Hemmingford Wildlife – The Coyote

by Ginette Bars, translation Sheila Lord  (October 2011)

My text for this edition will be rather longer as I want to share with you the wealth of fascinating information I discovered during my research into the subject.

We cannot talk about the coyote of our region with- out also referring to the wolf. The Eastern Coyote is actually, according to genetic analyses, a cross-breed of the Western Coyote (or Prairie Coyote) and the Eastern Wolf. Indeed there are Western Coyotes which are smaller than the Eastern Coyote, and Eastern Wolves which are smaller than Grey Wolves.

 

Some facts :

Adult male (average)	Weight	Height at withers	Total length
Eastern coyote	30-50 lbs	24 in.	54 in.
Eastern wolf	60-65 lbs	29 in.	61 in.
Grey wolf	70-130 lbs	33 in.	71 in.

One theory about the arrival in south-west Quebec of coyotes is that humans played a determining role on two levels. The first was our relentlessness in exterminating the wolf through intensive hunting using traps and poison. Prizes were even offered for each wolf killed. Secondly, in order to meet our own needs we destroyed their natural habitat in favor of agriculture and urbanization. As a result wolves disappeared from our region, leaving it wide open for coyotes who moved in between 1940 and 1950.

The coyote can adapt to a variety of ecosystems and the habitat required by the wolf is not essential to the coyote. It has continued to advance, and by 1990 appeared in more northerly regions of Quebec.

By our actions we have exchanged one predator for another and endangered the survival of the Eastern Wolf which is part of our natural heritage. The present population is estimated at 2000 in Quebec and Ontario. One Eastern Wolf was reported to have been caught in the Eastern Townships in 2002, but perhaps this was only an isolated case?

The theory regarding cross-breeding is quite simple: coyotes travelling east encountered Eastern Wolves, and this is why our coyotes are bigger than Western Coyotes.

The coyote (canis latrans) is a carnivore which feeds mainly on mice, rats, marmots, squirrels, wild turkeys and raccoons. As well, it is one of the few animals which are predators of the beaver. It is also known to attack weak or sick deer and farm animals such as sheep.

It is itself preyed on by wolves, black bears, cougars, and occasionally lynx. However, its most relentless enemy is man.

The female gives birth at the end of April or beginning of May to between 5 and 7 young who live about ten years.

Coyotes and wolves are often blamed for the reduction in the deer population, but other factors should also be taken into account:

1. Severe winters and abundant snowfall have a negative effect on stock
2. Management plan which permits the slaughter of females and fawns. Between the years 2008 and 2010 in our hunting zone (8 South) the total kill of deer was 4732, comprised of 1673 females and 1276 fawns (male and female) totaling 2949, compared to only 1783 males. The 2010-2017 management plan allows for a reduction in total stock from 7.5 deer/km2 to 5 deer/km2 for a total population of 2290 deer.
3. Poaching – a word one is reluctant to utter – exists all the same.

Although it is sometimes an unwelcome animal, the coyote has its place in our ecosystems, and is useful as a predator against rodents which would otherwise become an uncontrollable pest. Sometimes by trying to solve one problem we cause other more serious ones.

To a certain extent its destiny lies in our hands.