Editor’s note: This commentary is by Tessa Barnett, a junior at the University of Vermont majoring in environmental studies with a minor in animal science. She is a writing associate intern with Protect our Wildlife VT. The views expressed are her own.
I recently became aware of an effort to enact a regulated coyote hunting season, versus the current open season that leaves coyote puppies orphaned when their parents are killed during the summer months. The petition put forth by Vermont Law School students seemed like a good compromise: Coyote hunters want to keep the open season, coyote advocates don’t want any hunting at all, so a compromise would be a regulated season. Unfortunately, that was voted down by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board with little rationale as to why.
One common argument for coyote hunting is that it’s an important wildlife management tool. This seems like a reasonable position, but if you dig a bit deeper you quickly come to learn that the open season is not only a poor wildlife “management” tool, but also detrimental to natural wildlife systems. Coyotes are monogamous and mate for life; females in a “pack” that aren’t mated to the alpha don’t reproduce, unless there’s a disruption that causes the pack to disperse (for example, the alpha male or female being killed). Coyote pups don’t begin to breed until they are two years old, unless the pack is disrupted. Studies of coyote pack behavior maintain that the year-round hunting of coyotes actually creates increased breeding and bolsters what we already know about the flimsy foundations for pro-hunting arguments.
In addition, the supposed “economic” benefits of coyote hunting are simply another argument with no weight behind it. Coyotes aren’t hunted for food, but rather for sport or recreation, photo opportunities, or under a misguided notion that their populations need to be “managed.” Coyote pelts may provide meager income benefits to hunters who kill them when their fur is prime or marketable (early December through the end of February, generally.) This small subset would not be impacted by a regulated season that would run from October through March. Coyotes are also blamed for loss of income on farms due to their perceived killing of livestock; however, it has been documented that reducing populations of predators such as coyotes has no effect on livestock loss. Many attacks on livestock are wrongly attributed to coyotes when the attacks actually come from domestic dogs or other predators. All of that said, landowners would still be allowed to kill coyotes “in defense of property,” so a regulated season would not adversely impact them.
Another concern that shouldn’t be ignored is the wasteful nature of coyote killing that often results in hunters shooting coyotes and leaving the lead bullet-riddled carcasses in the fields where they were killed. These carcasses can end up poisoning wildlife, including bald eagles and other scavengers who consume the carrion.
We need to address Vermont’s culture of hatred and misunderstanding toward coyotes and follow the lead of our neighboring states and create a closed hunting season for coyotes. We also need leaders, including Vermont Fish & Wildlife, to hold educational presentations on coyotes to help dispel the myths and misunderstandings. A compromise of a regulated season would allow hunters to still hunt coyotes, while providing a modicum of protection for these vulnerable and mistreated animals who deserve our respect, not the wasteful, immoral killing that they are currently subjected to.
