When it comes to conservation and wildlife management, New Hampshire has a pretty good track record. Wild turkeys have come back strong, deer and bear populations are healthy and bobcats are appearing once again on trail cameras. Now more than ever, humans and wildlife are living next door to one another.
What has brought about these changes in the wildlife population?
In the 1800s, most of the forest in New Hampshire had been cut for purposes of farming and lumber. Horses also had to be fed, so many open fields were used to produce hay. There are estimates that less than 10% of the old-growth forest remained due to clear-cutting during the 19th century.
During the late 1800s, wildlife also took a hit. Turkeys and bobcats disappeared. Deer and bear populations thinned out. Many fur-bearing animals were trapped to the edge of extinction. This included the coyote, a species that had been numerous.
At the dawn of the 20th century, steam and internal combustion engines emerged to replace the horse. Forestation made a comeback to the point where nearly 90% of New Hampshire is now covered by trees. Plenty of wildlife habitat was restored.
By the middle of the 20th century, there were no coyotes in New Hampshire. Considered a nuisance and danger to domestic animals, the coyote was hunted, trapped and poisoned relentlessly. The last coyote was spotted in New Hampshire in 1944. Most people didn’t notice the absence of coyotes, and those who did thought good riddance to this canine predator.
In days gone by, any animal considered unsafe would have been killed on the spot. If farmers saw a bear, they would run for the rifle. The same went for bobcats, catamounts, wolves and coyotes. No one worried about conserving species that posed a threat to the human population.
Coyotes especially had been the targets of human beings. In western territories, despite the coyote’s sacred place in Native American mythology, farmers and ranchers thought nothing of spreading poisoned bait all over the plains. Bounties were offered to keep the coyote population at bay. Coyotes seemed to be on the way out.
When environmental awareness emerged, however, conservationists began to take umbrage at what was considered to be the ruthless and unnecessary slaughter of coyotes. Poisoning was outlawed in most states. Killing coyotes with firearms was still allowed, but bounties were no longer paid for the animals’ pelts.
The coyote commenced a gradual comeback, which is not surprising considering the nature of the species. Coyotes have large litters of pups. They will eat just about anything. And as populations expand, they will quickly move onto new territory, including urban areas. These characteristics allowed them to spread all over the country until they eventually arrived back in the Granite State.
Documentation and experience have demonstrated to me the ability of large feral animals to thrive in close proximity to human populations. In Enfield, where I live, I have seen bears, bobcats and deer in residential neighborhoods. And although I have never spotted a coyote, there is concrete evidence that they are now living in every corner of the New Hampshire.
A recent attack in Kensington, a community in the south-central area of the state, is confirmation of a widespread coyote population that is estimated by New Hampshire Fish and Game to be around 4,500. A family enjoying a picnic was bitten by a coyote that did not seem to possess the fear of humans that wild animals instinctively possess. The coyote was rabid, forcing the victims to undergo treatment for the disease, a series of unpleasant injections.
Though Fish and Game rightfully described this behavior by the coyote as extreme and rare, the possibility of coyote attack still exists in New Hampshire, as well as Vermont.
Most people will never know that coyotes are nearby. They are nocturnal and skillful at staying out of view. Even when they are seen, they are mistaken for German shepherds.
If you are approached by a coyote, especially during the day, assume that it is rabid and get inside as fast as you can. Report the sighting to Fish and Game. Sometimes there is no other choice but to put down the animal. If that happens, don’t go near it, even if it’s dead — rabies can be spread through touch. Call Fish and Game immediately so someone can be sent to assess the animal’s condition.
Odds of being attacked by any wild animal are scant. Attacks are more like to occur when an animal is cornered or startled.
Still, efforts to control the population of coyotes include an open season and legal trapping of the animal, a practice that some feel is cruel and unnecessary.
When faced with the possibility of attack, however, taking the life of a coyote is sometimes the only option.
Coleman Stokes can be reached at stokecoles@gmail.com.