Through the course of reading these forums, doing further research and the discussions my peers discourse about, I think to myself, “Are we seriously debating about trapping coyotes and relocating them to different regions for our own selfish needs?” Coyotes are known to have a negative connotation that has been implanted in our minds from the way others and our environment perceive them, but is running them around and “releasing” them in different locations the most conventional method? Europeans for centuries have been targeting coyotes, finding ways to release them but they have never been effectively done. Intimidation between coyote and humans has stricken the desire on trying to find effective methods and fueling hunting expeditions.
Trapping coyotes and relocating them is an ineffective method for the reasons that our wildlife quickly replaces each other, it is extremely hard to ensure coyotes will be relocated, and in addition, we are destroying a stable source of our ecological system. Trapping coyotes and relocating them should no longer be implemented and here’s why: The effects on human control practices progressively increase the amount of coyote population, using methods such as trapping, sterilizing and killing alpha coyote will result in more breeding.
Species, specifically wildlife, will target territories for their new generations. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, “Fox said that killing coyotes can actually cause their populations to increase by disturbing the pack hierarchy and, in turn, allowing them to reproduce.” When aggressively controlled, more rapidly create larger litters reproducing generations. Killing coyotes rarely opens up habitat and creates empty home ranges, creating an opportunity for new coyotes to come in and take advantage of the same conditions that produced the problems in the first place.
Social structures of wildlife begin to diminish as their population begins to, too. According to Yellowstone Ecological Center, “…lone females can be quickly recruited to become an alpha or a breeding female. My research shows that light to moderate levels of reduction can cause a slight increase in the number of territories, and hence the number of females breeding.” It is more achievable for coyotes to breed because their pups have a larger percentage of breeding. Controlling population in an already formatted territory results in an increase of population due to the fact that when an increase in predation happens, off balances in population can ruin ecosystems by having too much of a certain species. As we try to ensure that relocating a coyote is the most effective method, we are often just exterminating them in the most peachy way.
Coyotes occupy large home bases for their packs and themselves, when relocated, just like us, they will try to find their way home. Coyotes are notoriously agile, elusive animals with a delicate nose; even a trace of human scent on a coyote trap or near a trapping site will keep coyotes away. Coyotes are territorial animals, which will result in disputes and aggression towards other animals in that area, later leading to unhealthy habitats. The intentions of trapping a coyote, can cause difficulties when it haphazardly catches another wildlife specie such as a racoon. Often, since our human population is so uneducated on how to relocate and control populations in a humane way, we attempt to control them by killing them, unfortunately, in today’s society, coyotes aren’t the only ones. Wildlife that has existed in that certain territory often does not greet newcomers in the best way they are embraced inimically and by starvation.
Coyotes play a critical role in keeping our biological web healthy. Since coyotes are keystone specie, their impact on the environment is greatly affected if their present or not. According to, Wild for the City, “Encouraging wildlife is a practical matter of allowing natural solutions to help and protect us. Strauss talks of the ‘ecological services’ animals provide “We ought to be thinking, what those species are doing for us,” he says, “rather than immediately going to the notion of how these species compete with us or put us at risk. Coyotes maintain the balance in the food web below and around them. When coyotes are absent or even just greatly reduced in a natural area, the relationships between species below them in the web are altered, putting many small species at risk.
Coyotes also hunt animals that shelter diseases. Moderating the deer to coyote population controls the population greatly. Over the years, though coyote recently have been an issue in many areas, they’ve made a significant impact by helping our ecosystem stay in balance. Rather trying to extradite them, we should appreciate the impression they took part in, in our community. Trapping coyote is unorthodox and inhumane, coexisting with them which are huge and viable parts of our ecosystem and everyday lives. It is unorthodox because we spend so much time with other species who prey on larger populations of species. We spend so many resources and time trying to control species who seem to anger us, but truly, are just living like us.
Coyotes are an important connection in nature because they play a critical role in keeping natural areas healthy. As keystone species coyotes are, it is extremely important for them to be present and local so they can help our biological and ecological community. Trapping them and releasing them to different locations often never solves the issues. Coyotes ground themselves to the environments Coyotes cannot survive in an environment they’re not made for and often settle back to where they came from. However, there are different methods to control populations of coyotes, but sabotaging their ecological system is not one of them. To sum it up, targeting a crucial species is bound to destroy us than anything. Coyotes are just like you and I, they are here to stay.