Surveying Depredation of Livestock in the State of West Virginia by Eastern Coyotes

Matthew Day* and Sheldon Owen, Appalachian Hardwood Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Field (Broad Category): Natural Resources/Wood Science/Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences) 

Student’s Major: Wildlife & Fisheries Resources 

The number of individual sheep and producers have been steadily declining in contrast to an increase of the eastern coyote (Canis latrans var.) population within West Virginia. The increase in coyote populations and predation has been projected to cause the decline in West Virginia’s sheep industry that has been taking place in the past several decades and for this, the state’s Integrated Predation Management Program, administered by the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services (WS), was established in 1996 to counteract the threat. Just prior to this program in 1995, West Virginia sheep and goat producers were surveyed to assess the impacts of coyote depredation. The goal of this study is to evaluate the Integrated Predation Management Program and assess current trends in coyote depredation. This survey utilizes questions from the 1995 survey to assess changes over the past 25 years. The survey was mailed to 2,000 livestock, goat, and cattle producers around the state. This study will provide insights into the current state of coyote depredation across West Virginia as well as assess the effectiveness of the IPMP. 

Funding: Appalachian Hardwood Center 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course