Coyotes and humans shared the same environment long before European settlers arrived in North America. To many Native American cultures, coyotes were powerful mythological figures endowed with the power of creation, and venerated for their intelligence and mischievous nature. The Aztec name for the coyote was “coyotl” which loosely translates to "trickster," while Navajo sheep and goat herders referred to the coyote as "God's dog."
European settlers, however, viewed coyotes as a threat to livestock and as a competitor for game species, a view that unfortunately still persists in many areas of North America. As a result, the coyote remains the most persecuted native carnivore in the United States.
Coyotes typically weigh twenty to thirty pounds, are similar to a tan-colored Shepherd-type dog, and are able to crossbreed with dogs and wolves. Native to the grasslands and prairies of North America, coyotes have expanded their range threefold since the 1850s, largely in response to human alterations of the environment and the eradication of larger predators including wolves, cougars, and grizzly bears. At least nineteen sub-species of coyote now roam throughout North America, from California to Newfoundland, and from Alaska to Panama, occupying a broad range of habitats, from grasslands to deserts to eastern woodlands and boreal forests to agricultural lands and urban parks.
Coyotes occupy the biological niche between foxes and wolves and play an integral role in their environment by helping to maintain healthy ecosystems and species diversity. As opportunistic omnivores, coyotes feed on a wide variety of mammals, insects and fruit, though rodents are their main food source. Indeed, the success of coyotes is a testament to their ability to survive, and even thrive, on whatever food is available.
Coyotes generally fear people; however, those who associate humans with food may become habituated. Habituated coyotes now frequent suburban areas, taking advantage of abundant food, water, and shelter. Unsecured garbage, unfenced gardens, and unattended domestic animals become easy targets. Documented cases of coyotes biting humans, however, are rare and most often caused by humans feeding coyotes.
Historically, conflicts between humans and coyotes have been addressed through lethal means. Between 1916 and 2000, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program (formerly Animal Damage Control) killed nearly six million coyotes, largely at taxpayers’ expense for the benefit of a small number of sheep and cattle ranchers.
In addition, hundreds of thousands of coyotes are killed each year for their fur, for "sport," and in "body-count" contests where prizes are awarded for killing the most coyotes. Most States in America have no laws regulating by what means, or how many coyotes may be killed, and some states still offer bounties to encourage coyote killing. Despite decades of systematic poisoning, trapping, and shooting campaigns aimed at eradicating coyote populations, there are more coyotes in North America today than ever before.
The coyote's remarkable success appears to be directly related to lethal attempts to reduce its populations. Years of intense persecution have selected for coyotes that are more adaptable, resilient, and wary of people. They have learned to spring traps without being caught, to avoid poison baits, to hide their dens from prying human eyes, and to hunt during times of little human activity. To further avoid humans, coyotes have become more active during the night.
Widespread attempts to control coyote populations have had little long-term impact because coyotes’ strong compensatory responses - such as increased litter size and pup survival - allow them to replenish their numbers and reoccupy vacated habitat. Further, while lethal control may produce a short-term reduction of coyotes in a particular area, the vacuum is soon filled by coyotes emigrating from surrounding areas and by shifts in neighboring packs.
Despite clear scientific evidence demonstrating the futility and counter productiveness of indiscriminate lethal coyote control, many state and federal wildlife managers continue to promote killing as the best method to address conflicts. An increasing number of scientists, however, have begun to speak out against lethal control. Their studies show that coyotes, and other large carnivores, play a vital ecological role and their removal can have a devastating impact on species diversity and the health and integrity of native ecosystems.
But scientific evidence is not enough. What is needed is a new paradigm for the way we treat native carnivores - indeed all wildlife - one that recognizes the ecological importance of these species as well as their intrinsic value as individuals. If the money and efforts used to kill coyotes, and other predators, were redirected toward cost-effective, non-lethal methods, such as public education, better landscape development, improved fencing, and guard animals, conflicts could be significantly reduced without the need to kill. Ultimately, it will be the public that pressures wildlife managers to make this ethical shift as communities across North America demand that wildlife conflicts be addressed with humane solutions that do not involve killing.

Camilla H. Fox is the Director of Wildlife Programs for the Animal Protection Institute, a national non-proft animal advocacy organization with headquarters in Sacramento, California. For more information about coyotes and predator protection and persecution, visit https://www.api4animals.org and https://www.BanCruelTraps.com
Original printing: Fox, C.H. March-April 2004. “God’s Dog: Learning to Co-Exist with Coyotes.” Wild Mountain Times. Asheville, North Carolina.

Wild coyotes
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http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/s07-m-carr1.gif

Camilla + doggie Zaela
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Macho, the last of the coyotes that I adopted in 1987 has died. There were seven puppies in the litter. They came from the Humane Shelter in Montgomery, IN.
Macho was within three weeks of being twenty years old before he passed away. He had a couple of mini strokes, but seemed to rally. One cold night in March, I brought him in the house to be sure he was warm. When I went to check on him the next morning, he was gone. He looked as if he just fell asleep and didn’t wake up. I miss him. He was a good coyote.

