About the girl killed by coyotes.....
- Thread starter popcan
- Start date
genetically they are a hybrid, red wolf /coyote....or "coywolf"
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=298443&sc=145
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
big and they pack, a fella had a deer down, only found a perfect hide for tanning the next day.
That place the gal was attacked, its not the first time a coyote has jumped a person.
Tells me the folks that work out there must get a bit better at their job.
Very sad, and must have hurt like hell.
That place the gal was attacked, its not the first time a coyote has jumped a person.
Tells me the folks that work out there must get a bit better at their job.
Very sad, and must have hurt like hell.
Last edited:
2005 up in Prince George. Garbage habituated wolves killed a hiker, so you may argue "Healthy".
Just a weird Fact, this year alone there have been at least three confirmed cases of Humans killed by wolves in Russia.
And I'm in SE BC, and here at the ski hill we have very healthy Coyotes the size of a small adult German Sheppard. Constantly mistaken for Wolves.
http://www.thestar.com/unassigned/article/681632
The Star Logo
Back to Meet the coywolf
Meet the coywolf
August 15, 2009
Carola Vyhnak
{{GA_Article.Images.Alttext$}}
Wolves and coyotes are interbreeding to create an animal that has the pack-hunting instinct of wolves and the fearlessness of coyotes.
JON WAY/EASTERNCOYOTERESEARCH.COM
Is it a coyote? Is it a wolf?
Yes and yes. It's a "coywolf."
The predators that are plaguing Durham Region and showing up in urban areas appear to be an emerging species resulting from wolves and coyotes interbreeding.
The larger, highly adaptable animals "have the wolf characteristics of pack hunting and aggression and the coyote characteristics of lack of fear of human-developed areas," says Trent University geneticist Bradley White, who's been studying the hybrids for 12 years.
We're seeing "evolution in action," he says.
But that combination of genetic material from both species has spelled trouble for farmers, who are losing a growing number of livestock to predators.
They report attacks by animals that are bigger, bolder and smarter than regular coyotes. They say hunting in packs to prey on sheep and cattle in broad daylight is becoming a common behaviour.
Durham Region farmers have suffered the most damage to livestock in the province. Last year the food and agriculture ministry paid out a total compensation of $168,000 in the region for 545 dead or injured animals.
Commonly called eastern coyotes, the creatures are actually a mixture of western coyote and eastern wolf that comes from a constantly evolving gene pool, says White, chair and professor of biology in Peterborough.
Going back 100 years, deforestation, wolf control programs and changing habitat, ecosystems and prey conspired to drive down the wolf population. Meanwhile, the number of coyotes – whose original range was in western North America – grew, thanks to their ability to adapt and reproduce with ease. The two species started to interbreed, White explains.
"In many ways, this animal is a creation of human impact on the planet," says White.
Although the coywolf hybrid has only recently been verified through genetic research, White believes they started appearing in southern Algonquin Park back in the 1920s.
Colleague Paul Wilson, a wildlife genetics specialist, says the genetic gumbo from which coywolves emerge produces some that are more wolf-like, while others have more coyote characteristics. But they're definitely bigger.
"Some of these are 80-pound animals, double the size of a typical coyote that used to be 40 pounds."
But there's no cause for alarm, says John Pisapio, a wildlife biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, which is studying the role of coyotes and wolves in the ecosystem.
Hybrids may be larger but there's no evidence the population as a whole is more aggressive or prone to aberrant behaviour, he says.
He agrees predation on livestock is a concern – they do kill sheep and smaller animals – but insists attacks on cattle are unusual.
"As a biologist I find it hard to explain how a coyote brings down a 900-pound steer."
In some cases, coyotes might just be feeding on an animal that died from other causes, he says.
The population growth is a natural upswing following a mange epidemic that wiped out big numbers eight or nine years ago, he adds.
Pisapio says instances of fearlessness or brazen attacks are usually the result of coyotes that have come to associate food with people and lose their natural fear of humans.
That belief is echoed by Johnny, "The Critter Gitter," who didn't want his last name used because people don't like that he kills problem wildlife for a living.
"I kill coyotes. I don't sugarcoat it," he says.
But he feels sympathy for them.
"Humans are to blame for making monsters of them," he says. Coyotes are attracted by pet food and garbage left lying around in urban areas, and deadstock on farms.
