Friday, May 14, 2010
Nova Scotia offers subsidy to cut coyote population
Responding to public concerns about aggressive coyotes, Nova Scotia
will offer trappers a subsidy that could reduce the province's population of the animal by as much as 50 per cent.
Minister of Natural Resources John MacDonell announced the measure Thursday as part of a broader plan to reduce the risk of coyote attacks
He insisted the subsidy was not a bounty “in the classic sense” but conceded that most dictionary definitions would see it that way.
“It is a way to change coyote behaviour,” Mr MacDonell told reporters. “What we're trying to do is remove possibly dangerous animals out of the population.”
The Minister said that research showed that eliminating some coyotes would make the remainder more wary of humans. If all goes according to plan, he said, the subsidy could induce trappers to kill as much as half of the province's estimated 8,000 coyotes.
The subsidy will start with trapping season in the fall. More immediate measures include using experts to target coyotes that seem to pose an immediate danger, enhanced public education and the hiring of a biologist to focus on human wildlife conflict.
The province has been under increasing pressure since a visiting singer was killed by coyotes last fall in Cape Breton. Several run-ins since have received wide attention and sparked calls for government action.
Minister of Natural Resources John MacDonell announced the measure Thursday as part of a broader plan to reduce the risk of coyote attacks
He insisted the subsidy was not a bounty “in the classic sense” but conceded that most dictionary definitions would see it that way.
“It is a way to change coyote behaviour,” Mr MacDonell told reporters. “What we're trying to do is remove possibly dangerous animals out of the population.”
The Minister said that research showed that eliminating some coyotes would make the remainder more wary of humans. If all goes according to plan, he said, the subsidy could induce trappers to kill as much as half of the province's estimated 8,000 coyotes.
The subsidy will start with trapping season in the fall. More immediate measures include using experts to target coyotes that seem to pose an immediate danger, enhanced public education and the hiring of a biologist to focus on human wildlife conflict.
The province has been under increasing pressure since a visiting singer was killed by coyotes last fall in Cape Breton. Several run-ins since have received wide attention and sparked calls for government action.
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