Lack of predators is one of the reasons frequently given to explain the overabundance of deer in our suburban neighborhoods. This phenomenon is often stated as fact and accepted as a natural and expected result of modern development and expansion. After all, it would be absurd to have wolves in our backyards taking down 200 pound deer. However, natural deer predation often occurs at the fawn level, sometimes as early as the first week of life. The predator of choice is typically a coyote about as big as a medium sized dog and weighing approximately 30 pounds. But human intervention is interrupting and disabling this natural population control mechanism. Once again, the interests of the hunting community are not served by the existence of coyotes since they have the potential for keeping deer numbers low. Therefore time, money and other resources are being spent on predation control programs.
Hunters with the aid and support of state wildlife agencies and certain public universities have been studying the impact predators have on deer populations and how to reduce the number of deer killed. The purpose is to keep deer populations high so there are sufficient targets for hunters' enjoyment and pleasure and also, sufficient monies to keep the respective supporting institutions afloat (see my September 25, 2009 post "The Structure of our State Wildlife Agency System" for a description of the financial ties between the hunting community and our state wildlife agencies).
It was reported for example, that in 2007 researchers at the University of Georgia conducted a study to show "the effects of intensive predator removal on white-tailed deer." The researchers removed coyotes from a study site in Alabama in February 2007 through July of that year during the peak of fawning season. Not surprisingly, the study found that after the intense predator control program, the fawn survival rate was four times greater than before the program.
In another project the impact of coyotes on fawn survival was studied by a wildlife biologist and his colleagues from the USDA Forest Service together with employees from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on a tract of land operated by the U.S. Department of Energy. During 2006 to 2008 the researchers studied the impact of coyotes by monitoring the survival and causes of mortality of radio-collared fawns. Their findings were that 64-84% of all fawn mortality was due to coyote predation (the remaining presumably due to illness or other types of predation), and 66% of the deaths occurred within the first three weeks of a fawn's life.
Hunting magazines such as Quality Whitetails run articles educating the hunting community about predator elimination. The June 2009 issue ran a series of articles promoting the elimination of predators and titled one article, "Calling & Decoying Coyotes-hunting coyotes just before fawns arrive can be an effective addition to a predator-management program."
The top-down value of predators to ecosystems has become gospel among environmentalists and those interested in the future health of the planet. This belief unfortunately has not always been universally held. As Dr. J. Christopher Haney, Chief Scientist and Vice President of Conservation Science and Economics at Defenders of Wildlife wrote "[w]hen I was studying...in university more than 20 years ago, one of my professors said that predators, while 'fascinating creatures,' are mere 'parasites on the ecosystem host'...Clearly [my professor] hadn't quite embraced the now well-accepted [thesis]...which holds that predators help keep herbivores in check and thereby save us all from ecological ruin."
Communities across the country are grappling with issues related to deer population. Hundreds of communities each year fight over whether a "culling" (i.e. killing) program should take place in their neighborhood to reduce the number of deer. Yet natural predators such as coyotes are being eliminated to serve the interests of hunters and other special interest groups.
Farmers and cattle ranchers also focus narrowly on issues of self-interest and ignore the lessons of biodiversity and scientific reality. As discussed in my March 17, 2010 post "Man as 'Super-Predator'" these constituencies want predators ameliorated because predators target sheep, goats and calves and therefore impact their livelihood. The use of toxic poisons in predator control programs persists today due to pressure from the livestock and agricultural industries. Even though they were banned in 1972 due to their extremely lethal toxicity, substances such as sodium cyanide, strychnine and compound 1080 are again available. Compound 1080 is a colorless salt that is so toxic a teaspoon could kill approximately 50 people. It is also especially toxic to unintended recipients such as dogs and cats. As discussed in the article "Control of Coyote Predation on Livestock-Progress in Research and Development" by Michael Fall of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (published by the University of Nebraska), much work and attention has been given to the use of these poisons in predator control programs. Unbeknownst to a majority of the general public, some of these toxins are being used again today in such programs.
The need to kill wildlife and ignore the natural balance of our ecosystem goes beyond just predator control programs. In states such as Oregon, Indiana, Arizona and Pennsylvania for example, there are coyote killing derbies where teams of people pay an entry fee to kill as many coyotes as possible for prizes such as rifles and binoculars.
Even though the value of coyotes can be documented, some people might shudder with fear at the thought of one anywhere near their backyard. However, according to the N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation website, nationwide "only a handful of coyote attacks occur yearly" while approximately 650 people are hospitalized each year from dog attacks in New York State alone.
And lest we let a potential money-making opportunity go untapped, predation control companies have emerged. One such company, The Predator Control Group, Inc. advertises with a picture of about 25 dead coyotes and a macho tag line saying "Failure is not an option, we are professional trappers and we get professional results-Control Your Predators."
And who I wonder, can we get to control them?
Prior Blog Posts:
The Structure of our State Wildlife Agency System
9/25/09
Teaching Children to Kill
10/02/09
The Supreme Court and the Culpability of a Child
11/18/09
The Federal Gun Tax
12/09/09
Lead Ammunition
1/14/10
Connecting the Dots of Violence
2/01/10
Man as "Super-Predator"
3/17/10
U.S. v Stevens: What interests are being protected?
4/27/10
