Do coyotes present any threat to livestock (other than chickens, cats?)
While some coyotes do kill lambs and the occasional calf, not all do. If a coyote on a farm is not bothering livestock, the best thing a farmer can do is leave it alone. This coyote will keep other coyotes that may harm livestock from moving into the area. Coyotes, being predators, will naturally prey on sick or injured animals, be they wild or domesticated. Dogs and cats that are allowed to run loose, or that are dumped in the country and become feral, cause far more damage to both livestock and wildlife than coyotes. Dogs tend to form and hunt in packs and attack larger prey, while in Indiana the coyote usually hunts alone. Also, coyotes hunt for food, dogs often kill by chasing and catching animals for “fun” rather than food.
