RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

Unfortunately, deer CAN'T do the same thing. While coyotes can have litters to upwards of 10, deer don't have that ability. A doe simply can't give birth and raise 5 fawns when the population is low. It takes much less nutrition for a female coyote to nurse her young than it does for a doe.Also, the offspring numbers for deer are almost directly related to food supply. This is determined through the fall and winter months, coyote offspring population is determined by the number of coyotes an area can sustain.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

And deer herds are controlled (by mother nature) using the same principle. In areas of high deer density.....high (>60%) fawn mortality rates (due mainly to fawn abandonment) and does not being bred equate to the same end result (i.e. population determined by numbers the area can sustain).

Conversely.....in the climate I live in.....IF the population were low....I'm betting the fawn survival rate would be >1/doe.

There's a good article in the current D&DH discussing this. I'm also witnessing this in my woods.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

This is true, but your talking about the carrying capacity being maintained by mother nature. Even if the deer population is devastated by a horrible winter or something like blue tongue, all the does in the area can breed and have twins (assuming the food sources are adequate) and the herd can still be short of the carrying capacity. Coyotes on the other hand don't have that problem.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

Intresting side note-a doe will almost always concieve two fawns. If the winter is severe enough or if food is scarce enough, one will be misscaried. And if the option is there, it will always be the male. I'm not sure why.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

Aahhhh. Understood. What might take a deer herd years to accomplish.....they can do in 1 season.

Gotcha.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

Exactly.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

I've heard of the doe aborting a fetus if it can't support it (hard winter). I've never heard that the doe will always abort the male. Where did you get that information?

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

I'm not sure where it came from, but it makes total sense. In order for mother nature to sustain a population, it would make sense for the males to be dropped. If the females were dropped, then the next year (after an already tough season) there would be that many less does to restore the herd.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?
 

Depends on their food supply. I've had them kill my dogs, sheep and a calf once.Normally ifthey have plenty of rabbits they rarely mess with other animals.

Iknow somefarmers that do not kill them because rabbits can cause havoc on vegetable gardens.

RE: How big of a threat are coyotes?