Walkaboutlou sent me a link to the above article and then the statement below, revealing a much more complicated and convoluted issue with concomitant repercussions than first meets the eye:
Hi Janet.
I sent a decision made in Oregon today concerning coyote hunting contests. However…its concerning because it only covers public lands. Private lands can still hold these events.
It also is dividing because lack of discourse means whole groups of community didnt bother to bring their views.
Which means whole communities will politicize coyote and most certainly make these “contests” a way to express their displeasure at government.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a resurgence of hate and re-channeled angst aimed at an animal in my life.
It’s a societal stressed reaction much like witch burnings of old.
Last few months Ive been asked not to return for property patrols 4 places..simply for voicing the need for proactively setting safeguards in place for livestock and minimizing coyote and wolf conflict.
I’m learning…some want conflict. They want excuses to hunt every predator in land. And they practice that belief legally or otherwise.
At any rate, this legal decision is a start. But something far greater needs to be reached.
Warped and nearly superstitious views of predators is often the regional norm and combined with implacable hatred of coyote and government…it really is complex.
Its more then coyote. Its what they could symbolize. Tolerance. New Views. And accepting those.
Lou
Hi Lou —
OMG! So it’s now turned around and even more polarized than before. Your comments above give huge insights and I’d like to post them. May I? I would post with the link you sent me.
This kind of knee-jerk reaction happened before, where people who thought they were helping the coyotes were actually harming them. When those supporting banned leg-hold traps, they didn’t know they would be increasing the use of snares, which are far, far more insidious than leg-hold traps.
[Those who hate don’t want to be stopped]. And humans justify their hate and hateful actions through rationalizations. The story is [sad].
Let me know! And thank you for sending!
Janet
Hi Janet,
Yes you can. The thing is…and I say this via a blanket question I ask myself…for everything in my life…”What if I’m wrong?” Or at least..not as informed as I thought? I recently had a tense conversation with a long associate who also has ranch. Talking about wolves appearing and the ever appearing coyote..he said “my family and neighbors have been killing coyote for over 110 years here. And we’re not gonna stop” I calmly countered…well…that means it hasn’t really worked out has it?”
I won’t type his reply. But I can sense..for one..its residual traditions and a belief system and social pressure. Its a form of identity. Killing every coyote seen is seen as a community service, good sport and social responsibility in many areas. Also..even when presented with solutions those solutions aren’t usually wanted by traditionalists. Assembling and creating a pack of LGD, fenced lambing areas and allowing coyote to naturally form long lasting territorial pairs really is seen as expensive, crazy proposals.
But over and over, we’ve seen it work. A well kept group of LGD with serious fencing and daily presence of people is what is needed.
Minimizing predation on livestock keeps coyote very manageable. Wiping out whole packs and disruption of territory only creates footloose rather nomadic super predators every herder dreads. But that kind of predation is man caused.
At any rate…I think my views are different because the local headlines tout the new laws as a “win”. But just because someone has come out goal met..doesn’t mean they won.
It’s a 1st step. But by alienating many who live on ranges..its insured even greater hostility toward coyote. Who are the symbolic scapegoat for all predators.
One of my comforts is..I know Coyote. They don’t care about laws or lack of laws. And they will keep countering and winning every persecution aimed at them. A lot are lost. Many more return. They’ve been underdog before a human ever set foot here. And remain defiant and more numerous than ever.
Lou
