Please read my story in regards to the plight of the RED WOLF AND COYOTE in my State of Florida
. Help the next generation to become more aware of the plight of the remaining wild canines. All over the rest of the nation, governments have eradicated our wolf and and coyotes to near extinction. contact me daneosodane@yahoo.com

COYOTES CAN CO-EXSIST IN FLORIDA
By
LARS-OLE MORTENSEN

THE COYOTE AND RED WOLF ONCED LIVED SIDE BY SIDE IN ALL PARTS OF FLORIDA FOR CENTURIES. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FOSSIL REMAINS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED OF FINDINGS STATING THAT COYOTES DISAPPEARED FROM EASTERN NORTH AMERICA BY THE END OF THE LAST GLACIAL PERIOD 15,000 TO 20,000 YEARS AGO. THE RED WOLF WAS THE ONLY PREDATOR THAT REMAINED ROAMING FLORIDA UNTIL THE EARLY 1920’s WHEN LOSS OF HABITAT AND MAN’S HUNTING NEARLY PUSHED ALL THE RED WOLVES TO NEAR EXTINCTION.
COYOTES ARE A PREDATOR WHICH IS HIGHLY ADAPTABLE WITH CHANGES TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. FLORIDA’S GAME COMMISSION HAS STUDIED THE COYOTE POPULATION EXPANDING ITS HABITAT. IN A 1983 STUDY, THE COYOTE WERE FOUND TO EXSIST IN ONLY 18 COUNTIES, MOSTLY IN THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA. IN 1990, THE COYOTE WERE FOUND LIVING IN 48 COUNTIES AND RECENT STUDIES HAVE FOUND COYOTES NOW IN EVERY 67 COUNTIES IN FLORIDA.
COYOTES ARE AN IMPORTANT PREDATORY MAMMAL PREYING ON THE EVER INCREASING RACOON AND OPPOSUM POPULATIONS. WITH THE REDUCED POPULATION OF THE RED WOLF AND THE FLORIDA PANTHER, SCIENTISTS SPECULATE THAT THE COYOTE OF FLORIDA MAY FILL THIS VOID AND COULD HELP TO REDUCE OUR INVASIVE SPECIES, WHICH CAUSE SERIOUS ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE. NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF COYOTES ON NATIVE SPECIES ARE LESS THAN THOSE CAUSED BY THE FERAL CATS AND HOGS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE COYOTES IN CHECK HOWEVER, THEY DO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT TO REDUCE THE INVASIVES KILLING OUR NATIVE MAMMALS AND BIRD SPECIES. SMALL WILD PIGS CAUSE WIDESPREAD HABITAT DAMAGE, WHICH IS A MORE SERIOUS THREAT TO NATIVE SPECIES OF OUR ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN FLORIDA.