| Issue Of Coyote Killing |
Issue Of Coyote Killing The issue of Coyotes on the Cape have been looming since 1985 when the first dens were discovered at the Otis Air Force Base. Overpopulation and the threat of the depopulation of other species have caused the public to react in violent ways against these animals. Over the past few years coyotes have been killed to control other populations and speculated against because of the fear humans have for them. Some argue that they do not want the natural carnivores to eat their pets others say they kill endangered species. The crimes against them have gone as far as to kill a coyote and part of its pack because it was running through the woods and spotted by a homeowner close to his property. There is no law limiting the amount of coyotes killed and no state permits or licenses required to hunt them. One big problem is the piping plover populations and the predator prey relation between coyotes and them. Snipers are being sent out to kill these animals in mass amounts. This keeps their population down and keeps piping plovers alive. I believe that being considered "not protected wildlife" is hurting coyotes and we should have laws and restrictions against their slaughter. It is morally wrong for humans to consider ourselves above other beings and to try to control other populations after we have hurt them enough. The coyotes killed on Monomy Island are shot by government hired snipers who are paid $5,000 to kill pups. The reason they have been hired is because we want to make sure the piping plovers are kept safe. Who�s fault is it that they are endangered on the Cape in the first place? Not the coyotes. It is natural for animals to take part in the food chain therefore if the coyotes are only taking the plovers to eat (which they are, because they only kill to eat) they should not be at fault and we choose to kill them because the population is too low. In Utah they hold an annual coyote killing contest like many other states. Prize money is handed out to the person who is able to kill the most of this animal. I do find it a bit ironic that this is taking place while the 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Utah where the coyote is an Olympic mascot. Sooner or later the government should realize that coyotes will stop replacing themselves. Currently for every 1000 coyotes killed next breeding season that many will take their place in return. This is not something we should get used to there are so many animals actually extinct today because we didn�t see that animals are so much like fossil fuels, not renewable resources. If you are worried about your pets and have contempt for coyotes please keep the animals inside or in a fenced area outside that way they will not take place in the food chain. If you would like laws to be installed for the humane treatment of Cape Cod coyotes contact activist organizations found under the yellow pages in your phone book or if you know where coyote dens can be found contact Peter Trull at 487-3622.