Princeton calls off plan to kill coyotes, for now

[FarCenter]

PRINCETON — A coyote cull in Princeton is off the table this hunting season.

Instead of hiring sharpshooters to thin out the town's burgeoning coyote population, Princeton will start collecting data on the animals, council President Bernie Miller said today. Officials will also roll out public education for residents on how to deal with coyotes, keep them off property and protect pets.

“We did think very seriously about conducting a cull, but as we did that, we dug further into the literature, and the further we got, we found that a cull might not be productive for a suburban area like Princeton,” Miller said.

Miller, a member of the town's Animal Control Advisory Committee, said he would report the committee's recommendation to council tonight. It would reverse a decision earlier this month to conduct a controlled hunt of the town's extimated 80 coyotes. The cull would have been the first for the town.

http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/10/princetons_coyote_cull_called_off.html

They help control the deer and feral cat population.

[truebluegreen]

1. And when their population levels are under stress,

they breed more. It's part of the reason we have them everywhere now, far outside their historical range. Wolves would help.

[Drahthaardogs]

4. Yes, because wolves are a viable option in New Jersey

Seriously?

[truebluegreen]

11. Did I say they were? Srsly?

[Hekate]

6. Coyote the Trickster spread across the continent on the roads, bridges, and tunnels ...

... made for him by Man. Coyotes are very very adaptable. Also they think small pets are delicious, so keep yours indoors at night.

[truebluegreen]

12. Sure--after we wiped out the only predator that could keep them in line:

wolves (check out what happened in Yellowstone when wolves were re-introduced).

Then, when we tried to take over the wolves' job, and "control" the coyotes by massive trapping and poisoning operations, we found to our shock that they started breeding more often and having larger litters. Things quickly got out of control after that.

The coyotes we've bred are bigger, stronger, more aggressive and more likely to hunt in packs than the Trickster of old, and they are not nearly as shy as their larger cousins. Which is why all my pets are big. I try to keep them close anyway. My biggest dog is a doberman/german shepherd cross who thinks coyotes are to play with--Thank Dog he is bigger, faster and stronger than they are since I once saw him in the middle of six....

[Hekate]

14. Our suburban tract is next to some foothills, bounded by a dry creek (typical So Cal seasonal creek)

... with a 10 acre "undeveloped" county park another few blocks in the other direction. We don't have to see the coyotes to know they are among us: some nights I can hear their groups singing to each other from all 3 directions, call and response. I've only seen them slip shadowy down the streets a few times late at night, but I know they're around.

My daughter likes to live in much more rural areas, and up at her place I've seen them in the daytime. I know they're coming to check out her hens, but I would not want a small child near them either.

I'm glad your dog is a big dog. There's a whole lot of Nature that I'd rather admire from a distance, if you know what I mean.

[truebluegreen]

16. Yes, they are more brazen in rural areas than developed ones

but they are everywhere now. Where dogs are concerned they are very crafty (wily!), doing "play bows" and luring them out, then attacking. Charlie (the Big Dog) thought for a long time they were playing, he is less tolerant now--but still doesn't hurt them. Runs them down, knocks them over with his chest and then waltzes away...<sigh> I have a starter pistol that is Really Loud, but they are smart, they know there is no projectile.

Coyotes make me a lot more nervous than wolves, just as black bears worry me more than grizzly. Despite the fearsome reputations of the latter two (and well-deserved respect), they are both shy, and will avoid contact if possible. Coyotes and black bears have no such scruples and are also frequently misunderestimated: coyotes seem like dogs, and black bears are clownish--until they aren't.

While I love nature, I agree that in my backyard or on my porch or helping itself to ice cream from the kitchen freezer (as happened to a friend of mine) is a little too close!

[Bigmack]

2. Coyotes always win... always. nt

[FarCenter]

3. Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius

[Bigmack]

10. Coyotes can run 40 mph... roadrunners can run 17... coyotes always win. nt

[Glassunion]

5. Well then why the fu#$ are we paying for drones?

[RebelOne]

7. Yes, they help control the deer population,

and hunters don't want that. So they will hunt coyotes, as they need deer to hunt.

[pnwmom]

9. Princeton's also overrun by deers. That's one of the reasons

they're reevaluating the plan to cull the coyotes.

[Here]

8. These poor noble creatures

Dirty Teabaggers

[Hekate]

15. Non sequitur

[pitbullgirl1965]

13. I love coyotes!! Wonderful animals.