The red wolf reintroduction was not the hoped-for success in the southeast due
most likely to the presence of coyotes, but not because coyotes have filled the
niche as suggested. Red wolves are the only wolves known to breed with
coyotes. The presence of a large established coyote population means that any
red wolf dispersing outward for a life of its own is more likely to run into a
coyote than into another red wolf. They breed and their offspring of course
dilute the red wolf population. In time and with enough hybridizations,
genetic swamping occurs and you end up with a red wolf/coyote mix (a king of
super coyote). It is probably also significant that after the USFWS caught and
eliminated all but the "purest" red wolves, they were only able to release a
few individuals back into the wild. If the critical population had been larger
the red wolves might have had a better chance for a little longer, but the
coyote inevitability factor is a big
card and not much can overcome that fact.
In every instance except one or two cases, whenever humans have tried to
eliminate a local population of coyotes we have failed. They breed
compensatorily (they breed younger and have larger litters) and before long
there are more than ever. Coyotes are a species that cannot be "managed"
except to leave them alone and let density dependent factors work.
Whether coyotes will control the deer population is a good question. Here in
the northeast we have some very large coyotes because of the wolf component
that characterizes them. They interbred with a southern Canadian wolf before
they dropped down into New England around 1930 or so. Since their arrival they
have become larger and larger and they have learned to pack up and take deer.
Deer only comprise a small part of their diet, however (more fawns in the
spring), with smaller prey and vegetation still favored. However, I believe
that in time, depending upon environmental factors such as snow depth and
disease transmission (heartworm, Lyme's etc) deer will comprise more of their
diet, particularly if they continue to increase their body size. There is no
reason why our coyotes shouldn;t continue to get bigger because there is a
niche to fill.
Down in the southeast I am not certain how large the coyotes are but obviously
a few interbreed with red wolves and so the same dynamic may be taking place.
The coyotes that emigrated from the west and occupied the south east and
eastern states did not breed with wolves along the way and so have smaller
overall body types. But with the red wolf component working through that local
population and as those wolf genes for size are favored, you may see more deer
impacted. It is fascinating to watch, during my lifetime, the evolution of
coyotes both physically and behaviorally as they have 'learned' to pack up to
take advantage of deer.
Having offered this, I have to say that even with our large coyotes which do
pack up and appear to be wolf wanna-bes, coyotes do not have any appreciable
impact on the deer population. They would still prefer easier smaller prey and
to refine the art of scavenging. So, if a deer eating coyote population is on
the way, I'm afraid it may still be a long way off.
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