I am concerned with Gov. LePage’s recent signing of LD 372 into law. That law takes money from our General Fund and allots $100,000 of our money to be added to an already approved $50,000 to kill coyotes. Even worse, it allow for this amount of money to be taken from our General Fund each year for the next three years.
While the governor has eliminated health care for 20,000 Maine residents, cut prescription drug coverage for seniors and reduced funding for Head Start, he apparently sees some sense in supporting a state-sponsored bounty. It is important to note that humans have been attempting to reduce coyote populations using bounties for the last 100 years. It has only resulted in an increase of coyote populations and more dispersing juveniles who travel to places where there are fewer coyotes. They then populate that area.
Coyotes have a unique biological ability to increase their productivity when their populations are under pressure. Its scientific name is compensatory reproduction and is an attribute they share with feral horses, mountain goats and, yes, even the deer the governor is claiming to attempt to save.
The problem is compensatory reproduction occurs when habitat and food are plentiful enough to feed an increased population. We continue to see a decline in sustainable habitat for deer in northern Maine due to forestry practices by the forest products industry. The deer will not survive in numbers hunting groups would like to see in the north woods, whether or not there are coyotes there, and the biologists within our state agency — the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — know this. Unfortunately, it is not politically expedient to speak out about what they know if it does not run parallel with the current political climate.
The two most recent studies on compensatory reproduction in coyotes are from 2009 and 2010. I presented them to the IF&W Committee last session. Those two studies showed that when you removed the dominant coyote from the family unit, both litter sizes and pack sizes doubled. These two studies were peer reviewed and published in the July 2009 and May 2010 Canadian Field Naturalist, a well-respected wildlife journal.
About 10 percent of Mainers hunt. A minority of this hunting community in Maine persist in “crying wolf” when it comes to the reasons for deer population declines in northern Maine. They say coyotes are the reason, yet deer and coyote continue to thrive everywhere there is adequate habitat throughout the United States and Canada. The most ironic part of this waste of our tax dollars is they want to kill coyotes to save deer so they can kill deer or sell licenses to those who would do so. This is out of touch with society and a squandering of our tax dollars. Last year the state spent $15,156 to kill 70 coyotes. This comes to $216.50 per coyote.
It is ironic that this law is Public Law, Chapter 666, considering how much the coyote is demonized here in Maine.
This bill was pushed through the Appropriations Committee by the head of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, former Sen. David Trahan. Even former head of SAM George Smith gave it little chance of actually getting passed. In a nutshell, this is how wildlife is governed in our great state, with cronyism and lobbying of the most incestuous type. The governor’s signing of this bill shows how little he cares for the elderly and the infirm, as well as school children who need Head Start.
We need to start paying attention to the science and ignore self-interested, misguided lobbyists who care less about the elderly and our children than they do about their minority constituents.
Daryl DeJoy is executive director of the Wildlife Alliance of Maine.
Don’t worry Daryl,
if you look in your latest issue of “Fur, Fish, and Game” You will see that the price for coyote pelts is on the rise ($25-$40 for Eastern heavy’s). So come Oct 31st all of us maine trappers will help you out free of charge!
Good deal, good luck, take them out.
Don’t forget the early season. Also have plans for a few trips north to hunt them in Jan.
With further trapping restrictions, hopperdredgebill…..
You need to download you 2011-2012 trapping regulations Daryl (you know, the one with the weasel on the cover) It looks to me like:
1. The season for beaver has been extended
2. The canine foothold size restriction has been removed
3. Weasel boxes w/ rat traps are again legal for the Southern part of the state. 4. The overall trapping season is a few days longer.
5. The Lynx exclusion device is now being required for the Northern WMD
And in the midst of our economic downturn fur demand is strong in China & Russia, hence you see our license sales remaining steady
4 out of 5 regulations in the trappers favor, that’s not a bad compromise by my estimate. Daryl, you remind me of friends who were frantic that pres Obama would reduce gun rights once he got in office. After 3 years of his administration gun ownership is at an all time high, and gun regulations are easing considerably nationwide.
