Posted on 02/19/2012 6:34:03 PM PST by SJackson
With a recovered gray wolf population and thriving numbers of black bears, coyotes and bobcats, predators are one of the most common topics of conversation among Wisconsin hunters and wildlife watchers.
The question is often asked: What predator is the most significant cause of deer mortality in Wisconsin?
The Department of Natural Resources embarked on a pair of deer research projects in 2010 that will add facts to the conversation.
The first-year report is due to be released soon.
But a study in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has been under way for three years and has produced several preliminary reports.
It's titled "Role of predators, winter weather and habitat on white-tailed deer fawn survival." The Carnivore Ecology Laboratory at Mississippi State University is leading the study; it's being conducted just north of the Wisconsin-Michigan border in Menominee County.
Researchers have attached radio collars to adult deer and fawns and follow the animals to learn more about their movements, choice of habitat and causes of death. In 2011, the study had about 40 adult deer and 50 fawns radio-collared.
The researchers also have GPS collars on bears, bobcats, coyotes and wolves in the study area.
Last year we ran a story with preliminary results that showed coyotes were the leading source of predation on both adult deer and fawns.
The most recent update was issued last fall. What's it show?
For the third straight year, coyotes killed more adult deer and more fawns than did wolves, bobcats or bears.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
My sister has a Pyr and that dog is huge. A gentle giant toward people but I would hate to be a coyote on the losing end of that dog.
Now, you don’t need guns anymore. There’s the plan.
That might be because the coyotes in Mi are half again as big as those in your home state of Kansas. The coyotes in southern Mi can weigh 60+ lbs, and they often travel in packs. They can, and do, kill a lot of deer.
I have to agree with you there, 20 years ago we killed several out in Montana, and that was the first I had ever seen a coyote up close.
Last year I killed one that was standing on my back patio that was taller (but leaner) than my golden retriever or our GSD at the shoulder, and I live in Indiana. These new coyotes running around now are nothing like the ones we saw out west, hell my son was in 5th grade and a big boy and that thing could have taken him down easily if it really wanted to.
According to wolf lovers, they only eat toothpicks and water! To hear them tell it, the wolves never will eat themselves out of food. I guess they count to see how many are left before killing another one. Even though the wolves were supposedly the only thing that could control Yellowstone elk, the 80% drop in numbers are the fault of everything except wolves to hear them tell it.
Interesting!
Biggest yote I’ve ever seen here I caught in a snare and weighed 41.5 lbs-most are 25-30. Adult does here go 160 clear up to 200 and aren’t terribly bothered by them. Our winters aren’t as long or snowy as yours and there is usually plenty for both species.
Surprised about OK as well...
But coyotes take their share..make no mistake about it. Plenty of country here in OK...that doesn't get much hunting pressure with few roads around..that have a large coyote population.
According to the “researchers” on the program “Finding Bigfoot”, Bigfoot likes to feed on deer. (I have no idea how they came to this conclusion.)
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