Coyotes and Calves

Sorry, they come right under or over my high tensile. Doesn't even phase them. They just find a high spot or low spot and that's that.

I was at an old farmer's place down in southern IN recently, The fellow who rents his pastures has lost at least 3 beef calves to coyotes this year. It is certainly possible to lose them that way.

Did he see them kill they calves? Or did he just find them feeding on them?
Just too many times the coyotes get blamed because them are typically scavengers and not as often killers. Coyotes tend to be self preserving and avoid the chance of getting killed or hurt themselves.

That being said, Yes they can kill and sometimes do. New England type coyotes fall into a whole different catagory in my mind. But the ones on the Plains are not usually ever the culprit. And yes there are some old farmers out here will still blame them even if they didn't do it.
Had a rancher this spring blaming coyotes for his calf deaths, traps were set and 3 wild "shepherd cross" dogs were caught and the calf killing stopped.
Just sayin'

Is yours hot? I would be surprised if they came through a hot fence.

__________________
Trisha in WA
Visit my blog @
Diamond Belle Ranch

What else does a man have to do in his short time here on earth than build soil and feed people~Forerunner

We noticed that one of our heifers had calved but we didn't see the calf. Walked the property and saw the remains of a calf (mostly skeleton). We have heard coyotes howling but not on our place. We have four large loose dogs and some donkeys (two jennies and one jack) in the large pasture with the horses and cows and a mini donkey in a smaller pasture with the goats. Now, it's possible the calf died from something else and the dogs ate on the carcass. These are blue heelers and blue heeler/lab mixes and are protective of the livestock but once something dies they will eat on it. Is there any harm keeping the jack in the pasture (he's great with the livestock)? I've heard that jennies are more protective of the livestock and will fight the coyotes, bobcatas, etc more than a jack.

Of course it's hot! What I'm saying is that all it takes is a little dip in the ground or a handy rock and the coyotes are in. They aren't stupid. I've had them walk right through my field next to the house. The kids are out there, dogs in the kennel. Never phased him. 2 days later he comes through about the same time, I come out the door with a rifle and he took off like a scared cat. They learn real fast and I imagine someone else had taken a shot at him. Got him later in the fall in a #1 3/4 coil spring. The next night his buddy came by, hit the same set and tore that trap to pieces. Now I use a #3 K-9 Special. No more destroyed traps.

Anyway, I found where they'd jumped the fence (5 strand) and gone under it. They seem to prefer under to over. Maybe if you have real level fields you won;t have the problems. Our's are rough at best and even the areas I bulldozed "flat" have dips, rises, drainages, etc. An 8-10" space is like a highway to them. The sheep and goats ignore it, the coyotes consider Broadway!

I didn't mean to offend you. I have talked with lots of people that have New Zealand fencing that is not electrified...that's why I asked. Sorry.

__________________
Trisha in WA
Visit my blog @
Diamond Belle Ranch

What else does a man have to do in his short time here on earth than build soil and feed people~Forerunner

Even a good Jack doesn't always realize that a new baby is not an intruder.
Likely your calf died during birth and everything else cleaned it up, since it was a heifer.