Daryl asking the current Head Parrot of the Tea Party Parrots to use science is laughable. After all he is the one who gave us “women with little beards”.
Yes, save the Coyote crowd chime in……
Kill the coyote, so the hunter can kill the deer. It’s already been proven that killing coyotes is not going to help the deer. Read Tom Wharton’s article about bounties on coyotes in Utah. The wildlife killers will not stop until every coyote is dead. Hunters have absolutely no respect for wildlife. They sure do love killing it though. What a waste of money. The wilderness is not a deer farm for hunters.
Go hug the coyote…LOL
Chime!
What’s the matter, are you mad that coyotes are better deer killers than you hunters?
What kind of childish statement is that? This has nothing to do with what is a better “deer killer”. And I don’t think he is “mad” at you. I think he is making fun of you. Can’t blame him.
It has everything to do with it. The hunters are claiming they can’t get deer and that the coyote is killing all of the deer. Their claim,. not mine. They are angry that coyotes are better at killing deer than they are.
Glad you can see that coyotes kill far to many deer.
Coyotes kill deer. What’s wrong with this? Nothing wrong with that. You whiner hunters are just mad because the coyote can kill deer and you hunters can’t. You hunters sure don’t like non-human predators being better deer hunters than yourselves. As usual, blame the predator for your failure to get your deer. Everything with you people is an excuse when it comes to being a failure of a hunter.
I actually got my deer last year and a few coyotes to boot.
Hunters do more for wildlife and conservation then any other organization.
http://www.fws.gov/hunting/whatdo.html
Even the government agrees.
Hunters also KILL more wildlife than any other organization.
Duh. You ought to try it, alot of good eaten going on with some nice decorative art on the wall. It’s not extremists, it is the norm. The failed attacks on bear hunting years ago prove that maine is a pro-hunting state. We should do what Minnesota did years ago and amend the state constitution to insure that hunting and fishing never go away.
First off, you are wrong if you think that hunters are trying to kill every coyote. That is nonsense. Also, impossible. You yourself said in an earlier comment, “They think things are so black and white, but they aren’t.” Just because people are hunting coyotes to help the deer herd, that doesn’t mean that they think the coyote should be eliminated from the state. I do not hunt, but I know many people that do. As for (most) hunters not respecting wildlife, I think that is wrong and maybe you should talk to one or two people that are avid hunters.
Most hunters will tell you that the deer population is impacted by logging (destroying deer yards), harsh winters, coyotes and a combination of other factors. People who work in the outdoor/hunting industry depend on hunters coming from out of state to hunt Maine’s “monster deer” (which are not as big as they once were). People might come from New Jersey and drop a grand or two in our state to hunt our big deer, but there are plenty of 120 lb deer in NJ, so if they come to Maine and can’t find the big one they are looking for, then maybe next season they will just stay in their own state.
I don’t necessarily think that so much state money should be spent on killing coyotes, but that doesn’t make the whole concept wrong. There should be an equal (or greater) effort put into saving deer yards and habitat so that they can stay strong, make it through the winter, and grow bigger and stay healthy.
There are many hunters in Maine who would like to see coyotes eradicated. Will this ever happen? No, it won’t.
Absolutely hilarious how you hunters try to make others believe you are trying to save the deer. Tell everyone the truth. You want to save the deer from the coyote so you can kill the deer. The only solution with you people is kill kill kill. It’s absurd that an extremist minority is being catered to just so they can have deer to shoot and kill.
And they chime in…LOL, I love it…
You seem to be the one that is chiming the most. Just sayin….
What, you didn’t think it was only going to be you anti-coyote extremists posting on here did you?
I noticed that the hate the coyote crowd chimed in first.
It isn’t amazing how these people have such a deep hatred for wildlife? I mean all they wanna do is kill it with their guns.
It’s as though war has been declared on predators…………they no longer have the right to live. How sad is that?? What will this world be like without them, I hope I’m not here to see it.
