Predators' impacts may be studied

Predators' impacts may be studied
Proposal would examine effects on state's deer herds

Dec. 7, 2000

By Janelle Holden
Journal Staff Writer

The Colorado Wildlife Commission in Denver will consider a proposal today to study how coyotes and other predators impact state deer herds.

The recommended study is being advocated by the Predator Management Advisory Committee, a multi-disciplinary body established by the Colorado Legislature in May to respond to concerns that deer-herd populations were dropping and predator numbers rising.

"There is substantial evidence that the populations of predators have increased beyond the levels that people are accustomed to seeing in Colorado, though specific data does not exist because the Divison of Wildlife does not routinely track predator population," the committee’s report stated.

State Rep. Mark Larson (R-Cortez) said he had monitored the committee’s investigations.

"What I saw was that there was a significant demonstration that in particular areas coyote populations were determined to have a detrimental effects on deer herds, but rather than do a broad brush policy on coyote-mitigation issues, we decided to go ahead and do a study to find appropriate ways to address that," said Larson.

In Southwestern Colorado, however, DOW officials have said that deer and elk herds are currently thriving.

"My take is that the number of deer overall are increasing almost everywhere across western Colorado," said Jim Olterman, the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s senior wildlife biologist for Western Colorado, in November.

Olterman explained that since the DOW reduced the amount of hunting licenses, the older, more mature, deer population has expanded and the hunter-success rate has gone up "dramatically." Wild predator populations have generally stayed level in the area.

"Predator populations are driven by social interaction," Olterman said. "They only get to a certain level and they just don’t tolerate each other any more.

"There’s a lot of different factors that affect deer populations, and predators are certainly one of those factors, but I think you can have healthy deer populations and healthy predator populations at the same time," said Olterman.

In 1996, voters passed Amendment 14, a state ballot initiative banning the trapping and poisoning of coyotes during all but one month out of the year. Larson said that, as a result, "livestock producers are having to dig into their own pocket" to ask government agencies to deal with coyote predation problems.

The predation committee has asked for the Wildlife Commission to approve a study focusing specifically on coyotes because "they are not regularly hunted and no easy management tool exists for controlling their numbers, if needed."

Coyotes are legal to hunt throughout the year with the purchase of a small-game license, while black bears and mountain lions are managed through hunting seasons and specific DOW guidelines.

Some counties even offer small bounties for coyote kills.

Larson said he plans to introduce legislation that would increase funding for Wildlife Services, formerly known as Animal Damage Control, an agency within the Department of Agriculture that helps private property owners mitigate predation of livestock and other wildlife damage.

According to Susan Wadhams, a spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources, if the study is approved, two study areas will be established on the Western slope where deer herds are struggling.

One study area would allow DOW officials to kill predators using a variety of measures: aerial gunning, habitat modification, on-ground shooting, traps and snares when legal, and regulated hunting. The second area would serve as a control group, with no impacts on the predator populations.

"Everything that DOW does is an attempt at managing herds and making certain animals don’t become extinct. It’s an ongoing effort, and has been for a long time, but every once in a while something changes significantly and gets the legislature’s attention," said Wadhams.

The report acknowledges that very little solid information is available on predators and their impact on wildlife.

The committee did consider a 1999 DOW report entitled, "Declining Mule Deer Populations in Colorado: Reasons and Responses," which they summed up with, "The report concludes that evidence from past studies fails to demonstrate conclusively that deer herds increase when predators are removed."

The public is invited to comment on the committee’s recommendations at a workshop being held at Division of Wildlife Headquarters in Denver this afternoon.

Wadhams said that the Wildlife Commission would likely approve the committee’s recommendations. Once the recommendations are approved the legislature will appropriate funds for the study within the next legislative session.

The Wildlife Commission was also expected to consider adopting formal management plans for black bears, mountain lions and coyotes.