The red fox, Pharaoh has also died. He had to be humanely euthanized because of medical reasons. He was ten years old. He had always had seizures, but they were controlled with medication. However, the medication wasn’t working anymore. Dr. Wolf had increased it as much as he could. After some big seizures, Pharaoh's behaviour changed to being very aggresive and less aware of the world. We could not go into his enclosure to give him basic care. He would attack us. That was when the decision was made to euthanize. Pharaoh taught Dr Wolf, Jean Jacobs and Me a lot as far as medical info. went. He came to us as baby fox with a broken pelvis, broken jaw and seizures.
Thank you, Pharaoh.

Macho Poem

Majestically facing a backlit sunrise
Approaching day with puppy bright eyes
Cheating time for constant play
Hoarding love from those he knew
Oblivious to the absence of tomorrow

Pharaoh Poem

Presenting himself with the air of nobility
Happy to fence fight with his neighbor of white
Allowing nothing to diminish his beauty
Rarely seen without the presence of mischief
Amber eyes bright with anticipation
Opposing all who enter his domain
Having eternity in the freedom of paradise

Poems by Jami

http://www.coyoterescue.org/adopt/Macho-p.gif

http://www.coyoterescue.org/adopt/Pharaoh-P.gif

Indiana Coyote Rescue has taken in and given permanent homes to four coyote puppies this year. There are two males and two females named Alex, Loki, Jane, and Artemis. Three of them are now residing in my room to be socialized while the other one is with CeAnn as she was brought to us from another litter and is younger than the other three. Socializing puppies is a very intense and involved process, but one I wouldn’t change for anything. They wake me up during all hours of the night either for food or attention, but they are so adorable it doesn’t even matter.

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/s07-3pups4.gif Loki, Jane, & Alex

It is a lot of hard work making sure they are fed, played with, get their calcium, and cleaning up their room multiple times a day; but it is well worth it. They love spending a few hours each day playing outside in the puppy pen that we use to get them acclimated to living outside for their future residence. They have grown so quickly in the past few weeks, and it is interesting to watch all the different behaviors they have while interacting with each other.
Living here for the past year as an intern has always been interesting and educational, but the arrival of puppies has made my stay even more so. I learn something new every day with the observation of their behavior, and have gained a better understanding of how much work it takes to care for these amazing animals.
Their quirky ways are my main source of entertainment and I do not look forward to the time when they have to be outside permanently. In about one month, they will be ready for their new permanent enclosure, which will cost Indiana Coyote Rescue around $2,000. If anyone would like to help out with this it would be greatly appreciated both by us and the coyotes.
- Jami Hammer

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/.....ups-in-cab.gif When they arrived

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/.....7-artemis2.gif Artimus

Two of Fiver's friends were taken away by the savage and unforgiving monster that is suicide.

R.I.P. Sam Neunin and Alec Branch.

Please, take a moment to honor them as you listen to this song which I think is appropriate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukmobha2krY

I took this photo in Yellowstone of a coyote just after she carried
her pup across the road.
- Jordan Goss

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/w06-mom-pup.gif

due to being extra sleepy, I forgot to switch accounts so the new daily pack journal is, for today, in my personal account's journal

 jazzfan

This year Indiana Coyote Rescue was fortunate to be awarded a grant by a foundation. It is great to know that the foundation cares about the well being of coyotes. The grant covers vet. bills, vaccines, medications, new houses and decks for the coyotes at Indiana Coyote Rescue Center.
Our houses are wooden and designed with flat, removable tops. The have a door that can be closed, handles on the side for carrying and some of them set on a separate platform to keep them off of the ground.
These houses make it easier to take a coyote to the vet. The coyote simply goes into its house where it feels safe. The door is then closed and the coyote is on its way to the vet.
Once we get there, the top is simply removed, the coyote wrapped in a blanket until the injection is given to knock it out, (if needed). Afterwards, the coyote is placed in its familiar, dark house for the ride back home.
The decks are designed with three semi- enclosed sides underneath the deck itself. This gives the coyote a place to lie on top of if it chooses or the coyote can hide underneath if he is frightened. The sides are designed with a small space at the top and bottom so that the coyote can still look out to see what is going on, while still feeling protected and safe.

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/w06-house1.gif
CeAnn demonstrating the removable top and Orion jumps up into the picture

I had never seen a coyote before visiting CeAnn’s Coyote Rescue Center. I was always very interested in wolves, but never gave the coyote much thought. For the past few years however I became more and more interested in the coyote. I knew they inhabited Indiana, but you will rarely catch a glimpse of them. I have heard their echoing yips and howls as many other people in the countryside have. The coyote in my mind had become something I wanted to get closer to. The coyote, while being one of the most successful animals in the U.S., is also one of the most hated. I wanted to learn more about the life of a coyote.
This past summer of 2006 I got the opportunity of a lifetime. I was offered a job with the Yellowstone Ecological Research Center to research the coyote in Yellowstone National Park. My job was to monitor coyote locations, behaviors, and their overall involvement in the Northern Range ecosystem. We used telemetry equipment to get relocations on certain collared coyotes to determine territories for the fourteen packs in my study area. On other days we would hike to a set observation point with a spotting scope and watch the coyotes. I would document the specific coyote (if possible), who they were with, label their movement patterns on a map, and document behaviors such as successful predations, howling, and urination.
Another major part of the job was to determine pup numbers for each pack. From May to September I would watch certain packs’ pups. It was amazing to see the interaction between adults and pups for an extended period of time. One instance which was remarkable to me was a beta male coyote in the Jasper Bench pack catching and feeding mice to four pups. Those same pups three months later were all still alive hunting by themselves all throughout their territory. The coyote pack is a true family with every member helping to care for the pups. It was such a tremendous experience to be able to observe the coyote in a natural environment especially one where they are not persecuted.
After being immersed with coyote culture for an entire summer I came to see why many Native American tribes called the coyote the smartest animal on the planet. The coyote learns to live with what he is given and in turn surpasses all expectations. The coyote is a remarkable and spiritual animal which I will always hold the greatest respect for.
- Leif Baierl

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Wild coyotes in the Yellowstone Park and
Leif tracking radio collar coyotes with telemetry.

