23 replies to this topic

[Doug]

http://abclocal.go.c...cal&id=7734164   

=)

[Deftik]

they can hire me as a sharp shooter  >

[Tom]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, the deer herd in the park is WAYYY overpopulated! Take a walk through the woods there some time in the late Spring or Summer. You will notice the understory has virtually no green. All leaves and edible plants are virtually nonexistan up to almost 4 feet from the ground up. Also, during this hypothetical walk, you will likely not only notice an abundance of deer- during any time of deer. At first glance that may seem neat, deer are cool to see in the "wild". However, what you may not see so easily is how tiny they are in proportion to an everage deer. Most deer I have seen there are the size of a medium to large dog. This is because they do not have enough to eat yet are very adaptable and manage to eek out a meager existance. There simply is not enough food to go around for them.

On the other hand, introducing one species of animal to control another is a gamble at best. On some occassions, the introduced animal becomes even more of a problem. Coyotes are also a potential danger. Putting them in a park that gets so much foot traffic has it's own risks.

All this said, I would be surprised if there were not at least some coyotes there - or nearby- already. They have been found in Philly as well. That is one adaptable animal!!

[Romo]

I've been following this nonsense since some hippie from malvern proposed a million dollar sterilization program last year  =) Shoot em all I say. I'm not in the mood to defend my bait bucket from a pack of coyotes.

[The Don]

Are you kidding me.....They should use them to get the crackheads off the streets.

[Tom]

I've been following this nonsense since some hippie from malvern proposed a million dollar sterilization program last year  =) Shoot em all I say. I'm not in the mood to defend my bait bucket from a pack of coyotes.

I agree. Thinning the herd on an ongoing basis, is the most logical answer. It would be more efficient and generally more humane than a yote taking down and eating a deer. This has been working pretty well in Ridley Creek SP for years. IMO, it should be a controlled hunt versus hiring snipers to off them in the night (at a cost of 1 million dollars). Let the hunters take care of it in a closed and controlled hunt. Of course I use the term hunt loosely. Those deer are so tame it would not be much of a hunt.

I too read about the sterilization idea. What a joke.

[Deftik]

I also agree, I'm sure there are PLENTY of hunters who wouldn't mind free deer meat (myself included). As long as they don't get carried away with regs and have hippies diving in front of guns, the deer would be controlled in seconds. >_< I wish we had this problem  of "over population" where I live, road hunters make sure the # of deer is so low I don't even see them driving in the country, nevermind during hunting season.

[mr.fish]

I think the real problem here is overpopulation of us. So much useless building anymore, that not just deer, but all wildlife has no where to go. Just like we fucked the Indians, now we are doing to the wildlife population. ???

[MikeThePike]

I also agree, I'm sure there are PLENTY of hunters who wouldn't mind free deer meat (myself included). As long as they don't get carried away with regs and have hippies diving in front of guns, the deer would be controlled in seconds. >_< I wish we had this problem  of "over population" where I live, road hunters make sure the # of deer is so low I don't even see them driving in the country, nevermind during hunting season.

Its the same way up here....guys even have the balls to road hunt the fields owned/ bordered by the state prison in Dallas, PA 

I agree. Thinning the herd on an ongoing basis, is the most logical answer. It would be more efficient and generally more humane than a yote taking down and eating a deer. This has been working pretty well in Ridley Creek SP for years. IMO, it should be a controlled hunt versus hiring snipers to off them in the night (at a cost of 1 million dollars). Let the hunters take care of it in a closed and controlled hunt. Of course I use the term hunt loosely. Those deer are so tame it would not be much of a hunt.

They bring in sharpshooters by my brothers in NJ as there is no hunting allowed within the county. Instead of allowing hunters (who pay for the right to hunt) the county pays to bring in sharpshooters to take out the overpopulation of deer (and then complains about not having $$$ in the budget for certain programs). I'd be willing to put $$$ on it; the people who fight to protect the overpopulation are probably the ones who complain the most that they keep hitting them while driving  =) =)

[Deftik]

I think the real problem here is overpopulation of us. So much useless building anymore, that not just deer, but all wildlife has no where to go. Just like we fucked the Indians, now we are doing to the wildlife population. ???

You have a point, but try convincing people to stop being greedy. The human race isn't going to stop until we've built and ruined every piece of land left. Look at what we've done in the last 100 years, now picture what will happen in the next 2000.

[Doc Watson]

I think the real problem here is overpopulation of us. So much useless building anymore, that not just deer, but all wildlife has no where to go. Just like we fucked the Indians, now we are doing to the wildlife population. ???

You have a point, but try convincing people to stop being greedy. The human race isn't going to stop until we've built and ruined every piece of land left. Look at what we've done in the last 100 years, now picture what will happen in the next 2000.

