The Status and Impact of Eastern Coyotes in Northern New York
Executive Summary, June 1991
In 1990, the Legislature passed a bill that would have allowed year-round hunting of coyotes in New York's Northern Zone, as opposed to the current system of open and closed hunting seasons established annually by Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulation. The bill generated such controversy that it was withdrawn pending a study by DEC. The objectives of the study were to: (1) assess the role of the coyote in northern New York in relation to people, wildlife and livestock; (2) provide adequate opportunity for citizens to express their opinions concerning coyotes; and (3) prepare a status report with coyote information and management recommendations. The study consisted of: (1) a review and analysis of available scientific literature; (2) consultations with leading coyote researchers and wildlife damage management specialists; (3) a survey of DEC field staff and County Cooperative Extension agents in northern New York; and (4) the solicitation and analysis of both written and verbal public opinion. As a result, given that a strong social demand or biological need could not be demonstrated, the DEC recommends against a year round coyote hunting season for the following reasons:
- The majority of people who provided input do not support a year-round coyote hunting season.
- Human concerns and complaints about coyotes are not a major public issue, and are influenced by one's background, perspective, personal interests, and geographic location.
- Coyote problems appear to be localized rather than spread throughout the Northern Zone.
- Existing law allows landowners to take specific coyotes injuring private property.
- Deer harvest data indicate, on the whole, Northern Zone deer numbers have been growing in the presence of well-established coyote populations.
- The random removal of coyotes resulting from a year-round hunting season will not: (a) control or reduce coyote populations; (b) reduce or eliminate predation on livestock; or (c) result in an increase in deer densities.
- Few people would take advantage of this additional hunting opportunity.
- Potentially valuable fur would be wasted since late spring, summer, and early fall coyote pelts have little monetary value.
The DEC will continue with its current coyote regulatory, extension, and monitoring programs. In view of the strong demand for additional information about coyote ecology, management, recreation, and damage prevention techniques, the DEC, within the constraints of current staffing and funding, will strive to:
- Develop educational and natural resource information programs, in cooperation with other agencies and organizations, including the preparation of extension materials for people with coyote complaints.'
- Increase extension efforts and on-site investigations of coyote damage complaints.
- Expand and promote recreational opportunities for hunters and trappers.
| Content | Page |
|---|---|
| List of Tables | i |
| List of Figures | ii |
| Acknowledgements | iii |
| Introduction | 1 |
| Purpose of this Report | 1 |
| Scope of this Report | 1 |
| Geographic Area of Concern | 2 |
| Natural History of the Eastern Coyote | 3 |
| Identity and Description | 3 |
| Reproduction | 3 |
| Social Organization | 3 |
| Territory | 3 |
| Dispersal - Long Distance Movement | 4 |
| Mortality and Diseases | 4 |
| Food Habits | 4 |
| History of Presence in New York | 4 |
| Management of the Eastern Coyote in New York | 6 |
| Past Management | 6 |
| Present Management | 6 |
| Coyote Trapping and Hunting Seasons in Northern New York | 6 |
| Coyote Harvests in Northern New York | 7 |
| Control of Coyote Damage | 13 |
| Controlling Damage to Livestock | 13 |
| Coyote Control Efforts in New York | 15 |
| Deer Populations and Food Supply | 17 |
| Northern Zone Deer Populations and Habitat Conditions | 17 |
| Coyote/Deer Interrelationships | 21 |
| Northern New York | 21 |
| Examples from the Scientific Literature | 22 |
| Survey of Known Predation Incidents | 23 |
| Methods | 23 |
| Results and Discussion | 23 |
| Conclusions | 26 |
| Public Input | 27 |
| Procedures for Obtaining Public Opinion | 27 |
| Agricultural Perspectives | 28 |
| Social Perspectives | 28 |
| Health and Safety Concerns | 30 |
| Sportsmen Perspectives | 30 |
| Regulatory/Enforcement Issues | 33 |
| Policy, Educational, or Research Issues | 33 |
| Environmental/Ecological Issues | 33 |
| Summary of Public Opinion | 37 |
| Summary and Recommendations | 41 |
| Background | 41 |
| Findings and Conclusions | 41 |
| Recommendations | 42 |
| Bibliography | 45 |
| Appendix A - Description of the four major land areas in northern New York | 48 |
| Appendix B - Major land areas of northern New York | 50 |
| Appendix C - Towns and Counties included in the four major land areas of northern New York | 51 |
| Appendix D - Coyote Complaint & Predation Survey | 52 |
| Appendix E - Update: Public Participation in Wildlife Management | 53 |
| Appendix F - News release announcing public coyote meetings | 54 |
| Appendix G - Comment Form: The Coyote in Northern New York | 55 |
| Appendix H - The Coyote in Northern New York - A Fact Sheet | 56 |
A PDF (4.2 mB) version of the full report may be downloaded by following the link in the right hand column of this page.
