Canis Latrans - Coyote

Regarding the coyote and sheep producers there are two opposite points of view.

Those who believe in live and let live and those who believe complete annihilation is the only answer. The two sides do not meet to discuss options!

The occasional loss of sheep or lambs to these sly prairie hunters is generally accepted. However, the debate begins to rage when a producers livelihood is threatened.

"Through all these new, imaginative, and creative approaches
to the problem of sharing our earth with other creatures
there runs a constant theme,
the awareness that we are dealing with life..."

quote by Rachel Carson, sourced from The Nature of Coyotes written by Wayne Grady.

There are many stories of these primitive hunters seen wandering through a flock without killing. If you have such an animal in your midst, live and let live, seems a great way to go.

If we kill the animals that do no harm it leaves a void in the ecosystem that will be filled by another animal that may do worse harm.

We strive for balance in our ranch and grassland ecosystem instead of focusing efforts to eradicate one species of animal. It is not an easy feat as when killing happens, frustration quickly mounts, but we believe a balanced state ensures the numbers of one species do not cycle out of control. Or if they do nature will restore the balance quickly enough.

Witnessing an unusually high number of one species, whether sheep predator, bird or plant, is our indication that something is out of balance that enabled that species to abundantly thrive.

With a balanced grassland ecosystem there is more than enough prey food, other than sheep, for coyotes to survive. This wise hunter will not expend more energy to eat than he needs to. Rabbits, gophers, weasels, birds, mice, voles, and berries are all easier prey but only if they're available.

Yes, there will be the occasional coyote who develops a killing habit with sheep. In this case it would be worth hunting out this single sheep predator, however complete annihilation of every animal is not going to solve the real issue.

When we hear about sheep predators becoming such a huge problem that they put sheep producers out of business, we don't doubt it, but we wonder what could be so out of balance.

How did it come to be?

Can the situation be turned around?

Coyotes hunting sheep is not a new concept. Tales of sheep producers from long ago talk about dealing with sheep predators.

In todays agricultural world however, many farming and ranching practices take place without consideration of the effect on an ecosystem as a whole.

It would be interesting to know if producers who are surrounded by cropland or who are operating in depleted grasslands, are plagued more by predators due to the lack of wildlife in these areas.

The usual food sources for the predator would be gone and when the sheep producer provides an alternative food source in the way of lamb it's an easy transition for the hungry and sly four legged hunter.

We also wonder how often it happens that a producer who avidly hunts every predator in his area realizes double or triple the threat a couple years later.

Is killing them all only a temporary reprieve that actually serves to make matters worse?

We do not have all the answers.

We do not have THE solution to the issue of coyotes preying on sheep because we don't think there is a single solution.

Like the long ago shepherds, we feel that using a combination of methods to deter sheep predators is still the most sustainable route to take.

Always there is a balance to be weighed and an "awareness that we are dealing with life," to be considered.