Post by ridge on Jan 26, 2015 19:47:55 GMT -5
HOLLY, MI – In his years as a wildlife technician for the state Department of Natural Resources, Jon Curtis said he can count on zero fingers the numbers of times coyotes have taken down a large animal.
"To actually take a full-0grown horse down is very uncommon," he said of a Jan. 25 attack in Oxford Township along the Lapeer-Oakland County border that led to the death of a 20-year-old horse that was part of the Lapeer County Sheriff's Mounted Division. "I've never heard of that before."
The Lapeer County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Monday that "A group of five to six coyotes entered the paddock area and attacked the horse while it was eating. The horse was brought to the ground during the attack."
"The Meyers heard the attack occurring and their dogs responded (lab mixed)," states the release on the incident of the property of deputies Bruce Meyers and Kallie Meyers. "The dogs engaged the coyotes, which subsequently stopped attacking the horse and fled. The horse died later from the wounds that it sustained."
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office and Department of Natural Resources are now handling the investigation into the incident.
Curtis said coyotes are found in every county in the state, typically in pairs -- one alpha male and one alpha female -- covering a designated territory that varies in size based on food supply that is generally made up of smaller game.
"They primarily eat mice or maybe an occasional rabbit," he said, while from time to time attacking a small dog, cat or scavenging on larger, dead animals such as deer. "It's very unusual they would take down an animal that big."
Coyotes can be hunted or trapped at any time of year on private property, Curtis said, "If they are doing damage or about to do damage."
Someone other than the property owner may receive permission to hunt or trap the animals on private property without a license or written permit, according to DNR regulations.
Outside of pursuing nuisance coyotes, trapping of coyotes is allowed from Oct. 15-March 1, while hunting season is from July 15-April 15.
Curtis said a valid base license for hunting or trapping coyotes runs $11. There is no limit on the number of coyotes that can be shot or trapped during the designated hunting and trapping periods.
Despite the recent incident, Curtis said, "Coyotes are really misunderstood. They are usually a really timid animal or docile animal," and attacks on humans are rare.
In the event someone does have a coyote cross their path, Curtis said, "If you make a lot of noise and wave your arms, they are going to run. Usually when they see humans, they'll book it."
While he understood some people may get a bit panicky about the recent attack, he added, "They really have nothing to fear about being attacked."
Post comment as...
Newest | Oldest
HockeyTown4013
HockeyTown4013 9 minutes ago
Its called the FOOD CHAIN!!!! Or survival of the fittest!!! Take your pick!!
FlagShareLikeReply
ldub
ldub 1 hour ago
Last time I saw a Coyote was in 2010 around Cadillac while heading up to the cabin. Last time I heard one was at night in 2012 staying with friends out by Big Rapids. They are definitely on the move and dangerous to everyone.
FlagShareLikeReply
Boognish Rising
Boognish Rising 54 minutes ago
@ldub Ridiculous. This is a rare, isolated incident. To claim coyotes are dangerous to everyone is overreacting.
Coyotes are very far down the list of things you should worry about.
FlagShare2Wizard2001vdarkbloomLikeReply
Wizard2001
Wizard2001 29 minutes ago
@boognish Rising @ldub No kidding. I'm an outdoor person and have run into a few of them. All the ones I saw before they saw me ran away when I made some noise.
FlagShareLikeReply
Wizard2001
Wizard2001 22 minutes ago
@boognish Rising @ldub Wonder if he's ever seen a doe with a fawn attack someone?
FlagShareLikeReply
starr38
starr38 1 hour ago
Best Coyote is a dead one. "Never heard of this before" means time to do something about it.
FlagShareLikeReply
PoleShift
PoleShift 1 hour ago
Other than man, cougars and wolves, coyotes have no natural predator to keep them in check.
They normaly will not attack something when there is a chance they could be fataly injured. That is why they don't normaly attack large animals. When they do there is reason. Hunger, sickness. injury are normaly the things that make them more bold.
Coyotes are one of the few mamals that their territory has expanded. Saying that ,the more there are the more chance for confrontations.The more there are the less food to go around and less territory. These are very territorial anamals, like wolves are. With not much to keep them in check they are moving into cities where there is abundant food.
As far as attacking people it has happened. The best advise is watch your children when outdoors as you would normally. And limit the small children to strict supervision as you should now days. Keep small pets, kids in after dark or supervised accordingly in areas known for coyotes.
