By Hans Lammeman
Contributing Writer
For years, national and state agricultural agencies have listed coyotes as the leading predator responsible for cattle loss to predators in Texas. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data from a 2015 report states that coyotes were responsible for 53% of total cattle loss to predators state-wide.
At their last meeting of the fiscal year, DeWitt County Commissioners voted to approve an annual field agreement with Texas Agri Life Extension and Texas Wildlife Damage Management Association for predatory animal control beginning in October.
“In the last three or four years, our appropriation has increased because there had been an outcry from the agricultural community that the coyote population had been growing and there were a lot more threats to their livestock,” said DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler after the meeting. “So, our extension agent Anthony Netardus advocated from the agricultural community. This is an arm of Texas Extension; they hire these people. They’re employees of the Extension Service, and they charge us a per diem rate to come down and set traps.”
The master-pack hunters clock in at up to 35 miles per hour following a two-mile dead run and are occasionally hunted by helicopter, according to Texas Monthly. Coyotes and wild hogs contribute to the list of animals that the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife does not require licenses to shoot, given specific requirements.
Concerning calve loss to predators in Texas, the USDA report listed coyotes as the lead culprit (40.5%), with predatory birds as the second most likely suspect (34.1%).
Wildlife informer listed the following deterrent methods to ward off coyote populations: motion lighting and sprinkler systems, smell deterrents such as Cayenne pepper, strobe lights and noises set on timer, and devices that produce cougar sounds.