Yeah, that’s right. Only a small percentage of Maine’s populations hunts. Why are these wildlife killing extremists being catered to? They don’t care about the deer. They just want to make sure the deer is around, so they can shoot them. They are angered that the coyote is a much better deer killer than they are. They think things are so black and white, but they aren’t.
“wildlife killing extremists?” I don’t think so, go eat some tofu and chill.
Now, there you go spewing your ignorance. Assuming anyone that actually cares for wildlife eats tofu and is a vegetarian. I’m only stating the truth. Do you have a problem with that? You are wildlife killing extremists. What do you call a hunter who wants to kill all of the coyotes just so he can have more deer to shoot and kill?
Not every hunter wants to kill all the coyotes,even those that do aren’t effective enough to take out the necessary amount to have a lasting effect on the coyote population. To reduce the population of coyotes you would have to remove somewhere in the 75-80% range of the population, and that is only temporary unless you actively manage in that fashion year after year. It can be done but is it practical? I don’t think so, and most people realize it.
I know of no hunter/sportsman that wants to put the coyote (or any other animal for that matter) on the endangered species list. As far as caring for wildlife, NOBODY does more than sportsman in both time and money to protect wildlife. I hunt primarily because I’d rather eat wild game than the meat that that is offered in the stores, just like I’d rather grow my own vegetables. Far more healthy eating.
But I guess according to the you ignorance you spew that makes me an extremist.
Daryl,
Thank you for your informative article. This science based information has been around for many years and it is unfortunate that at this point in time you need to repeat it and worse that you needed to write it for the reason that you did. LaPage and his ilk think the earth is flat and that nature needs to be destroyed. Speaking of the wolf mentioned in the title; extirpating the wolf is one of the reasons the coyote was able to move into Maine in the first place. Sadly, the war on predators continues because I guess man has to wipe out anything that he/she sees as competition. If Maine did happen to find a way to extirpate the coyote there will be some reaping and sowing. Removing a top predator is not something that should be messed with. Negative wolf= many coyote. Negative coyote=many rats, mice, and who knows what else. Thanks again for the wake up call concerning another brilliant move by the gov.
The coyote is a non-native invasive species that pushes out native predators such as fox, bobcat, lynx, fisher, and marten. All of the se predators are competing for the same rats, mice, snowshoe hare, and other small game. Unfortunately of all the predators listed above the coyote is the only one able to prey on full grown healthy deer (especially during winter snows and spring fauning). But as I stated earlier, current high pelt prices will do more to bring coyote numbers down than any legislation.
The coyote is a true surviver and will be in Maine for many years to come and they will continue to eat deer.
Respectfully, If you are concerned about the animals that compete for food with the coyote I would suggest that you take the lead in a campaign to stop hunting them. Without you and others who kill wildlife for sport nature will do just fine in controlling its populations and that includes coyotes. There are other ways to enjoy the woods without blasting everything that moves and then complain about how this and that are overpopulating, killing other animals that you want to kill, etc. I find your arguments disingenuous.
I’m not being disengenuous, but I am a consumptive user. The coyote fanatacism among the environmentalists today is no diferent than the wolf craze of the 90’s. back then they wanted to reintroduce wolves to maine. The only problem was they were Carolina Red Wolves, Non-Native invasive species. The real problem with coyotes is urbanization. As Maine becomes more suburban, coyotes will thrive. Deer benefit from that as well, there were never large herd in the great north woods, there were Eastern Elk, and moose. Deer are creatures of the boundaries, and do better around farm & urban land. If you want proof, just take a trip out to Isleboro, or Vinalhaven… No coyotes, lots of deer! Happy Hunting
The point is that as a consumptive user you are not interested in most of the smaller animals that you mention. I have no problem with hunters who eat their kill. I do have a problem with killing for sport and some of the practices that are associated with it. The deer are not going to be in N Maine in large numbers for other reasons than the coyote. I don’t need to spell that out to you because I can see that you have thought about the issues and are aware of my arguments about N maine. In Midcoast and Southern Maine their are more than enough deer to hunt. It wouldn’t be much of a hunt if a hunter got a kill every time because there were so many deer standing around that one couldn’t miss as in the Elk situation out west until the reintroduction of wolves. So just let us agree to disagree and leave it at that.. Later.
