Why Do Farmers Kill Predators?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The most common reason for killing coyotes is

to reduce predation of livestock, such as sheep and calves

. In a 2015 USDA report on sheep losses, ranchers reported how many of their animals died in 2014 and how they died.

Why do people kill predators?


Hunt Big Predators to Reduce Competition

.

All predators defend their territories from not just their own species, but others. … Humans have for centuries been killing predators to reduce competition for prey, including domestic livestock. This still may be the most significant reason we hunt coyotes and wolves.

How do farmers deal with predators?

When it comes to predation on the farm, the best defense is a strong offense. Contain animals in secure enclosures,

use electric netting for fencing

, secure trash in animal-proof containers, store feed out of reach of animals, and hang nets to prevent attacks from the sky.

Why we shouldn't kill coyotes?

The best available, peer-reviewed science shows that indiscriminately killing coyotes is counterproductive and a threat to healthy ecosystems. There

is no credible evidence

that indiscriminate killing of coyotes effectively serves any beneficial management purpose.

Can farmers kill wolves?

In 1975, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) began trapping at farms experiencing verified* wolf depredation. … This new classification allowed the USFWS (and since 1986, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA))

to destroy wolves that kill livestock

.

What animals kill for fun?

Some of the other animals which have been observed engaging in surplus killing include

orcas

, zooplankton, humans, damselfly naiads, predaceous mites, martens, weasels, honey badgers, jaguar, leopards, lions, spiders, brown bears, american black bears, polar bears, coyotes, lynxes, minks, raccoons and dogs.

Are animal predators evil?

Predation has historically been viewed as

a natural evil

within the context of the problem of evil and has been considered a moral concern for Christians who have engaged with theodicy.

What are the predators of cows?

Cattle predators counted by NASS included:

coyotes, cougars, bobcats, lynx, dogs, wolves, vultures, bears and “others

.” Predation by native carnivores really only amounted to 170,800. That is because dogs killed more livestock (21,800) than any other species except coyotes (116,700).

What predator problems do the ranchers face?

Another problems, he reports, is that many ranchers in the area depend heavily on hunting lease revenue, but predator problems include

the loss of many fawns among the whitetail deer population

. He says that equates to less deer for hunters and potentially less revenue from hunting for property owners.

How do farmers use water locally?

Around 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals go into agriculture. The uses within the sector are very diverse and include mainly

irrigation, pesticide and fertilizer application, and sustaining livestock

. Further along the value chain, water is used for food preservation (crop cooling, for example) and processing.

Should you kill coyotes?

But some wildlife biologists say killing coyotes isn'

t actually the best way to control them

. … In fact, some studies show that if you kill off a lot of coyotes, they breed even more. “Oftentimes, coyote control programs have been implemented, and in some or many instances, the effects were negligible,” Monteith says.

Can coyotes kill you?


Coyote attacks on people are very rare

. More people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than are bitten by coyotes. Often, coyote attacks are preventable by modifying human behavior and educating people about ways to prevent habituation.

Can I kill a coyote in my yard?

Unattended pets may be at risk. Responsible pet ownership is key in reducing coyote conflicts. Lethal control of coyotes preying on pets may be undertaken by landowners or city and county agencies.

State law allows landowners to take

(kill) coyotes that are causing damage/conflicts on their land.

Do farmers hate wolves?

As the wolf population has grown, farmers and hunters

have reported increasing conflicts with wolves

. Since 2017, the number of wolf depredation complaints has grown from 111 to 148 complaints in 2020. The number of verified attacks increased from 82 in 2019 to 98 confirmed depredations last year.

Do wolves actually kill cattle?

The USDA found that

wolves killed 3,879 cattle

(2015) and sheep (2014) from an inventory of 8.7 million cattle and sheep. In other words, wolves killed 0.04 percent of the cattle and sheep inventories in the Great Lakes states and were allegedly responsible for just 0.89 percent of unwanted losses.

Are wolves killing livestock?

U.S. Fish and Wildlife reports for those states show that in 2014,

wolves killed 136 head of cattle

, or 1 cow out of every 44,853. … U.S. Fish and Wildlife reports show that in 2014, wolves killed 114 sheep, or 1 in every 7,193.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.