Study: Growing coyote population impacting other species
By Spokesman-Review
A Oregon State University study suggests the repatriation of wolves in the West could help reverse the decline of Canada lynx.
Research published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin says a decline of snowshoe hares is a key factor in the Canada lynx being listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The loss of hares, the primary food of the lynx, may be caused by coyote populations that surged in the absence of wolves.
Scientists call this a “trophic cascade” of impacts.
Wolves are death to coyotes. Wolf packs hunt down and kill coyotes that enter their range.
Good idea. When we humans mess with the natural order of things we create the imbalances in nature. Maybe with fewer coyotes fewer of our cats and dogs would become “coyote snacks”. Wolves would avoid humans whereas coyotes are losing their fear of humans.
Are wolves native to the basin?