They're not all bad and often get the blame when dogs kill livestock, he says. Johnny also doubts they're making a regular meal of cattle. During the 30 years he's worked in the province, he's seen only a few cases of "large, healthy animals taken down by coyotes."
But as coywolves become more urbanized and their relationship with people continues to evolve, city dwellers can expect problems, says White, suggesting a control program may be needed at some point.
"They will clearly bump into human activities, and there will be pets eaten in Rouge Valley."
The Star Logo
Back to Meet the coywolf
Meet the coywolf
August 15, 2009
Carola Vyhnak
{{GA_Article.Images.Alttext$}}
Wolves and coyotes are interbreeding to create an animal that has the pack-hunting instinct of wolves and the fearlessness of coyotes.
JON WAY/EASTERNCOYOTERESEARCH.COM
Is it a coyote? Is it a wolf?
Yes and yes. It's a "coywolf."
The predators that are plaguing Durham Region and showing up in urban areas appear to be an emerging species resulting from wolves and coyotes interbreeding.
The larger, highly adaptable animals "have the wolf characteristics of pack hunting and aggression and the coyote characteristics of lack of fear of human-developed areas," says Trent University geneticist Bradley White, who's been studying the hybrids for 12 years.
We're seeing "evolution in action," he says.
But that combination of genetic material from both species has spelled trouble for farmers, who are losing a growing number of livestock to predators.
They report attacks by animals that are bigger, bolder and smarter than regular coyotes. They say hunting in packs to prey on sheep and cattle in broad daylight is becoming a common behaviour.
Durham Region farmers have suffered the most damage to livestock in the province. Last year the food and agriculture ministry paid out a total compensation of $168,000 in the region for 545 dead or injured animals.
Commonly called eastern coyotes, the creatures are actually a mixture of western coyote and eastern wolf that comes from a constantly evolving gene pool, says White, chair and professor of biology in Peterborough.
Going back 100 years, deforestation, wolf control programs and changing habitat, ecosystems and prey conspired to drive down the wolf population. Meanwhile, the number of coyotes – whose original range was in western North America – grew, thanks to their ability to adapt and reproduce with ease. The two species started to interbreed, White explains.
"In many ways, this animal is a creation of human impact on the planet," says White.
Although the coywolf hybrid has only recently been verified through genetic research, White believes they started appearing in southern Algonquin Park back in the 1920s.
Colleague Paul Wilson, a wildlife genetics specialist, says the genetic gumbo from which coywolves emerge produces some that are more wolf-like, while others have more coyote characteristics. But they're definitely bigger.
"Some of these are 80-pound animals, double the size of a typical coyote that used to be 40 pounds."
But there's no cause for alarm, says John Pisapio, a wildlife biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, which is studying the role of coyotes and wolves in the ecosystem.
Hybrids may be larger but there's no evidence the population as a whole is more aggressive or prone to aberrant behaviour, he says.
He agrees predation on livestock is a concern – they do kill sheep and smaller animals – but insists attacks on cattle are unusual.
"As a biologist I find it hard to explain how a coyote brings down a 900-pound steer."
In some cases, coyotes might just be feeding on an animal that died from other causes, he says.
The population growth is a natural upswing following a mange epidemic that wiped out big numbers eight or nine years ago, he adds.
Pisapio says instances of fearlessness or brazen attacks are usually the result of coyotes that have come to associate food with people and lose their natural fear of humans.
That belief is echoed by Johnny, "The Critter Gitter," who didn't want his last name used because people don't like that he kills problem wildlife for a living.
"I kill coyotes. I don't sugarcoat it," he says.
But he feels sympathy for them.
"Humans are to blame for making monsters of them," he says. Coyotes are attracted by pet food and garbage left lying around in urban areas, and deadstock on farms.
They're not all bad and often get the blame when dogs kill livestock, he says. Johnny also doubts they're making a regular meal of cattle. During the 30 years he's worked in the province, he's seen only a few cases of "large, healthy animals taken down by coyotes."
But as coywolves become more urbanized and their relationship with people continues to evolve, city dwellers can expect problems, says White, suggesting a control program may be needed at some point.
"They will clearly bump into human activities, and there will be pets eaten in Rouge Valley."
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
It is not at all uncommon to see coyotes hunt in packs in my area. I had 3 of them stalk and jump my deer decoy last Nov........ 2 died...
I don't buy the hybrid stories. Some do get very large, but as someone pointed out, wolves will generally kill coyotes and foxes whenever they can. There's always stories from "old timers" of the "Prairie wolf" or "brush wolf" in the west as well. Just a big coyote.
