REGINA — The battle between producers and coyotes over livestock has just taken a turn in favour of producers with the announcement of a new program aimed at controlling Saskatchewan's growing coyote population.
Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud told Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities members on Tuesday that a $20 bounty has been placed on the heads — or more specifically, paws — of the province's problematic predators.
"They're getting awfully domesticated and it's dangerous out there for farm families that have little kids where they're coming right in the yards," Bjornerud told reporters after the announcement. "In some cases, they're taking the farm dog and leading him out of the yard and then killing him, too. So it's just a dramatic problem out there for all producers, but especially the sheep producers in the province."
The Saskatchewan Coyote Control Program — a pilot program running until March 31 — invites producers and hunters to kill coyotes, then take all four paws to the local RM office to verify kills.
Once the hunter submits a declaration to the government, the province will pay $20. The program covers all coyotes in Saskatchewan RMs, but hunters must respect public safety and landowner rights by first receiving permission to hunt on private land. Hunters must also respect no-hunting zones like provincial parks and trapping blocks.
Some livestock producers praised the program, having themselves lost animals to the predators.
"This is one of the greatest things that's ever been announced in the history of Saskatchewan ... ," enthused cattle producer Paul Rybka from the RM of Prince Albert. "We lost six calves last year from coyotes. Also, they've moved right into our yard and now they're eating the farm cats."
Rybka said a provincial predation officer helped him and a neighbour hunt coyotes for 1 1/2 months last winter. Between them, they killed 57.
"This was last winter and now, this spring and this summer, they're right back in our yard again," he said.
So far, coyotes have killed six of the family's 11 farm cats and Rybka said he also worries for his grandchildren as the coyotes are moving in packs of five and six.
Montmartre-area cattle producer, Edwin Martel, is also pleased with the program. While he hasn't had a problem with coyotes bothering his herd, he has seen them "all over" his area.
Kelly Williamson from the Pambrun area hasn't seen many. Like Martel, Williamson said coyotes have left his cattle alone, and wondered if a coyote-control program is truly necessary. In fact, he said it could be bad for farmers in his area who have problems with ground squirrels and other rodents.
"I can't see the logic of trying to eradicate one of the major predators of an already-problem species," he said.
But Rybka said gophers are also running rampant in his area, seeming to quash the idea that coyotes are eating the rodents.
In March, the government will evaluate the program before deciding whether to continue.
http://www.leaderpost.com/technology/Sas...6730/story.html
Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud told Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities members on Tuesday that a $20 bounty has been placed on the heads — or more specifically, paws — of the province's problematic predators.
"They're getting awfully domesticated and it's dangerous out there for farm families that have little kids where they're coming right in the yards," Bjornerud told reporters after the announcement. "In some cases, they're taking the farm dog and leading him out of the yard and then killing him, too. So it's just a dramatic problem out there for all producers, but especially the sheep producers in the province."
The Saskatchewan Coyote Control Program — a pilot program running until March 31 — invites producers and hunters to kill coyotes, then take all four paws to the local RM office to verify kills.
Once the hunter submits a declaration to the government, the province will pay $20. The program covers all coyotes in Saskatchewan RMs, but hunters must respect public safety and landowner rights by first receiving permission to hunt on private land. Hunters must also respect no-hunting zones like provincial parks and trapping blocks.
Some livestock producers praised the program, having themselves lost animals to the predators.
"This is one of the greatest things that's ever been announced in the history of Saskatchewan ... ," enthused cattle producer Paul Rybka from the RM of Prince Albert. "We lost six calves last year from coyotes. Also, they've moved right into our yard and now they're eating the farm cats."
Rybka said a provincial predation officer helped him and a neighbour hunt coyotes for 1 1/2 months last winter. Between them, they killed 57.
"This was last winter and now, this spring and this summer, they're right back in our yard again," he said.
So far, coyotes have killed six of the family's 11 farm cats and Rybka said he also worries for his grandchildren as the coyotes are moving in packs of five and six.
Montmartre-area cattle producer, Edwin Martel, is also pleased with the program. While he hasn't had a problem with coyotes bothering his herd, he has seen them "all over" his area.
Kelly Williamson from the Pambrun area hasn't seen many. Like Martel, Williamson said coyotes have left his cattle alone, and wondered if a coyote-control program is truly necessary. In fact, he said it could be bad for farmers in his area who have problems with ground squirrels and other rodents.
"I can't see the logic of trying to eradicate one of the major predators of an already-problem species," he said.
But Rybka said gophers are also running rampant in his area, seeming to quash the idea that coyotes are eating the rodents.
In March, the government will evaluate the program before deciding whether to continue.
http://www.leaderpost.com/technology/Sas...6730/story.html