Thanks Buzzardbob. Removing coyotes increases rabies vector species (skunks, raccoons, fox) . There are plenty of studies showing that. Increasing deer populations artificially, as they are trying to do here, increases deer ticks=Lyme Disease. Nature needs alpha predators and these guys just don’t understand the very obvious predator/prey relationship that exists. When you remove habitat, that is when the problems start. The forest products industry continues to unabashedly rape the north woods of Maine while continuing to promote the coyote as the villain. It’s more than a small amount of sleight of hand. Deer found in northern Maine are at the uppermost 10% of their range. Because these guys remember the70’s and the “deer boom” following the massive clearcuts due to spruce budworm, they hold that moment intime as how things were before coyotes. In northern Maine, coyotes are no more an invasive species than deer are.
The Wildlife Alliance of Maine is a anti hunting group . Just visit their website and read their mission statement. PETA has arrived !
We’re not PETA, that would insult members of our Board of Directors that fair chase hunt. We are here to stay and we are the majority. I hope you can get used to it.
Daryl, can you post the next meeting date and location of WAM. I keep hearing about how WAM members are great hunter, I sure would like to meet them.
I suspect you’ve met, or at least have heard of our Board member who is a Master Maine Guide. It’s not my job to invite ignorance to our meetings, nor will I. You waste enough of our time.
I met a few Master Guides. Some great outdoorsmen, others great bull$^!+ artist. So being a Master Guide means nothing to me, other then you spent the money to become one.
I am sorry if I struck a nerve with my request for date and location for the next WAM meeting. I thought WAM welcomed all hunters.
PS Although I don’t consider myself ignorant to wildlife in Maine, I would like to point something out to you. (This applies to an organization) If you invite ignorance to your meeting, you can attempt to educate them, making them no longer ignorant.
The general public never attends Board of Director meetings. We do not have “member meetings”. We are too busy making sure we are working for wildlife. We are an all volunteer organization and I run a full time business as well. Our members are in it for change, positive change for wildlife in Maine. In the meantime, there is more than enough information, peer reviewed studies, etc. to educate all those who want to kill coyotes in Maine. We have been educating many, many people, but there are those who refuse to see. You don’t need WAM to educate you about wildlife. Stop listening to your friends, talk with Prof. Dan Harrison, the foremost expert on the Eastern Coyote, or biologist Jon Way, another expert. Their expert, peer reviewed studies should be all you need. And, WAM does not speak for nor accept all hunters. I don’t know where you got that idea. There’s no place for hounders, bear baiters, trappers and other kill-for-thrill or money types. If you’re a good fair chase hunter who hunts to eat, you are more than welcome.
So you never have “member meetings” well how does WAM vote on issues. I would think that if WAM is in the majority as you claim then their would be a great difference of opinions on different issues, I mean with so many members. Or does the Board of Directors just do what they want/think what is right.
We are happy to consider input from our members and often focus on those issues, but that is what a Board of Directors is for, to guide an organization. They are my boss. Our members support what we do. We NEVER get input from members disagreeing with what we are doing. WAM’s actions speak for themselves.
How do you consider input from your members if you don’t hold open meetings? It sounds like a small cabal of “directors” deciding what citizens of the state ought to think. Democracy is generally open to all.
And understand, we represent wildlife and those who enjoy it for it’s own sake, not enjoy killing. We do not profess to represent hunters, only that we have some among our ranks. We won’t fight battles at our meetings. We work things out like adults. I have been at too many meetings, speaking engagements and IFW Committee meetings where the childish remarks from our opponents were the order of the day. There is no learning to be had by this minority. If they don’t like the science, they just belittle, call names and otherwise show their ignorance. Life’s too short.
