What is to keep "red wolves" from interbreeding with the coyotes that are everywhere now and just becoming coyotes again? When I was a kid in the early 1960's we first started seeing coyotes in central texas(Austin area). I was on the school bus and there were two yotes eating a sheep in a pasture as we passed. We always referred to them as wolves for the longest time until we realized they were just coyotes. I had read many years ago that the last pure strain(?) of red wolves was captured on the southeast side of galveston bay(texas) with the massive Houston metro area occupying the north and northwest sides of galveston bay. That area was occupied by only very large cattle ranches and some rice farms; it was open prairie and marsh land. The spreading coyote population had not yet moved into that area probably because of the Houston metro area being in the way.
The only way that I know that it is a Red Wolf is to look for a collar. They have spent some money in this area on Red Wolf Restoration. I do not think there is any way they can get an accurate count. The Albemarle/ Pamlico Peninsula covers hundreds of thousands of acres of bogs and pocosins that can not be accessed. Imagine thousands of acres of floating bogs of river reeds and little islands. Most of it is too narrow to access with a canoe. Not a very comfortable environment. Ticks, chiggers, gators, rattle snakes, water moccasins and some of the worst mosquitoes that you have ever experience. I could not imagine walking though chest deep water into the middle of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
They breed them under the endangered species act and get millions for doing it . They have decimated the deer where I live and now at Re eating the bears .They travel in packs and are very dangerous at night .They need to be gotten rid of. a sponge and grease on it goes a long way !
Originally posted by dgr416: They breed them under the endangered species act and get millions for doing it . They have decimated the deer where I live and now at Re eating the bears .They travel in packs and are very dangerous at night .They need to be gotten rid of. a sponge and grease on it goes a long way !
Wow...you live in that pocket of NC? I was there when they reintroduced them into the Smokies years ago..I don’t think they ever became a problem to my knowledge
Posts: 931 | Location: Music City USA | Registered: 09 April 2013
The only way to terminate coyotes and I suspect Red Wolves is the Texas Program that made West Texas from Sanderson to Van Horne coyote free for many years was for all the ranches to set out getters ( cyanide guns ), wire slings in the fences, use air planes to hunt them with horseman riding in line...the outer edge ranchers that had cattle and no sheep were buffer zones that did the same thing..It worked..But as time went by cattle took presidence to sheep and the program was dropped. I recall this program was in the 1950s.
It can be done but its costly and requires everyone to participate, and I doubt if its needed today..Eagles are also a real preditor to the sheepman and goat raisers, and wildlife but protected by Uncle.
