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Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#31

Post by Ididntdothis »

nyolfen wrote: post #29
Ididntdothis wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They take small to mid size dogs too. Usually when it’s dark. Sometimes even while on a leash. Our 13 pound dog got attacked in our backyard. The coyote jumped a five foot fence with ease. The dog survived with some bite marks but the vet said usually the injuries are worse. Otherwise they cause less trouble than raccoons who get into a lot of things.

you may consider this: https://www.coyotevest.com/collections/all

Not sure about this. Doesn't seem very comfortable for the dog. I added another layer of chickenwire to the fence that went outward so the coyote would not only have to jump up but then also to get over an overhang.No problems since then and cost maybe $50 and a few hours of work.

Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#33

Post by grawprog »

michaelbuckbee wrote: post #7

Other than eating the occasional housecat (which is bad) Coyotes, in general, seem like good partners for our current urban/suburban life. They make hidden dens in our parks, like to eat rats and other small rodents and are scared of dogs and households. https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2010/12/08/131876027/6...

The problem is when new predators, especially widely adaptable ones such as coyotes, are introduced into an ecosystem where the prey animals have no defenses against them, they tend to outcompete everything so the populations of prey animals decline and local predators end up with less food causing both populations to decline until only the invasive one is left.

This is why introduced and invasive species of both plants and animals are a huge problem around the world. They stifle local biodiversity and you end up with monocultures.

Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#34

Post by dghughes »

In my island province here in Canada the biggest animal was the red fox (vulpes vulpes) until about ten years ago. Then suddenly coyotes appeared seemingly overnight. It drove foxes into the towns and cities or killed them off in rural areas.

It's amazing to witness such a sudden change although I've read they arrived in 1983. It's very densely populated here but also rural it's many small towns spread out plus two bigger cities. Coyotes were easily spotted since they stood out compared to a fox or even a dog.

It's not really a true coyote it's canis latrans or the "eastern coyote", or "coywolf". They're bigger than a true coyote, they're smarter, and they live in packs of a dozen.

The Coywolf is also more dangerous than a coyote or wolf. There are reports from people who were out walking and upon seeing a large dog they turned back around. When walking back they discovered they were being herded into a trap of several Coywolves. One woman in Cape Breton was killed by Coywolves when she was out for a walk in a wooded area.

Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#35

Post by xenospn »

michaelbuckbee wrote: post #7

Other than eating the occasional housecat (which is bad) Coyotes, in general, seem like good partners for our current urban/suburban life. They make hidden dens in our parks, like to eat rats and other small rodents and are scared of dogs and households. https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2010/12/08/131876027/6...

Out here (Southern California) they definitely eat cats and small dogs.

Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#37

Post by xenospn »

Ididntdothis wrote: post #31
nyolfen wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you may consider this: https://www.coyotevest.com/collections/all

Not sure about this. Doesn't seem very comfortable for the dog. I added another layer of chickenwire to the fence that went outward so the coyote would not only have to jump up but then also to get over an overhang.No problems since then and cost maybe $50 and a few hours of work.

I live across the street from a big park where coyotes live. I see them walk around as early as 2-3pm sometimes - and a few times I saw them right outside my door late at night. My biggest worry is them jumping into my balcony and getting in through the doggy door, which they are known to do. My dog has no chance against them.

Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#38

Post by ranDOMscripts »

smt88 wrote: post #12
michaelbuckbee wrote: post #7

Other than eating the occasional housecat (which is bad) Coyotes, in general, seem like good partners for our current urban/suburban life. They make hidden dens in our parks, like to eat rats and other small rodents and are scared of dogs and households. https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2010/12/08/131876027/6...

Well, they can't eat a cat if the cat is kept indoors, which it should be to protect wild animals that it might kill for fun (e.g. birds). Considering Australia is culling feral cats as a conservation effort, the coyotes might be doing our ecosystem a favor in that regard as well.

There shouldn't be any _outdoor cats_, full stop. I don't think people realize the extent of the bird/squirrel/lizard/frog carnage inflicted by the fluffy apex predator they occasionally get to pet. While I've seen many a cat catch & eat small creatures, I once had a neighbor's cat use my bird feeder as the lure for an all-you-can-eat bird buffet.

Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#39

Post by smt88 »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #16
smt88 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Domestic dogs, many crops, and feral-descended populations (like wild pigs and pigeons) also benefit

Strange list. Other domestic animals (cats, pigs, chickens...) benefit the same way domestic dogs do. That's the whole point of being domesticated.

It certainly would be a strange list if it were exhaustive. It was just a random list of examples to make the point that anything humans perceive as beneficial are reproducing at massive rates.

Food animals (like cows) are perhaps not fitting anyone's definition of "doing well", but they're certainly reaching record-high population counts.

Re: Coyotes Poised to Infiltrate South America

#40

Post by oflannabhra »

MikeKusold wrote: post #14
michaelbuckbee wrote: post #7

Other than eating the occasional housecat (which is bad) Coyotes, in general, seem like good partners for our current urban/suburban life. They make hidden dens in our parks, like to eat rats and other small rodents and are scared of dogs and households. https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2010/12/08/131876027/6...

Once coyotes establish themselves, you can never get rid of them. If you try to exterminate them, they just start having larger litters until their population recovers. They are adaptable and cunning. I hope that South America’s animals are ready for them, because they can permanently change an ecosystem.

Yep. Coyote population is purely tied to resource availability, which unfortunately can include domesticated animals.

Any farmer will tell you that security is more important than hunting for coyotes.

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