Jack has grown into a beautiful coyote. He has filled out nicely as he eats a lot more than when he first arrived. He eats just about everything in sight. Jack was taken to the vet for his vasectomy since ICRC doesn't breed. His x-rays showed that his bones were well defined. This means the treatment of Jack's metabolic bone disorder was successful. He also weighed in at thirty pounds.
Jack is becoming very destructive in the house, so the time has come to soon have him outside with everyone else. Jack has a secure enclosure. That is always a sad day. I will miss him cuddling with me to get under the covers and nibble-grooming my feet to wake me up every morning in time to give early meds, but I know that outside is where he belongs.
ICRC socializes the coyotes which they care for. This make their lives less stressful with the care and handling by humans. Part of the socialization process involves having the puppy inside so they become accustomed to civilization instead of freaked out by it.
- Jami, Assistant Caretaker at ICRC

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/w06-jack.gif (8 months)

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-pict/.....6-jackbrad.gif (when first found)

I know you guts have 16 minutes of free time at one point during the day. You need to watch this video if you have or know someone who has a YouTube account. You may have had this happen to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kophLq2AdSw&playnext_from=TL&videos=AtoN_7G6Lww

Jack came to Indiana Coyote Rescue Center at the beginning of May, 2006.
Charles and Brad found a coyote puppy caught in brush on an incline going down into a water filled gravel pit. He was a small, hungry, puppy with a bump on his head and they could hear him crying for his Mother. They left him for three hours and then went back to see if Mom had rescued him. She hadn’t, so they did. A Conservation Officer referred them to Indiana Coyote Rescue Center.
When Jack first arrived here, he was in poor health and the muscles in his back legs were starting to atrophy. Initially he required Sub-q Fluids, medication and to be fed using a syringe. We had to experiment with many different formulas and foods to find what he was willing to eat at first. Whenever he would wake up in the middle of the night and call for his human Mom, I would go to the refrigerator and find whatever I could for him to eat. He eventually did start accepting food from his new Mom. He is getting better now and will eat almost anything you put in front of him. Jack is on a diet suited for the nutritional needs of a growing coyote puppy.
Jack has Metabolic Bone Disease which is a nutritional problem. MBD happens when a baby animal fails to receive and absorb the correct amount of calcium in its first few weeks of life. MBD causes the bones to become very fragile and lack substance. Jack was lucky to be diagnosed and begin treatment with calcium supplements before any bone fractures happened. He does have a large knot in one of the joints of his back leg. He will go back to the vet again for another round of x-rays to check this out. He is making progress day by day and so far the x-rays are showing that his bones are becoming more solid.
Jack is a special needs puppy. As with our mission to help coyotes, one coyote at a time, he will be cared for and live at Indiana Coyote Rescue Center for the rest of his life.

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-picts/s06-jami&jack.gif Jack at 6 weeks old with Jacob

http://www.coyoterescue.org/n-picts.....-jackbaby2.gif Jack at 16 days

Orion was found in Southern Indiana by some turkey hunters. His eyes weren't even open yet. That means that he was less than fourteen days old. He was taken home by the hunters. As usually happens, when he became about two months old, it was decided that he wasn't going to become the pet that they had envisioned.
He was taken to the Hardy Lake Raptor Center in Southern Indiana. He lived a good life at Hardy Lake, until it was decided that he couldn't stay there forever.
Around the first week of Dec, 2005 he was brought here, by two men who dearly loved him and hated to give him up. I feel very lucky to have him here, permanently. Orion is very social with people. He loves meeting and greeting people and enjoys having his picture taken. He is a very happy, mischievous coyote. He loves his toys and enjoys being squirted with the hose.
Orion's favorite person is a teenager named Angel. Her mother Sherry and Angel are volunteers and they come here once a week to help care for the other coyotes and to get some visiting time with Orion. I think Orion will be a very popular coyote for our new adoption program.

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We are asking our readers to write letters sharing their experiences about wild or captive coyotes, living with coyotes in ranching country, trying to help coyotes and federal predator control. Let people know that someone is out there fighting for these wonderful animals. The letters will be placed on our website and in the newsletter.
Please email your letters to CeAnn at ceannicrc[at]yahoo.com

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated money for food for the coyotes. I was able to buy chicken and beef at a good price. I am so grateful for your support. I remember when I started working with coyotes in 1987. At that time no one would have cared about them having food. Things really have changed since then.

Our goal this year is to change our licensing. We want to become USDA APHIS licensed. This would remove the coyotes from under the control of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. They continue to change their rules, which puts the coyotes in jeopardy. I tried to get them to add a Sanctuary License to their list of permits. That has not worked out.