I've witnessed 4 coyotes take down a pretty large Hereford(cow), and unlike what most people think, they don't live on mice and rabbits. They're harder on whitetail in my area than any other predator, and there's plenty of wolves here.
Wolves were thought to be harmless to humans as well, until that incident in SK a couple of years ago.
I don't buy the hybrid stories. Some do get very large, but as someone pointed out, wolves will generally kill coyotes and foxes whenever they can. There's always stories from "old timers" of the "Prairie wolf" or "brush wolf" in the west as well. Just a big coyote.
I've witnessed 4 coyotes take down a pretty large Hereford(cow), and unlike what most people think, they don't live on mice and rabbits. They're harder on whitetail in my area than any other predator, and there's plenty of wolves here.
Wolves were thought to be harmless to humans as well, until that incident in SK a couple of years ago.
Rabies
I suspect the animals had Rabies. Its actually not uncommon for wild animals around populated areas to have the disease.
There are periods back east where the Province of Ontario drops rabies vacinations in the form of attractive food pellets (by air) to keep the rabies from getting out of hand. In my opinion the officials in that area should be testing for it right away.
Them critters may have been out of their tiny minds with the killing fever.
OR
They were half starved and much braver than normal.
I've never heard of coyotes attacking full grown people before.
I suspect the animals had Rabies. Its actually not uncommon for wild animals around populated areas to have the disease.
There are periods back east where the Province of Ontario drops rabies vacinations in the form of attractive food pellets (by air) to keep the rabies from getting out of hand. In my opinion the officials in that area should be testing for it right away.
Them critters may have been out of their tiny minds with the killing fever.
OR
They were half starved and much braver than normal.
I've never heard of coyotes attacking full grown people before.
Yup, Kenton Carnegie would be the other person (depending if you believe Paul Paquet or not) but after that I think you have to go back to the turn of the century in Canada. An ultra rare event, no matter what- and thankfully, what a terrible way to die. Its interesting that both Kenton and Taylor were from Ontario but got attacked while out west and east working considering that Ontario has its share of coyotes.
The attacks in Russia are news to me- do you have any links for that?
A few of my buddies are doing fieldwork up in Cape Breton Park right now so I'm waiting to see if they have any news when they get back.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
One would think that they would have turned on each other long before they turned on the young lady - if they were indeed stricken with rabies.
About 2 months ago here in Armstrong BC my family and my Inlaws both had two different incident's with Cyotoes. My inlaws small house dog was attacked within 10 feet of the back porch and this isnt a wooded area the house is surounded by hay fields!
then a week latter in another part of Armstrong my uncle while Checking Fences on horseback came upon 3 of them and one became very agressive even coming towoards him. Finaly he ran the horse towords them and they buggerd off!
I have also as stated befor never even considered them to be anything but scared of people but in my opinion so many of them have been cross bread with DOGS that they are less and less afraid!
then a week latter in another part of Armstrong my uncle while Checking Fences on horseback came upon 3 of them and one became very agressive even coming towoards him. Finaly he ran the horse towords them and they buggerd off!
I have also as stated befor never even considered them to be anything but scared of people but in my opinion so many of them have been cross bread with DOGS that they are less and less afraid!
dinsdale
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Just outside the Ottawa City Limits!
Local Wildlife Biologists believe they were young and hungry.
That's it.
Not scared of humans and hungry.
They also believe she may have tried running.
Since the biologists weren't present during the attack, and no one witnessed the initiation of the attack, its hard to rely on their speculation that it was just two young coyotes. Did the woman live long enough to give any account of what happened?
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
If these are coyotes bred with wolves I have a question.
If the coyote population is lower, coyotes will have a larger litter of pups the next year.
Now, what will happen when they bread? Will the same happen? Will they have more pups if their population has a decrease? Think dieseases etc....
If the coyote population is lower, coyotes will have a larger litter of pups the next year.
Now, what will happen when they bread? Will the same happen? Will they have more pups if their population has a decrease? Think dieseases etc....
Even here in central AB the coyotes have gotten darker in colour and bigger over the last 20 years. I think there's a lot of dog mixed in those eastern coyotes, and they are what is called coydogs, not real coyotes. They are definitely bigger, and realistically they don't even look like coyotes, more like wild german shepherds. The eastern provinces have no clue about controlling them, either.
