1. Rebuilding a Tradition Composed By: Blayre Ouzts Ridding Our Area of an Invasive Species

8. This is a picture of a (closed) leg hold trap. The trap is set on the ground, in the woods, disguised under leaves. The trap is sensitive to pressure applied to a sensitive lever. Once the animal steps on lever the trap instantly closes on its leg stopping it in its tracks. From instinct animals try to escape the trap by pulling away from it often causing them to loose a leg or bleed to death. The problem with these traps is deer are just as likely as coyotes to run in its path.

10. Of the three solutions I presented only one of them is the most viable, sensible solution. Shooting the coyotes would only be a time consuming process that would give us minimal satisfaction due to the difficult process that goes into hunting the animal. Trapping coyotes is a route that could be taken. However, there is a MAJOR issue that invalidates this method completely. The problem with this potential solution is that the only trap that will capture a coyote is a leg hold trap and it is just as likely to catch the deer and other wildlife. This could seriously injure and even kill the animals we are working so hard to protect. The only solution that proves to be a beneficial and productive method for depleting the coyote population in our area, is to let the coyotes be eliminated by natural causes. By letting nature take its course, disease will be a major factor in the decrease in survival rate of this predatory species.