To become USDA licensed we need to build a perimeter fence. The expected cost for that will be about $6,000. We need your help to build the fence. Please help if you can.

This year, Indiana Coyote Rescue is still partnered with Ban Live Bait Dog Training. We have two petitions submitted to the IDNR for Administrative Rule changes. One is to disallow running pens in Indiana. The running pens are where “kill” dogs are trained to kill foxes and coyotes in the wild. The foxes and coyotes are in a pen with no chance of escape, and sometimes are intentionally injured to make it easier for the dogs. The second is to stop the “kill” dogs from tearing apart our precious wildlife in the wild.

Please comment on these petitions before the NRC meeting on March 16. Make your feelings known to jkane[at]nrc.in.gov or sjensen@nrc.in.gov. If you would like to attend the meeting, please get in touch with me for place and time. That is in the process of being changed. ceannicrc[at]yahoo.com

Thank you for your help in helping coyotes one coyote at a time.

CeAnn Lambert

The center is currently home to 20 coyotes and two foxes, all rescued from humane shelters or private wildlife rehabilitators when the animals couldn’t care for themselves in the wild, usually because they’d become too socialized to humans and lacked survival skills. ICRC is licensed by the state. CeAnn Lambert has supported her facility from donations and her own funds. ICRC is a not-for-profit 501 © 3 organization. Information about helping ICRC is on the website under the wish-list section.

Address: 7975E 300S, Bringhurst IN 46913, USA
Phone: 1-765-566-3800
Website: https://www.coyoterescue.org
Gift Store: https://www.cafepress.com/coyoterescue
Email: ceannicrc[at]yahoo.com

Indiana Coyote Rescue Center Logo was designed by Nadia T. Beji
Newsletter text & photos © 2010 Indiana Coyote Rescue Center

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Some days it’s difficult
to remain
on two legs

Earth calls
for my other half

and I come down
willingly

some nights
my skin
turns to fog

and I swallow
clouds of dark

which erupt
in a flood
of song

I can’t help
but to sing

my heart is a river


these days…
these nights…

I can’t remember
a time
when joy
was so rampant

By Carol Hatfield
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Dear Interested Person or Party:

The following is a scientific opinion letter that has been requested of me by the Predator Defense Institute. This letter outlines a response to the general question “What effect does reduction of coyotes (older than 6 months) have on the remaining population?” Several opinion requests were made to me regarding claims that reduction of adult coyotes would lessen predation on domestic sheep or game animals such as mule deer or antelope. Before I cover the three basic biological responses by coyote populations to reduction (described below), it is important to understand the type of “predator reduction” or “coyote control” in question. Most reduction programs, often referred to as control practices, are indiscriminate in nature, meaning the individuals removed (this usually always means “killed”) are probably not the offending individuals. Even if some offending individuals are removed, there is great likelihood that the responses described below will take place anyway. Although removal of offending individuals can temporarily alleviate predation rates on the protected species, the alleviation is usually short-term and likely has long-term side-effects that make control activities ineffective. It can not be overemphasized how powerfully coyote populations compensate for population reductions. Both evolutionary biology and the results of my research the last three years (on the effects of wolves on coyotes) indicate that the basis of this resiliency is embedded in the evolutionary past of the coyote. Coyotes evolved, and learned to coexist, in the presence of gray wolves--a dominant competitor and natural predator.

Demographic compensation

The following demographic responses are based on published research, results of preliminary analysis of coyote study populations subjected to various levels of reduction or exploitation, and the work I have conducted in three study areas over the past 14 years in Washington (an unexploited population, not subject to human control or mortality), California (exploited), and Wyoming (unexploited). There is little, if any, scientific basis for control (reduction) programs that indiscriminately target adult coyotes. In fact, the mechanisms described below suggest that widespread control (even selective control) increases immigration, reproduction, and survival of remaining coyotes. It has been reported that sustained reduction of coyote numbers can only be accomplished if over 70% of the individuals are removed on a sustained basis. My experience with known populations indicates that even with intensive control efforts, this level is rarely achieved.

(1) Actual reduction in the density (and number of coyotes) does occur but is compensated by immediate immigration into the reduction area by lone animals or shifts in surrounding social groups. This is the expected response by species that are territorial and monogamous. The primary objective for loners or replacement coyotes is to find a temporal opening, defend and exploit the food resources in that social group, pair-bond and breed.

(2) Reduction results in a smaller social group size which increases the food per coyote ratio. This ratio may be even greater because of temporary reductions in overall density. Therefore, this food surplus is biologically transformed into higher litter sizes and higher litter survival rates. Review of literature indicates that the increase in litter size at birth is not as great as was previously reported by F Knowlton in 1972. Rather, the increase in food availability improves the nutritional condition of breeding females which translates in higher pup birth weights and higher pup survival.

