Predator, nuisance or majestic animal?

Many people conjure up different visions and feelings about coyotes & other predators.

Many feel they serve a great purpose in the chain of life, "why do we have to kill them, if it weren’t for humans we wouldn’t have to manage any thing, the chain of life would take care if itself"

In a perfect world I would agree, but this is not a perfect world & we are human, we will have to co-exist with wildlife. It is our responsibility to not react with our emotions; we must come to reasonable decisions for the good of all.

Some see them as a nuisance and feel the only good coyote is a dead coyote. This again is an emotional response and not necessarily good for anyone.

Others, as myself see the both sides of the picture. As both a cinematographer and a hunter, I see the coyote as one of gods most intelligent animals, adaptable to almost any situation, be it severe heat, cold, swamp lands or most prevalent today surviving very efficiently in urban settings. As we encroach on their habitat with golf courses & housing developments, the coyote has learned to survive by eating little FeFe when the lady of the house puts her out to go PePe. This lady that used to love the adorable coyote now wants to eradicate the little mangy !#$%&^*.

I understand the need for managing wildlife. Being raised in a small house on my uncle’s 7000-acre cattle ranch, we learned early in life that coyotes & other predators take a toll on our livestock. It was understood that if we saw a coyote, he wouldn’t be around for long. This would reduce the amount of livestock being taken, simple economics.

Arizona Wilderness productions & Team AZOD recently were invited to St Regis lodge in south east Alabama to film, study & try to figure out what to do about their recent over population of coyotes. This area had never even seen coyotes until recently. The main concern is that the white tail fawn population is alarmingly low. During our visit we’ve learned that the coyotes are packing up like wolves and taking down even the mature deer. Deer hair was found in "ALL" coyote scat (manure).

Again the coyote is very adaptable. Our rabbit in distress call did not bring them running as their western cousins do. We can only surmise that they don’t want a little old rabbit when they can easily take down a nice plump white tailed deer.

Yes, the coyote is a magnificent animal, but as with all species, the need for wildlife management is needed as much as the management of human encroachment on our ever so decreasing wilderness.

We must reach a happy medium, so that we all may co-exist in relative harmony.

It is our responsibility to teach proper management to our children so that they can enjoy the fruits of the land as we have.

Rick Williams

Executive Editor

Arizona Wilderness Productions