Perhaps if humans quit killing Richardson’s ground squirrels (coyotes most common prey), coyotes would not hunt cattle.

Pest or pest control? Coyote interactions with cattle and Richardson’s ground squirrels

Authors: Shayla M. Jackson email hidden; JavaScript is required, Megan P. Miller, and Susan LingleAuthors Info & Affiliations

Publication: Canadian Journal of Zoology

4 December 2025

https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2025-0074

Abstract

Coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) are ubiquitous across Canadian grasslands and have been implicated as causing millions of dollars of damage each year by injuring or killing cattle (Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758). Gaining insight into the behaviour of coyotes in proximity to cattle may mitigate these costs. We hypothesized that coyotes obtain direct (e.g., killing calves or scavenging cattle) and indirect (e.g., hunting native prey) benefits from cattle pastures. We further hypothesized that cows respond defensively to coyotes. We conducted 58 focal observations of coyotes from May to August in southwest Saskatchewan and recorded activity, prey species, distance from cattle, and the response of cattle to coyotes. Coyotes hunted native prey more often than they interacted with cattle. Coyotes were often within 100 m of cattle when hunting Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii (Sabine, 1822), formerly Spermophilus richardsonii (Sabine, 1822)), their most common prey. Coyotes scavenged from cattle carcasses (N=5), occasionally approached calves (N=2), rushed herds (N=2), or consumed afterbirth (N=1). Cows and/or calves chased coyotes in 43% of observations having encounters within 10 m. Our data suggest coyotes primarily use cattle pastures to obtain native prey, although periodic opportunities to scavenge cattle or kill calves may contribute to their use of these areas.

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No! Do not approve any use of strychnine, not even for emergencies. Dr. Ryan Brook: “You would have to search hard to find a more painful way to die. Plus it kills anything.”

Canada, finally, bans *all* use of strychnine (yes, even in Cruelville Alberta, effective September after six-month phase-out) – a terrible way to die. Health Canada found more strychnine was used than number of poisoned carcasses retrieved, resulting in strychnine-poisoned carcasses available for other animals to feed on, increasing risk of secondary poisoning. What will vile anti-life, anti-science Danielle Smith and her evil Evangelicals do?

Where are the sanctimonious pro-lifers with their incessant desire to control others? Why the silence from them about Alberta’s UCP (many proclaiming to be Christian) intentionally killing in one of the most vile and cruel ways possible?

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Strychnine poison has caused unimaginably painful deaths to so many wild creatures trying to survive. And your money is paying for it. This is an ongoing program by the Alberta government.

Out of a helicopter, employees of the Alberta government scan the remote wilderness trying to find a moose. When they do, they take their guns and shoot them from the sky. The moose dies and that’s just the start. They bait the moose meat with strychnine poisoning so that wildlife stumbling upon a seemingly lucky meal will die. Strychnine poison is a terrible way to go, causing painful and prolonged muscle spasms, all while remaining conscious until eventually the animal suffocates. It’s also deadly to humans and ought to be illegal. But it’s not, even though 69 per cent of Canadians say the risks posed by these poisons are unacceptable. It’s shameful to know that governments willingly put wildlife through such pain.

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