(3) Reduction causing higher pup survival is fundamentally a function of the general mammalian reproductive strategy that delays the majority of reproductive energetic investment beyond the gestation period, the postpartum and neonate state ( e.g., young pups). The caloric demand of offspring reaches an apex in May, June, and July when coyote pups grow very fast. Thus, the normal litter of six pups has a good chance of (a.) surviving the typically high summer mortality period and, (b.) being recruited into the pack the following winter as adults. By contrast, in the two unexploited populations I investigated, the average litter size at birth was 5 or 6, but due to high summer mortality, only an average of 1.5 to 2.5 pups survive. In populations subjected to less than 70% removal annually, there appears to be an ample number of breeding pairs to occupy all available territory openings and litter sizes of 6 to 8 enjoy high survival rates (most pups born survive to adulthood). This results is a tripling of the number of hungry pups that need to be fed. “Large packages” of prey, (such as sheep, as opposed to voles or rabbits,) make for more efficient sources of nutrition because hunting adults have to invest less energy per unit of food obtained. ADC-funded research clearly indicates that the primary motivation to kill domestic sheep is to provide food for fast-growing pups.

(4) Reductions of adult-sized coyotes 6 months or older, results in smaller pack size which leaves fewer adults to feed pups. This may further add incentive for the remaining adults to kill larger prey as well as putting pressure on the adults to select for the most vulnerable prey venture close to areas of human activity. Because predators like coyotes also learn what is appropriate food when they are pups, and are reluctant to try ‘new’ food sources unless under great stress (such as having to feed a large litter of pups) reduction programs, in effect, may be seen as forcing coyotes to try new behaviors (eating domestic livestock) which they would otherwise avoid. Research has clearly shown that higher numbers of adult pack members provide more den-guarding time and more food brought to pups. Without pressure to “maximize” efficiency in hunting for food for pups, packs may be able to subsist on larger numbers of smaller prey (e.g., rabbits and small rodents) rather than going for livestock or other, larger prey like antelope and mule deer fawns.

(5) Reductions cause an increase in the percentage of females breeding. Coyote populations are distinctly structured in non-overlapping but contiguous territorial packs. Over 95% of the time only one female (the dominant, or “alpha”) breeds. Other females, physiologically capable of breeding, are “behaviorally sterile”. Exploitation rates of 70% or higher have to be imposed in order to decrease the number of females breeding in a given area. Either a subordinate female pack member, or an outside, lone female can be quickly recruited to become an alpha or breeding female. My research has shown that light to moderate levels of reduction can cause a slight increase in the number of territories, and hence the number of females breeding.

(6) Reduction causes the coyote population structure to be maintained in a colonizing state. For example, the average age of a breeding adult in an unexploited population is 4 years old. By age 6 reproduction declines, whereby older, alpha pairs maintain territories but fail to reproduce. This may eliminate the need to kill sheep or fawns in the early summer in order to feed pups. Exploiting or consistently reducing coyote populations keeps the age structure skewed to the young (average age of an alpha is 1 or 2 years) and in a state of constant social and spatial flux. Therefore, the natural limitations seen in older-aged, unexploited populations are absent and the territorial, younger populations are much more productive.

(7) Reductions cause young adults (otherwise prone to dispersing) to stay and secure breeding positions in the exploited area. This phenomenon is well-documented. There are other demographic responses that negate the effectiveness of control practices but the aforementioned covers the most important.

Alternate prey

An aspect of coyote predation on livestock that is often overlooked is the availability or dearth, of alternate prey. ADC research has demonstrated that coyotes will avoid novel prey, such as domestic livestock. In addition, it is risky for coyotes to predate upon domestic livestock because of human control actions associated with this behavior. Related research indicates that predators switch to alternative prey when a preferred prey item is absent or in low numbers. Voles and other rodents like jackrabbits are a preferred major staple of coyotes in the West. These prey species require cover and ample supplies of forage (grass and forbs). On many western rangelands grasses, forbs, and protective cover have been greatly reduced by domestic livestock grazing, leaving predators with fewer preferred prey to utilize. Present or historic grazing impacts should be assessed as a likely means of predicting overall predation rates on other prey species, especially prey like domestic sheep which are already vulnerable to predators due to their lack of anti-predator behaviors.

Accelerated selection pressures and learned behaviours

A relatively unexplored, but promising avenue of research is the long-term genetic and behavioral changes in coyote populations subjected to decades of exploitation. It seems obvious that the type of selection pressures and selection rates have been greatly changed for coyote populations, after a century of exploitation at 20% to 70% per year. More nocturnal, more wary, more productive, more resilient individuals have probably been intensively selected for. This in turn may cause coyote populations to resist control practices that previously were effective. In addition, the possibility of social facilitation and learning may be altered or reduced. Coyotes, like many mammals, learn to habitually use certain prey or habitats from other individuals in the population, especially from older adults in their social group (if they have one). Coyotes, already a highly social and adaptable species, are held in a younger colonizing state when they are exploited and learned or traditional behaviors may be lost. Individuals are therefore more susceptible to learning novel prey sources or trying out novel habitat types. There are many questions to be answered such as, “How will coyote populations respond once predator reduction or control programs are terminated?” or “Are there other management alternatives, both lethal and non-lethal, that may be effective in reducing predation on domestic livestock?” However, this scientific opinion only addresses a narrow, but important topic of the impacts of human caused reduction of coyote demographic parameters. In conclusion, the common practice of reducing adult coyote populations on western rangelands is most likely ineffective and may even increase the number of lambs, fawns, and calves killed by coyotes. Coyotes are still products of their evolutionary past. Biological and ecological evaluation of control practices would seem to be a requirement for any public or private effort to reduce losses due to coyotes or any other predator.

