Overview: Coyotes are the center of a great deal of controversy throughout Texas. Here we will discuss coyotes, their role in the ecosystem, and the various options you have if they are inhabiting your land.
Place in the Ecosystem
Coyotes fill a key role in many ecosystems- controlling prey populations, and reducing disease. However, they are more widely known for the issues they bring. Pets, and livestock can be at risk of coyote attacks. They also prey on whitetail fawns, making them especially hated by hunters who wish to see an increase in local deer populations.
Population Dynamics
While it is difficult to determine the population numbers of coyotes in Texas, it is believed that the state boasts some of the highest nationwide. They can be found throughout Texas as they are able to adapt to just about any environment. This can primarily be attributed to their omnivorous feed habits. They will feed on insects, small mammals, deer, and even fruit. Coyotes are opportunistic predators and scavengers.
Coyotes and Your Land
Landowners often overestimate coyote populations. Coyote calling rituals can be deceptive, leading to claims such as “there must be 20 of them over there”. In reality it is probably only 4 or 5 individuals. On top of this, many coyotes are transient and will only stick around for a short time. Determining whether or not you have a coyote problem can be a complex issue with many factors at play. If you are concerned with coyotes damaging white-tailed deer populations, then you should consider a population survey such as offered by Wildland Systems Consulting. Through analyzing the white-tailed deer population and factors such as fawn recruitment, we can make an accurate assessment of the situation.
What To Do
It is important to consider the factors above when approaching the issue of coyotes on your property. If you wish to remove coyotes as part of a wildlife management strategy in an effort to increase deer populations, then you should consider professional opinion. If it is determined that the local coyote population should be controlled, then there are two primary methods available to most landowners. The first option is active hunting of coyotes, however, this is time consuming and will most likely not give satisfactory results. The second option is utilizing foothold traps for a sustained period, often up to two weeks, in order to see favorable results. Among many other services, Wildland Systems offers trapping as a service for the purpose of reducing coyote populations. We encourage you to learn more through our website and to contact us for any questions.
Contact us
Phone: (979)-451-1350
Website: wildlandsystemsconsulting.com
Facebook: facebook.com/WildlandSystems
Written by: Jacob Gaskamp
Publish date: 02/01/2021
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