There are those that actually enjoy wildlife and there are those who actually enjoy killing wildlife.
Also if you don’t mind me asking. Does WAM have any up coming events where the “general public” can meet with them to learn more about them. I have been to a few sportsmen show and never saw a WAM booth.
Daryl Dejoy the director for WAM states
“And, WAM does not speak for nor accept all hunters. I don’t know where you got that idea. There’s no place for hounders, bear baiters, trappers and other kill-for-thrill or money types. If you’re a good fair chase hunter who hunts to eat, you are more than welcome.”
Now remember folks WAM claims not to be an Anti-hunting group.
So, if you are against hound hunting, bear baiting, trapping, etc you are anti-hunting? I guess the majority of Mainers are anti-hunting then. Don’t fool or kid yourself. Bear baiting, hound hunting, and trapping are not popular among most Mainers. Hunters think killing is going to fix all of the problems. Bounties have been proven to be ineffective and it’s very unlikely hunters in Maine are ever going to see the deer numbers they used to see. It’s very typical of these people to think that killing a lot of wildlife is going to bring the deer back to the numbers the hunters want.
Coyotes compete with other coyotes for food sources. By killing coyotes, you are not going to make the deer magically reappear. Less coyotes equals more deer for the remaining coyotes to eat and kill. These hunters will never understand that the wilderness is not a deer farm.
“Bear baiting, hound hunting, and trapping are not popular among most Mainers.” I think the last time the State had a large survey on that issue (a Vote) the majority of Mainers did support it or at least didn’t oppose it.
Yeah, right
Daryl, I hate to bother you again but you say you don’t speak for nor accept “money types”. Are “money types”, hunting guides?
I am just curious as to why you wildlife killers think that anyone that opposes the killing of coyotes is peta or peta affiliated?
I would like to see IF&W to take no money from the State’s General Fund and then tell all the antis to shove it.
Here we go again, the hunter minority is chiming in in numbers to protect their sick need to kill. It’s clearly more profitable to the government to support all the hunting they can in order to feed the coffers. Small minority, big money…………….do they know about wildlife? Do they care about wildlife? Nope. It’s all about the money and who yells loudest, and we all know, the NRA, hunting lobbies, they are frighteningly protective of their “rights” and will threaten anyone or anything that gets in their way.
Until politicians grow a pair and begin staffing our Wildlife Services with conservationists and not hunters,, the wanton killing will persist until there is nothing left to kill. Then what? That will be a scary day……
The excuses are getting really old, they are depleteing the deer population ( put a moritorium on hunting ), they’re killing livestock ( boohoo, spend a few dollars and protect them with fencing, guard dogs etc ) they’re vicious and could kill a child ( live in the city )……………….
Hunters need to take their little camy outfits and go to Afghanistan. See what’s it like to hunt something that can hunt back. Real men don’t kill animals for fun.
I agree, the extremists who want to kill all of the coyotes simply because they kill deer to survive are a small minority. These hunters do not care about wildlife. They only care about killing it. They are not real conservationists. They ONLY want to conserve wildlife so they can shoot, trap, and kill it.
I also know from experience living in farm country, alot of farmers ( not most by any means ) love nothing more once the crops are in for the season, to go out with their dogs and ATV’s or snowmobiles and have a little fun picking off coyotes. The TV show “Dead Dog Walking” shows this sick “hobby”in all it’s glory……..
Kill them mangi varmits!!
Only a small % of Mainers hunt. The wildlife belongs to all of Maine. That means you hunters are greatly outnumbered.
You should put your peta skirt on and show up for the moose drawing in two weeks. We would love to have you there.
Anyone who actually cares about wildlife is a peta supporter to you wildlife killers.
I am a proud, card carrying member of PETA. They’re the only organization that has the stones to stand up to nutjobs and big business. Do I agree with their every word, no. Do I respect their efforts and passion, damn right! If you think calling me a PETA member is an insult, think again……..
