More Rabbits Means Fewer Deer Fawn Kills?
April 28, 2007
Do you agree with this assessment from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game? According to a short snippet in the Twin Falls Times, IDFG is canceling their planned coyote reduction hunt because there are more rabbits.
In March, the agency said it would be contracting with the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture’s Wildlife Services division to eradicate coyotes before deer fawning season. But after reassessing rabbit numbers in the South Hills, Fish and Game called off the hunt.
Coyotes sometimes feed on fawns when other sources of food, such as rabbits, are scarce. Because rabbit numbers are higher than anticipated, it’s unlikely many coyotes will kill deer this spring, said Dave Parrish, head of Fish and Game’s Jerome office.
emphasis added.
What are your thoughts on this assessment? Coyotes sometimes feed on fawns? It is unlikely coyotes will kill deer?
Let’s hear it!
Tom Remington
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Probably some truth to that fact, I do know from snaring coyotes in deer yards that had plenty of rabbit-”hare,” that many of the coyote were hunting the bunnies and not paying much attention to the deer “or my bait”. But what happens after the rabbit are gone. Or they clean up the rabbit early and food gets to be in short supply.
Spring time coyotes out west follow the sheep around and grab the new born from the mothers as the drop. Same thing happens to cattle.
What was levigne’s report. Up to 50% of fawns are taken by predators. Seems going ahead with a spring hunt would give them a head start on things next season.
Agreed! Coyote, in my opinion, aren’t going to cease taking easy prey simply because there are rabbits available. Rabbits don’t just sit idly by and watch as they get devoured by coyotes.
Part of the reason for the eradication program in Idaho is to restore a suffering and depleted mule deer population. My concern is if this is an ongoing program, stopping midstream could set the program back more than just one year.
It just seems foolish to me. I have to ask the question though, what is it that Idaho F&G plan to do with the money they won’t spend on coyote eradication?
This Parrish is the same guy who stated that fish and game’s only interest was to protect wild herds. HAH! It’s highly likely that the real reason they called off the hunt is because of yote-huggers’ screams to ’save the poor cute cuddly coyotes.”
Just the other day I told my better haf that I didn’t recall seeing any rabbits for at least 2 years. I could spend hours telling about the coyotes I have seen. Probrably why all the deer live in between the houses here year round.