*Editor’s Note* Below is a short article I received from Dave Miller of Maine. Dave occasionally contributes articles to the Black Bear Blog and has done a series on wildlife diseases. In this account witnessed and recorded by Mr. Miller, it is important to note the focal point of Miller’s account; not that coyotes do what coyotes do and kill prey but that all too often the focus of predators, such as coyotes, is more directed at such things as deer or other “game” animals. It is almost never discussed that predators, such as coyotes and wolves, kill just about any kind of species of animal for food and fun. When these predator populations grow too large, unnecessary destruction can occur to sensitive ecosystems.
A Woodland Incident
by Dave Miller
Two days ago as I was driving on the Bowtown Road near Basin Mountain, Pierce Pond TWP [Maine] a friend and I found an unusual incident had occurred. A Great Blue Heron had been caught and killed by three coyotes. The tale of what had happened was in the snow, as no other vehicle had yet driven on the road.
For about a mile we observed three sets of coyote tracks in the road, then all of a sudden one had taken off with a burst of speed, bounding through the snow. Up ahead we saw feathers and blood in the snow. As we drove up to the spot the size of attack lead us to assume it was likely a turkey, but as we looked at the feathers it was evident they were not of a turkey. They were slate gray and part of a wing including two large and long connected bones confirmed that it was not a turkey. It appeared to possibly be that of a Great Blue Heron. The attack took place in a flooded area on the left side of the road. A few hundred yards up the road we discovered the head and part of the neck of the Great Blue Heron. It was possible our arrival had scared off the coyotes as all the sign was fresh.
It is evident that the coyote not only has damaged our deer herd and snowshoe hare populations, but is taking many other species of wildlife that we all love.
Dave Miller
