, I’m not sure when I’ll see her again but when I do I’ll be sure to ask her and report back here. Thanks.
Great images, beautiful coyote.
I hope you will post Erin’s response when you talk to her next. I’ll be interested if she will give you a concrete answer. Being in charge of a bird (wildlife) refuge in cattle country (during this presidents administration) has got to be politically tough. Sharing this planet with wildlife is a learned behavior, that in my mind, humans find difficult to accept.
Thank you, Dick. Many issues for a refuge manager are “politically tough” which is part of the reason that job is so difficult.