Hi,
New to this board and reading through posts. Saw this one posted from way back without a very good answer.
Why don't Coyote eat dead cows?
Of course some do. But the most probable cause for those that don't is training and conditioning. Ranchers routinely take shots at every coyote they see. Coyotes as well as other predators (Lions in Africa for example) equate cows with humans and humans with death. They quickly learn that to prey on livestock can get them killed and they are capable of teaching that to thier young. This fear keeps them from eating even a dead cow.
I was born and raised on a 100,000 acre ranch in Montana and hold a degree in Biology. I have alot of experience with predation of livestock. Before I get jumped on for a percieved suggestion that coyote don't prey on livestock, I am only giving one possible explanation as to why SOME coyotes don't scavange livestock. We have lost enough calves to know others will.
Mike
New to this board and reading through posts. Saw this one posted from way back without a very good answer.
Why don't Coyote eat dead cows?
Of course some do. But the most probable cause for those that don't is training and conditioning. Ranchers routinely take shots at every coyote they see. Coyotes as well as other predators (Lions in Africa for example) equate cows with humans and humans with death. They quickly learn that to prey on livestock can get them killed and they are capable of teaching that to thier young. This fear keeps them from eating even a dead cow.
I was born and raised on a 100,000 acre ranch in Montana and hold a degree in Biology. I have alot of experience with predation of livestock. Before I get jumped on for a percieved suggestion that coyote don't prey on livestock, I am only giving one possible explanation as to why SOME coyotes don't scavange livestock. We have lost enough calves to know others will.
Mike