Then why is it that most of the money raised to protect the wildlife is paid by hunters. All Mainers enjoy what hunters are paying for.
Talk to your IF&W Commitee. If the true majority in Maine were represented then it would be fair to pay. It is 12-1 stacked in favor of 10%of Maine citizens, therefore there will never be equitable payment. No taxation without representation, remember? When the IF&W Committee accurately reflects the people of Maine then we can have ALL the money come from the General Fund, as it should when there is equitable representation.
No,
The wildlife enthusiasts should pay licensure just like the consumptive user. Revisit the canoe/kayak registration that was discussed a few years ago. If you don’t buy a fishing license, then mandate a canoe kayak license. Not enough non consumptive users are purchasing loon plates to make a difference. If you add up the fees a consumptive user pays each year (ON TOP of our income & property tax) you would be astounded. If non consumptive users ponied up a similiar amount the D IFW would be in great shape.
When we have equitable representation in Augusta this will change. We testified in Augusta for the canoe/kayak fees. The fear in Augusta is that when the majority is finally pitching in, there will finally be equitable representation necessary and that is exactly what you guys, and they, do not want.
No, No,
Once non consumptive users pay their fair share, I am all for equal representation.
I see, those who pay the most should get the say……………………..ridiculous
Personally, I do not care about nor was I aware of any bounty on coyotes. I have heard of efforts to initialize a bounty program but did not oppose nor support the initiative. What I do care about is the increasing comfort and infiltration that the coyote as a species is allowed around population areas. The somewhat recent attacks on humans by coyotes only confirms the that the adage of “There is nothing in the Maine woods that will hurt you”, is no longer true. I have personally killed coyotes simply by opening the kitchen window, placing the intended target in the crosshairs and shooting them. Further I have personally heard packs of coyotes attack and kill perfectly healthy deer within earshot of my home. (yes I saw the remains) and made a gun rack from the horns. Since having small children at my home is also part of my lifestyle, I intend to keep them safe by disallowing the intrusion of these non-native predatory creatures within rifle distance. I don’t need monetary incentives but do not disapprove of it either.
Shoot first, answer to the warden later. The life you save might be your child’s.
Are you kidding me??? Come on, is this a joke?
You really ought to try and educate yourself prior to commenting.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33509516/ns/world_news-americas/t/coyotes-kill-woman-hike-canadian-park/
http://www.kypost.com/dpp/lifestyle/pets/Coyotes-Attack%2C-Kill-Pets-in-Middletown
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/coyotes-kill-family-pets/nHT8x/
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Coyotes-Kill-Another-Altadena-Dog-127106403.html
I feel sorry for you
Don’t feel sorry for the facts. Feel enlightened.
If you don’t like living with wildlife, there are plenty of other places that are wildlife free. It is obvious you are afraid of wildlife. Cowards with rifles who shoot at things from a safe distance away.
I could not agree more. Sadly, they feel because they’re human, they have all the rights. Animals are objects that deserve no mercy. Very sad indeed……..
I’m enjoying Daryls new tactic of linking social political issues to his arguments in an effort to gain support for his animal rights agenda. Linking coyotes to the elderly and infants, really?
Non-management of predators has quickly shown to be a disaster throughout the States, crashing game populations whenever implemented.
Despite the attempts to demonize those that hunt as sociopathic killers that care nothing about the natural world, the fact remains that we are the ones that put our money where our mouth is.
Hunting and managing game herds to benefit our State is a green industry, a wise use of natural resources.
To deny the natural role that man plays as the alpha predator is a complete contradiction to your natural balance theory.
When exactly did wildlife become a resource?? They’re living breathing creatures, they feel fear and pain. Amazing that you people see them as a resource to be “harvested”……….wow, so sad
A better question is when did wildlife lose it’s status as a resource.
You have to put your money where your mouth is because in order to kill wildlife, you have to pay for it. Your money does not make killing wildlife acceptable. Maybe to you and your ilk of wildlife killers, but certainly not to most who actually prefer seeing wildlife alive rather than dead.