FORT RUCKER, Ala. (March 27, 2015) -- The coyote (Canis Latrans) is a relatively new species in the southeast and to the Fort Rucker landscape.
Although they are an invasive and non-native species, they have quickly adapted and their influence on Fort Rucker's resident prey species have become a major cause of concern.
Coyotes are known to feed on rodents, rabbits, lizards, snakes, insects, grasses, fruit, fish and carrion. They are also a major predator on deer fawns and turkey poults. In addition to the damage caused by predation, coyotes are documented to carry dozens of diseases, such as rabies, eastern equine encephalitis and salmonellosis, which can be transmitted to humans and livestock.
In 2008, due in part to a dwindling whitetail deer population, decreased harvest numbers and decreased fawn recruitment, the Fort Rucker Natural Resources Branch launched a cooperative study with Auburn University to determine what was causing these declines on Installation lands.
After two years of study, it was revealed that the major contributor to the deer decline on Fort Rucker was fawn predation by coyotes. Coyotes were determined to be responsible for 70 percent of the fawn mortality and that 80 percent of all newborn fawns were no longer surviving in the wild.
In response to these findings, the Natural Resources Branch launched a management program to reduce the high numbers of coyotes that have taken residence on installation lands.
During June and July of 2011, the staff implemented a trapping program on installation lands that resulted in the removal of 28 predator coyotes. Beginning in June of 2012, the program was updated to include a Depredation Permit issued by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Freshwater Fisheries, which further allowed a group of dedicated volunteers, in accordance with state and federal regulations, to assist in the organized trapping and removal of the predators.
To date, 204 coyotes have been removed from installation lands. They may be removed using any legal means other than snare trapping, which includes shooting and leg-hold trapping.
The Coyote Trapping Program is a vital part of Fort Rucker's' Wildlife Management Plan. The program's success is directly responsible for increasing the resident deer population, increasing newborn fawn survivability, as well as decreasing any negative human-coyote conflicts.
The DPW Natural Resources Branch plans to continue targeting and trapping the predator coyote primarily during the months of July and August, which is just prior to fawn birthing within our area. Local hunting groups have also developed incentives to remove the animals.
As the installation's deer herd continues to recover and rebuild, the removal of predator coyotes will remain a high priority within the Natural Resources Management work plan.
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