You've got a pretty optimistic view for the Human race.   2000 years ??  Give us 200.  In 2000 years the Earth will have sluffed off humans as just another failed experiment and moved on.  Probably to insects or bacteria. =)

[Doug]

The thought of coyotes is alittle nuts. Trying to control one animal, with another, esp wild coyotes, in a place where there are a ton of people walking everyday, is making a totaly differant promblem all together. The thought of controled hunts, would be the way to go. Or just shoot the bastards with a dart, and take them to some far off land.  It amazes me, how they act as if there has to be some expert plan in place. When you have that many deer in one area, its an over population, and needs to be taken care of.  Seems like every other year, or every year, they keep thinking up this master plan, and its not that hard.
as far as the crackheads, maybe we should just let them loose in the park with knives, when there done killing the deer, maybe they will go after eachother..... ;D

[The Don]

The thought of coyotes is alittle nuts. Trying to control one animal, with another, esp wild coyotes, in a place where there are a ton of people walking everyday, is making a totaly differant promblem all together. The thought of controled hunts, would be the way to go. Or just shoot the bastards with a dart, and take them to some far off land.  It amazes me, how they act as if there has to be some expert plan in place. When you have that many deer in one area, its an over population, and needs to be taken care of.  Seems like every other year, or every year, they keep thinking up this master plan, and its not that hard.
as far as the crackheads, maybe we should just let them loose in the park with knives, when there done killing the deer, maybe they will go after eachother..... ;D

I was just joking with that crackhead crap,But seriously ,Who wants to see coyotes running around while their kids play outside or walking them school? ???

[Doc Watson]

The thought of coyotes is alittle nuts. Trying to control one animal, with another, esp wild coyotes, in a place where there are a ton of people walking everyday, is making a totaly differant promblem all together. The thought of controled hunts, would be the way to go. Or just shoot the bastards with a dart, and take them to some far off land.  It amazes me, how they act as if there has to be some expert plan in place. When you have that many deer in one area, its an over population, and needs to be taken care of.  Seems like every other year, or every year, they keep thinking up this master plan, and its not that hard.

Come on Doug... where's your sense of ecology ??  Using coyotes is a great plan here's the skinny oncoyotes as a species, and here's a more through article on them that includes this, rather pointed statement.... "Will the coyote's presence in the suburbs reduce populations of "problem species" such as white-tailed deer and Canada geese?
During harsh winters, predators such as coyotes can significantly reduce deer herds, but I'm not aware of anyone who has studied the dynamics of coyotes and white-tailed deer in suburban environments. Since coyotes have only recently arrived in eastern suburbs, we know little about their natural history there. Once researchers have time to study them, we'll be able to make informed comparisons with what has occurred in the West, where coyotes have very different prey and competitors. As for Canada geese, coyotes do prey on waterfowl, but again, studies of this particular dynamic are lacking."

Draw your own conclusions, but it doesn't sound like an effective or sensible way to reduce the population of deer.  Doesn't seem the coyote will do any harm, especially since they are already here.  I'm pretty sure I saw one about 30 years ago up on the Upper Perkiomen).  It was too big and grey to have been a fox, and it wasn't any dog.

[Tom]

Make no mistake, there are populations of coyotes throughout all of PA now. Perhaps the numbers are greater in some areas, but they are here so it is really just a matter of time.

[The Don]

Make no mistake, there are populations of coyotes throughout all of PA now. Perhaps the numbers are greater in some areas, but they are here so it is really just a matter of time.

I seen one dead on the side of the road near airport/Tinicum area a few years back....Possibly nailed by a passing car.....

[WG]

I live in Media, and I have seeen several coyotes on my property and street.....I am only blocks from Ridley Creek state park, so make no mistake they are already there!  they are kinda cool looking!  Had one run within 100 feet of me this past spring at my neighbors yard!

[matt]

Once Louis and I camped in state gameland territory in the jim thorpe area.  I heard a gaggle of them howling during the night.  It was kind of creepy. 

Supposedly, many of the existing population of coyote are actually half breeds with wolf. 

http://newyorkoutdoo...e-wolf-hybrids/

[dano]

I have no problem with it.

If you think a coyote is going to attack a person, you are crazy.  They stay away from people.  If you think a coyote is going to steal your baby, then you are irresponsible, because you'd have to leave your baby alone outside and unwatched.  If you think a coyote is going to kill your dog or cat, then your dog or cat is a little bitch.  Get a bigger dog.

popcorn

I saw a coyote in 2009 patrolling a shoreline on the chesapeake.  It was pretty cool.  Actually saw a red fox just an hour or two before in the same exact spot.  

[MikeThePike]

I have no problem with it.

If you think a coyote is going to attack a person, you are crazy.  They stay away from people.  If you think a coyote is going to steal your baby, then you are irresponsible, because you'd have to leave your baby alone outside and unwatched.  If you think a coyote is going to kill your dog or cat, then your dog or cat is a little bitch.  Get a bigger dog.

popcorn

I saw a coyote in 2009 patrolling a shoreline on the chesapeake.  It was pretty cool.  Actually saw a red fox just an hour or two before in the same exact spot. 

A single coyote most likely won't as they are not known to go after prey they don't think they could take down. A pack of them on the other hand is a different story and seeing as they are more known to hunt in packs than alone I CAN see problems arising. Unless you hunt you can say all you want on their behavior by what you read but cannot say a thing about how they act in the wild. I've had packs of coyotes come within 10 yards of me hunting up on top of Red Rock Mountain. It took me firing a shot each time to get them to run. Not exactly what I'd consider staying away from people  =) =)

What will happen to them once they decimate the deer population, they WILL seek out other sources of food,  until we control their populations via a hunt which then defeated the whole purpose since you took out 1 overpopulated species and replaced it with another  popcorn popcorn