Robert L. Crabtree
Wildlife Ecologist

Law officials in NYC had been chasing a coyote and it looks like they tranqed it. Before you go off on any rant...it was on a busy thoroughfare and was prevented from being struck and potentially killed. It had been "painting the town 'yote" through a few NY cities/towns. The news said it was "terrorizing" but we all know the real reason. It was trying to find ACME to bitch at them for poor product quality.

Current loopholes in Indiana’s wildlife regulations allow the capture and killing of coyotes and red foxes by dogs in the wild. Moreover, no rule or law exists prohibiting the trapping and selling of coyotes and foxes in state or across state lines to “penning” facilities where these wild canines are then used to “train” hunting dogs in “running pens.” Operators of the running pens often charge a fee for individuals to “train” their hunting dogs on the captive coyotes and foxes. Penned wild canids are often killed by being torn apart by the dog pack. Other States are moving away from such barbaric activities such as the use of “running pens”.
As a society we have decided that dog and cock fighting are ethically indefensible and we have banned these practices nationwide. Setting dogs onto wild animals has no place in a civilised society.

Does Indiana want to be known worldwide as supporting and
facilitating such cruel ‘sports’?

http://coyoterescue.com/hounds-coyote.jpg

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY TO HELP STOP THE BARBARISM!

YOUR HELP is needed ahead of a crucial meeting of the Indiana Natural Resources Commission on March 16th 2010. A decision will be made on two citizen’s petitions. One is to disallow running pens in Indiana and the other is to stop the killing of foxes and coyotes by dogs.

Please contact the NRC officials listed below and the Governor of Indiana in support of both petitions.

• Email Jennifer Kane jkane[at]nrc.in.gov
• Email Sandra Jensen sjensen[at]nrc.in.gov
• Email Governor Mitch Daniels mdaniels[at]gov.in.gov

You may also write the Governor at:
Office of Governor Mitch Daniels
200 W. Washington St #206
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2731

Thank You For Your Support!

These are wild animals, not domesticated pets. Yet with years of experience and proper facilities, socialized coyotes can be safely interacted with by those who have insight and knowledge of their behavior. Essentially, don't try this at home!

Amber

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Amber came to me in June of 2001. She was a pet. The owners took her to a Vet. in Northern Indiana to get her vaccines. The Vet. had them leave her. After they were gone, the Vet. called Animal Control to come and get her. She was then taken to a Rehabilitator, who then brought her to me.

I then tried to find the original owner, because I could tell that she had been well taken care of and was well-socialized and knew that they were probably worried about her. No one would give me the information that I needed. She has adjusted well and has become good friends with my dog "Wrecker". I can take them on walks together on leashes. She will live with us for the rest of her life.

Blaize
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One of a litter of 7, he came from a humane shelter in Montgomery County, Indiana.

Macho
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Brother to Blaize, they are now 13 years old!

Tudi
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This coyote came from an abusive home in Northern Indiana. She is adjusting well in her new home.

Wiley
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Consulted with his owner to give her greater insight into coyote behavior. This has helped make his life less stressful.

Morrell
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Morrell arrived at the center starving and skinny (weighing only 3 pounds). Surprisingly, she was playful and spunky despite her empty tummy and serious medical condition. Morrell has MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease, which is a severe weakening of the bones due to calcium deficiency. It causes numerous fractures and breaks because the bones are soft and without substance. Morrell hopped like a bunny due to her fractures and soon, could not walk at all. ICRC, which has already spent $500 on veterinary care, now must spend at least an additional $700. Little Morrell has another break, this time an even more serious one in her hind leg which must be fixed with pins and an external fixture.

April 9, 1993
When I woke up this morning, I could hear Pat Goodmann's voice saying, "If you don't do it now, you will never be able to." So, I decided to jump in with both feet and get it done.

I had been planning for three months to introduce two of my tame coyotes to each other. I was out of pens and I needed to get these two coyotes into one pen.

In order to introduce into a pen that was neutral territory for both animals, which would be the proper way to do this to cut down on the odds of a big fight where one of the coyotes could become severely injured, I was going to have to move two females out of their pen into carrying crate, put them in the barn and then move them into pen that Marianna was living in.

The coyotes I wanted to introduce are: Maiann, a three year old female and Nahani, a one year old male. (Marianna has had her uterus removed) My intent was to introduce them in the neutral pen, leave them there for a few days then put the two of them in Mariannas' pen.

I was afraid for these coyotes that I loved so very much. I had visions of them immediately starting to tear each other apart. At Wolf Park, we had tried to introduce coyotes to each other without much success. However, Marianna and Nahani were raised differently than any other coyotes that I had heard about. So, maybe I would get lucky.

Maianna came to my house when she was about six weeks old. At that same time, I had a litter of seven other coyote puppies. They did not socialize with her very much and when they did, she had definite rules that she had to follow. She was never allowed in their room, but they would go in her room (my bedroom) and lie under the bed with her. When they would come out from under the bed to wreak havoc through the house, she could run with them, but she had to be the last in line. She was not allowed to engage in any puppy interactions. She had to stand back and watch. She always had to be the last to greet me and she was never allowed to eat with them.

