3 Ways Coyotes Are Good For the Ecosystem

Coyotes – they've been conjuring up scary images and fueling hunting expeditions for decades. Recent research suggests that coyotes play some beneficial roles in our ecosystem. In the 1930s, after humans nearly wiped out the wolf population in America, coyotes quickly rose to become Maine's largest canine predator. Here’s is how Maine’s 12,000 coyotes are helping our ecosystem:

• They prey on small mammals like rabbits and rats. These critters reproduce rapidly and, without predators like coyotes, can quickly become overpopulated.

• Coyotes also hunt other animals that are known for harboring disease and parasites. Lyme disease is carried by rodents that infect ticks that feed off of deer. By moderating the deer and rodent populations, the coyote significantly decreases the opportunity for ticks to feed and reproduce. In addition to harboring ticks, over-populations of deer can be devastating to wild vegetation and farm crops.

• Control of the red fox population is an important benefit of coyote presence. The red fox mainly preys on duck eggs, partridges, and other birds. When red foxes are prevalent, the percentage of nest success with these birds drastically decreases as more nests are raided. With coyotes to keep the red fox in check, these birds have a better chance of survival.