FlagShareLikeReply
Red White and Blue
Red White and Blue 1 hour ago
@poleshift
" Coyotes are one of the few ma{m}mals that their territory has expanded."
Don't forget to include humans.
.
"To actually take a full-0grown horse down is very uncommon," he said of a Jan. 25 attack in Oxford Township along the Lapeer-Oakland County border that led to the death of a 20-year-old horse that was part of the Lapeer County Sheriff's Mounted Division. "I've never heard of that before."
The Lapeer County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Monday that "A group of five to six coyotes entered the paddock area and attacked the horse while it was eating. The horse was brought to the ground during the attack."
"The Meyers heard the attack occurring and their dogs responded (lab mixed)," states the release on the incident of the property of deputies Bruce Meyers and Kallie Meyers. "The dogs engaged the coyotes, which subsequently stopped attacking the horse and fled. The horse died later from the wounds that it sustained."
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office and Department of Natural Resources are now handling the investigation into the incident.
Curtis said coyotes are found in every county in the state, typically in pairs -- one alpha male and one alpha female -- covering a designated territory that varies in size based on food supply that is generally made up of smaller game.
"They primarily eat mice or maybe an occasional rabbit," he said, while from time to time attacking a small dog, cat or scavenging on larger, dead animals such as deer. "It's very unusual they would take down an animal that big."
Coyotes can be hunted or trapped at any time of year on private property, Curtis said, "If they are doing damage or about to do damage."
Someone other than the property owner may receive permission to hunt or trap the animals on private property without a license or written permit, according to DNR regulations.
Outside of pursuing nuisance coyotes, trapping of coyotes is allowed from Oct. 15-March 1, while hunting season is from July 15-April 15.
Curtis said a valid base license for hunting or trapping coyotes runs $11. There is no limit on the number of coyotes that can be shot or trapped during the designated hunting and trapping periods.
Despite the recent incident, Curtis said, "Coyotes are really misunderstood. They are usually a really timid animal or docile animal," and attacks on humans are rare.
In the event someone does have a coyote cross their path, Curtis said, "If you make a lot of noise and wave your arms, they are going to run. Usually when they see humans, they'll book it."
While he understood some people may get a bit panicky about the recent attack, he added, "They really have nothing to fear about being attacked."
Post comment as...
Newest | Oldest
HockeyTown4013
HockeyTown4013 9 minutes ago
Its called the FOOD CHAIN!!!! Or survival of the fittest!!! Take your pick!!
FlagShareLikeReply
ldub
ldub 1 hour ago
Last time I saw a Coyote was in 2010 around Cadillac while heading up to the cabin. Last time I heard one was at night in 2012 staying with friends out by Big Rapids. They are definitely on the move and dangerous to everyone.
FlagShareLikeReply
Boognish Rising
Boognish Rising 54 minutes ago
@ldub Ridiculous. This is a rare, isolated incident. To claim coyotes are dangerous to everyone is overreacting.
Coyotes are very far down the list of things you should worry about.
FlagShare2Wizard2001vdarkbloomLikeReply
Wizard2001
Wizard2001 29 minutes ago
@boognish Rising @ldub No kidding. I'm an outdoor person and have run into a few of them. All the ones I saw before they saw me ran away when I made some noise.
FlagShareLikeReply
Wizard2001
Wizard2001 22 minutes ago
@boognish Rising @ldub Wonder if he's ever seen a doe with a fawn attack someone?
FlagShareLikeReply
starr38
starr38 1 hour ago
Best Coyote is a dead one. "Never heard of this before" means time to do something about it.
FlagShareLikeReply
PoleShift
PoleShift 1 hour ago
Other than man, cougars and wolves, coyotes have no natural predator to keep them in check.
They normaly will not attack something when there is a chance they could be fataly injured. That is why they don't normaly attack large animals. When they do there is reason. Hunger, sickness. injury are normaly the things that make them more bold.
Coyotes are one of the few mamals that their territory has expanded. Saying that ,the more there are the more chance for confrontations.The more there are the less food to go around and less territory. These are very territorial anamals, like wolves are. With not much to keep them in check they are moving into cities where there is abundant food.
As far as attacking people it has happened. The best advise is watch your children when outdoors as you would normally. And limit the small children to strict supervision as you should now days. Keep small pets, kids in after dark or supervised accordingly in areas known for coyotes.
FlagShareLikeReply
Red White and Blue
Red White and Blue 1 hour ago
@poleshift
" Coyotes are one of the few ma{m}mals that their territory has expanded."
Don't forget to include humans.
.