Questions continually surface as to how to lessen the impact these carnivores have on deer herds.

Story and photography by Bob Zaiglin

Sometimes called Rio lobo or river wolf, North America’s version of the African jackal, the coyote, has always been an iconic denizen of the Wild West, but today they’re equally comfortable living amongst people, living in our backyards, taking advantage of pet food left on the back porch of rural occupants sometimes along with their pet, and it’s an activity that is occurring throughout much of the U.S. But to the angst of deer advocates, the coyote represents the loss of a substantial number of whitetail fawns. And it doesn’t stop with newborn fawns as adult bucks are at times just as susceptible to this cunning and elusive predator.
Coyotes, like the many meat eaters in Africa, play a significant role in the ecosystem, but when it comes to deer management in Texas, particularly on small landholdings, questions amongst deer managers as to what can be done to lessen the impact these carnivores have on their revered deer herds are continually surfacing.

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