Ask The Biologist

You won’t make a dent in predation by taking just one coyote.

QUESTION: I see a lot of social media posts about hunters killing coyotes to save the deer. Does removing coyotes really help deer survival?

ANSWER: The answer is not as simple as you might think. There is no question that coyotes are a significant predator of deer, and removing a coyote does indeed mean one less predator on the landscape. However, coyotes have a complex and diverse range of pair bonding and breeding behaviors. In some cases, removing one or only a few can actually result in more coyotes and greater predation over the course of a year.

Coyote control programs are most effective when they are intensive and concentrated, removing a large number over a relatively short period. Timing of removal also is important. The most effective times are in winter, when deer may be concentrated in wintering areas with deep snow, and in spring when does are giving birth.

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