Rod--

Coyotes are the prevalent predator in rural Ohio. I know people who have given up keeping sheep, goats, and cows because the coyotes kill them (calves in the case of cows).

I also see a direct correlation between the increase in coyotes and the decline of the ruffed grouse since the early 1990's. Although there are also other factors affecting the grouse population, wildlife officials still want to blame land use patterns alone for the decline in grouse.

There is no incentive for people to hunt coyotes--that is, no bounty, no profit from pelts, and apparently few people who want to hunt them just for sport.

Larry