Comments on: There was a little island who swallowed a cat…

By: Cyd Bennett

Cyd Bennett — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:48:24 +0000

Hi Hanna, I am wondering if there is an organic noxious brew to put on the garden this year to repell the deer? Last year they ate all my neighbors bulbs. This year because of heavy snow, they have found my garden. We do have lots of coyotes here ( yes they are adorable) I am a true wolf fan and wish they would make their way here fast.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:40:05 +0000

“me, I have a cross bow and a friend with a deer tag”

Oh, Hannah, I LOVE this.

A cross bow? Go YOU!

By: Oldfart

Oldfart — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:16:04 +0000

It is easier for coyotes to feed on the local dog population. That might keep down wild dog packs but it most likely means that YOUR dog is in danger. The main thing that keeps the deer population down is lack of food. Except there is always a group or so of deer lovers who feed the poor starving deer. Eliminate the deer lovers, allow the excess deer to starve or be eaten by coyotes and the deer problem is managed if not solved. Truth is, actually managing these problems means, in many cases, letting nature take its course.

By: Hanna

Hanna — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:18:42 +0000

You are right that coyotes can’t bring down adult deers, but that is not why coyotes are essential to deer control. Coyotes only take down smaller animals, like dogs, cats and baby deer. It works like a trickle down effect. With healthy coyote populations, the deer herds are thinned at the fawn level. Those fawns are never able to grow up and produces several more fawns each, which then grow up to produce several more fawns each… and so on and so forth.

Because coyotes population is no longer there to kill fawns, the overall deer population explodes.

http://texnat.tamu.edu/symposia/coyote/p20.htm

By: AutumnBlaze

AutumnBlaze — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:03:44 +0000

There was a little island who swallowed a cat…
This was a nice little story, and the point you make is a very good one with regard to messing around with Nature. However, regarding the coyote and deer. The coyote are not at the top of the food chain with regard to deer. Coyote and fox are scavengers and opportunists. Occasionally if a deer is weak or unhealthy it is possible for a few coyotes to bring one down. Depending on what region of the country you’re referring to, the primary predator to the deer are wolves, hunters, and Natures course of natural selection.
Coyotes cannot control deer populations in manner that was outlined.