Coyotes can be found in all counties in North Carolina
Coyotes are present in all 100 counties of North Carolina and by all suggestions their population is growing. The expansion of the coyote is a success story of sorts and really the coyote population has exploded across the country. I say of sorts because the coyote is a formidable predator and left unchecked can do significant damage to crops, livestock, pets and wildlife. One only has to look at how fast the coyote claimed habitat in this state to realize how fast it is expanding.
In the early 1980s, coyotes were in only a handful of North Carolina counties. Today they’re in all 100.
“They’re extremely intelligent,” said Thomas Padgett, a Wildlife Resources Commission biologist who oversees nine eastern North Carolina counties, including Brunswick.
Though state coyote population numbers weren’t available, officials agree they are a force to be reckoned with.
“There’s no question in my mind that they’re expanding and that they’re becoming more of a problem,” said David Marshall, the state veterinarian.
The coyote population is at a point now in the state where they are becoming problematic in some areas. Farmers are experiencing livestock losses and they are resorting to a number of techniques to reduce their losses. One only has to drive through the countryside and see the donkeys mixed in with the cattle in the pastures to realize how popular an option they have become.
Pearly Vereen has kept donkeys in his cattle pastures to protect 200 cattle and calves. He’s up to eight donkeys.
“I try to keep at least two in every pasture the cows are at,” he said.
Before he brought the donkeys in, he lost eight or 10 calves to coyotes. He hasn’t lost a single calf since his donkeys have been on the case, but Vereen has still noticed coyotes at work.
“They’re about to destroy the deer population,” he said. He’s heard how they’ll prey on chicken farms. “If they get started on them, you got to kill them or they’ll clean you out,” he said. “They find food, they’re coming back after it.”
As hunters and trappers we should offer to help landowners especially farmers in controlling coyotes along with other species that are causing damage. Coyotes can be hunted year round in North Carolina and there is a variety of techniques one can use to hunt coyotes. The big thing with coyotes is changing up methods is probably the best advice because they are a pretty smart critter and will catch on quick.