When the other pups were moved outside to the puppy pen at about three months old, Marianna remained in the house because they would not tolerate her in their pen. They stayed outside all day and then they would come into the house at night through the bedroom window to go into their room to eat and to spend the night.

Marianna was not lonely. In addition to the seven coyote puppies my family in the house consisted of four dogs, five cats, one cockatoo, (in cage) one crippled red fox and two humans. Her socialization was with these animals for the next twenty seven months of her life. The other coyote puppies were moved to an outside pen at about six months of age. Marianna was moved to an outside pen at twenty eight months of age.

Nahani came to my house on April 12, 1992. He was about three weeks old. He stayed in the house for about five months. His family consisted of three dogs, five cats, one crippled red fox, one cockatoo(in cage) and two humans. He bonded closely with my dog, Raggs a seventy eight pound mixed breed. Even now, one year later, I can still take them on walks together.

The reason I decided to introduce Marianna and Nahani is the two of them were more socialized to dogs than to other coyotes.

To prepare them for the introduction, I had Mariannas' uterus removed. I then planned to introduce them during breeding season as soon as she came into estrus. In the mean time I made sure to walk each of the on it's leash to visit the other through the fence at least twice a week. They always seemed happy to see each other.

Sometimes, I would take Nahani to see Marianna and leave him in the 6ft x 6ft entrance at the front of her pen. She would get all fluffed up to look as big as possible (She only weighs about twenty pounds and is small for a coyote) and growl, but never tried to fence fight with him. Nahani would just make puppy sounds and look cute and unintimidated by her. I would leave him there for a couple of days until I thought that he needed more space. Then I would take him back to his own pen. I don't remember how many times that I did this.

Marianna did seem to be more territorial than Nahani. So Erich Klinghammer told me to put Nahani in the neutral pen first and then to bring Marianna in.

The neutral pen is the home of two three year old female coyotes. They are sisters and they are a part of the litter of seven that I got about the same time that I got Marianna. Their names are Mommas Girl and Solita and they don not like each other. They have been fighting for the last year with each other and fence fighting with their brother Gentle Ben and their sister Sarah in the adjoining pen.

After putting Mommas Girl and Solita in the barn, I went into their empty pen and cleaned out any food that I could see. I left the buried food in there so that Marianna and Nahani would have something to do besides fight in case they were so inclined.

I then put Nahani on his leash and walked him over to the pen. I put him in and he started to pace and look for a way out. He seemed so scared. Already, I was becoming a nervous wreck. I wanted to rescue him and take him back to his own pen and forget the whole thing. However, I knew that I couldn't. Pat's words kept intruding into my brain.

I then went to get Maianna. She is always happy to go anywhere on her leash. She walked into the entrance way of the adjoining pens and made the rounds growling at all the other coyotes, walked up to the pen where Nahani was pacing and waited to be let in. As I reached down to unfasten the leash, she growled at me. I ignored her, unfastened the leash, opened the door, and she walked right in.

Nahani was so intent on his pacing that he ran into her. She growled and walked on by him, went under the den and stayed under there for about five minutes until she could see what was going on. She then got on top of the den, looked around for a couple of minutes then got down and started exploring. Meanwhile, Nahani was still pacing. They would occasionaly run into each other. She would growl, but I think that Nahani was so scared that he didn't even notice. This went on for the rest of the day.

At about eight o'clock that night, I looked out the window and Marianna was on the den curled up, asleep. Nahani was on the dog house asleep.

I did not sleep very well that night. It isn't supposed to be that easy. After five days, I was still waiting for something to go wrong. They adjusted better than I did. I was a nervous wreck.

Marianna and Nahani lived together for eight years until death separated them. Marianna died first when the coyotes in the adjacent pen grabbed her tail and pulled it through the fence. She had a puncture wound up under the base of her tail which became infected and would not respond to treatment. The infection spread through her system like wildfire. Nahani died a year later from a ruptured bladder. They are buried next to each other. I miss them.

Remember the two coyotes in the barn? I left them in the barn for about an hour while I went into the pen they were going into. I picked up any meat that I saw lying around, but left the meat that was partially buried.

We then carried the lowest ranking female, Solita into the pen. I stayed in there with her for about five minutes while she explored her environment and became familiar with hiding places she might need. She walked right out of the carrying case and didn't seem afraid at all.

I then went to get the high ranking female, Mommas Girl. When I took her in and opened the door of the carrying case, she didn't want to come out. She seemed to be a little afraid. She finally came out and started exploring.

Both coyotes continued to explore and didn't pay much attention to each other. I did notice that Solita did not have her tail tucked as tight as possible the way she usually does. I then left them alone and didn't pay much attention to them until the next day. I wanted to let them work out their new boundaries to each other without my prescence.

I was surprised the next morning to look out the kitchen window and saw the two coyotes standing side by side on top of the den. I just couldn't believe it. They had not been that close to each other without fighting for the last two years. I then went out and entered the pen to see what would happen.

To my surprise, they both came to greet me. I just couldn't believe that Mommas Girl was letting Solita lick my face at the same time as she. I went over and sat on the dog house. Mommas Girl jumped up beside me. Solita put her front paws on my lap and seemed real happy that Mommas Girl was letting her have so much freedom in the new pen.

