Michigan Natural Resources Commission to take up state coyote hunting season

The state Natural Resources Commission is scheduled to take up questions about shortening the coyote hunting season on Thursday.

At their annual meeting over the past weekend, members of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs voted unanimously against the idea.

Members of the clubs "made clear that the organization does not support closing the season and that there is no biological evidence to support the closure," according to a news release.

The unanimous vote came during the MUCC's annual convention in Sault Ste. Marie over the past weekend.

But an animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says that while shortening the hunting season is a step in the right direction, banning coyote hunting altogether is a better solution.

Kristin Rickman, director of PETA's emergency response team, said eliminating coyotes will result in an explosion of smaller predators and a subsequent loss of bird species.

Further, it is impossible to eliminate coyotes anyway due to breeding habits designed to protect the population. She said coyotes are essential to the ecological balance and have been wrongly blamed for all kinds of animal deaths over many centuries.

The state Natural Resources Commission was scheduled to take up the issue on Thursday, March 14, at its monthly meeting, at the Lansing Community College's downtown campus. The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. and is open to public comment at 1 p.m.

According to a draft agenda, more than a dozen people are listed to speak about coyotes.

The commission has the authority to regulate the taking of game and sportfish in Michigan.

According to the MUCC, the Natural Resources Commission has been considering partially closing the year-round hunting season since early this year.

Amy Trotter, chief executive of the MUCC, said the organization's stance on closing the coyote season is "abundantly" clear.

"No scientific evidence has been presented to justify the closure of the coyote hunting season," Trotter said in a news release.

The Michigan United Conservation Clubs, a nonprofit representing 40,000 members, drew a crowd of hunters, anglers, and trappers to its annual convention, where they passed a policy agenda for the years ahead.

One of the most pressing issues for the clubs is whether the year-long hunting season for coyotes in Michigan be reduced by three months, starting in mid-April, when their pups are still in the den.

Coyotes, members of the dog family like wolves and foxes, have been subject to year-round hunting since 2016 when the season was extended to include those three spring and summer months.

Coyote pups at issue

The Free Press reported in February that the Department of Natural Resources said it does not expect a significant impact on the state's coyote population if the season is shortened. The coyote harvest, and the number of coyotes harvested per hunter, have not increased since 2016.

But some of those pushing for a shortened season argue that it's necessary "due to public perception and potential future impacts to their hunting and trapping opportunities," the DNR said in a Jan. 16 memo to the Natural Resources Commission.

In other words: Does it look bad to allow hunting coyotes when they have their young still in the den? And will this perception lead to more restrictions on hunting and trapping in general, the Free Press reported in February.

According to the MUCC, a shorter season is not justified because it does nothing to improve, or worsen, the health of the coyote population, at the same time it restricts the amount of time that hunters can spend on their outdoor pursuits. A state hunting license is required to hunt coyotes anywhere in Michigan.

According to Justin Tomei, the organization's policy and government affairs manager, coyotes are present in all 83 counties in Michigan. While there is no exact census, Tomei said 7,000 hunters harvested 13,000 coyotes statewide in 2020, the most recent figures.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says coyotes are common throughout Michigan, in both rural and urban areas. They are active day and night, but most active around sunrise and sunset.

How to stay safe, according to the DNR

According to the DNR's website, they are abundant in areas where adequate food, cover, and water are available. Breeding takes place January through March and people are more likely to see and hear coyotes during this time. 

The DNR said people should not intentionally feed or attempt to tame coyotes and that they must retain their fear of people.

To guard against coyotes, eliminate outside food sources. Coyotes may prey on the small mammals and birds attracted to a backyard bird feeder or garden.

PETA's Rickman said birds don't need the food in backyard bird feeders for survival, and the congregating birds can attract coyotes and other predators while spreading diseases.

Also, the DNR says to clear out brush piles that provide hiding places for small mammals and birds and keep small pets indoors or take them outside on a leash.

The DNR says that if you see a coyote, try to scare it off by yelling, clapping, or other loud noises, which is known as hazing.

Lastly, Rickman said, the food left out for ferral cat colonies can attract coyotes and also puts the cats themselves at risk of becoming a coyote's next meal.

Contact Jennifer Dixon: jbdixon@freepress.com