After twelve days everything was still quiet. The only problem was when I would feed them. Mommas Girl would still try to take all of the food. She would even chase Solita into the dog house to take her food away from her. I would always make sure to throw enough food into the pen so that there was always extra lying around. Solita did not lose weight, so I knew that she was getting enough food.

I had originally planned to put them back in their old pen as soon as I felt it was safe to move Marianna and Nahani back into Mariannas old pen. However, Erich said to leave things just the way they are.

Mommas Girl and Solita are still alive. I did have to eventually divide the pen to separate them. Their fighting did escalate to drawing blood. I tryed spaying both of them to try to keep them together. That did not work. In sixteen years, I have never been able to keep two female coyotes together longer than two years.

Mayetta was brought to Dr. Wolfs office by a man who said "look at the cute fox puppy that I found." He was told that it was a coyote puppy. He left his phone number so that after we determined whether or not the puppy could be returned to it's natural home, we could find out exactly where he had found her.

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After Jean Jacobs, a rehabilitator, Dr. Wolf, and I decided that she was a good candidate to be taken back to her home territory, we tried calling the telephone number for three days. We never received an answer. The decision was made to keep her.

Since I have had her, I have determined that she was too well socialized to humans to have only been out of the woods for three days. I see this as just another example of someone picking up a wild animal out of the woods, taking it home, and then finding out that it is not going to make a good pet. She will have a home here with me for the rest of her life.

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Spirit was taken to the Miami Co. Vet. Clinic by a Conservation Officer who found him in the wild. He was about three weeks old and was in very bad shape physically. He could not even suck on a bottle. He had to be tube-fed. He also had parasites, inside and out. It was determined that his mother must be dead, otherwise, he would not be in such bad shape.

He started sucking on a bottle and taking formula within twenty four hours after he came to my house. He is now eating meat and is doing quite well interacting with the female coyote puppy, Myetta. Myetta is about two weeks older. They are both getting along well with the dog, Mya. He will live here for the rest of his life.

I have another new puppy. This is number three for this year. He is a very lucky puppy.

A truck driver driving a big "eighteen wheeler",saw a shadow dart out onto the highway.

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Jessica Willard applied the brakes thinking that there was no way that he had missed whatever it was. He got out of the truck and saw lying between the wheels this little puppy. Lo and behold, he had missed it.

Thinking that it was a dog puppy, he gathered her up and took her to the Vet., where he was informed that it was a coyote puppy. He took it home and started bottle feeding it thinking that he would be able to keep it for a pet. Within a month he saw that he was incorrect in that assumption.

Her name is Cherokee and she now lives with me where she will remain for as long as she lives.

Every once in awhile, my exotic animal vet, Alex Wolf and his assistant Jean Jacobs, will talk me into adopting a special needs red fox. Such is the case in 2001. Pharaoh came into my life when he was seven weeks old. He had a broken pelvis, broken jaw and has grand mal seizures. Stabilized and on the mend, but no longer able to live in the wild due to permanent impairments, he will live out the rest of his life in my care.

A few photos of Pharaoh at the vets.
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Indiana Coyote Rescue Center is in need of money to purchase medicine for a coyote named Mariah. The name of the medication is Sporanox and it is costing $151.86 every other month. It is for ringworm that Mariah just can’t seem to get rid of, because of her compromised immune system.

Mariah’s Story

Mariah was rescued from a dog when she was about six days old. She was put in a box until the Conservation Officer came to get her two days later. She was not given any nourishment during that time. She was a starving, little, scared, coyote puppy. She was given to a close friend of the Conservation Officer. John got some very bad advice on what to feed her. He finally found me and we got her on a good coyote diet.

John and Mariah had a very close relationship, but when Mariah was about six months old, John realized he had taken on more than he could handle. Mariah had Metabolic Bone Disease and broke her leg just jumping off of the sofa. The leg was set and she was given calcium supplements.

Mariah came here to live when she was about seven months old. She is a very small coyote. It is difficult for her to even put on weight. Her vet. bills, medication bills and supplement bills are very expensive.

About two years ago, the got ring worm. Many different treatments have been tried. We now have one that keeps it in check so that she isn’t miserable. Dr. Wol,f also feels it is the safest to have her on long term. She is on for two weeks and then off for two weeks. She also gets a Vitamin B Comp. Pill once a month.

Please help with Mariah’s medication. Any help would be appreciated.
You can donate through a paypal donation made to ceannicrc[at]yahoo.com

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Question 5: Coydogs - Do they tend to breed with domestic dogs or feral dogs?

Yes, in some situations, but the breeding behavior of the coyote is much different than that of the dog, therefore instances of this would be rare. If a female coyote is in estrus and chooses a male dog as her mate, the pups would not survive because the domestic dog will not feed and care for the female when the pups are born as a male coyote would. For a female dog to mate with a male coyote, she would have to be in estrus at the same time the male coyote is fertile. As stated above, the male coyote is not fertile all the time like the male dog. The female dog would also have to give the same social and breeding signals to the male coyote as a female coyote would, which is unlikely that the dog could produce. In coyotes, the female chooses her mate, and both male and female are selective in their mates. Immediately prior to breeding, the relationship between male and female coyotes is very aggressive. Therefore, without the breeding behavior, the male coyote would not respond to the female dog for breeding, and may even kill it. Also, unlike dogs, coyotes create lifelong pair bonds, inhabiting and defending the same territory.