Thursday, September 18, 2003
New Richmond News
Authorities probe series of animal attacks
By Julie Shehane-Bannink, News staff reporter
jshehane@rivertowns.net
One horse dies, at least three others injured in ongoing attacks in Cylon and Stanton townships.
Officials with the Department of Natural Resources are trying to determine what kind of animals are responsible for a series of attacks on horses in Cylon and Stanton townships.
One horse was killed and another seriously injured during an attack Saturday night at a home in the 2000 block of 215th Ave. in Cylon Township. (1 mile south of the village.) A third horse on the property was injured in a separate attack near Labor Day.
A fourth horse was attacked sometime last week at a home in the 1800 block of 220th Ave. in Stanton Township. The homes are located about a mile from each other.
“Cosmo (the horse that was killed Saturday) was a very big horse and it would take a lot of force to bring him down,” said Douglas Belisle who lives on the property with his girlfriend Tammy Tornil.
Another horse on the property received about 20 bite marks in the stomach area, while a third horse sustained gashes to its leg deep enough to tear the muscle.
Game wardens were at the property Monday to look into the incidents.
“The wildlife officer said he thought it was a pack of dogs because wild animals usually eat their prey, but they did see signs of coyote trails in the woods,” Belisle said.
Area residents have reported seeing a group of coyotes roaming around, but officials simply aren’t sure what type of animals are causing the injuries to the horses.
“We are hoping to find out how many animals around here have been injured, so we can pinpoint a certain area for the attacks and maybe figure out what is doing this,” Belisle said. “We don’t even know how many animals have been attacked.”
The attacks are believed to have occurred during the nighttime hours.
Until the attacks stop, Belisle said he will install lighting near his barn in order to steer the unknown animals away from his property.
Officials with the DNR could not be reached for comment.
A DNR Comment as published in the New Richmond News
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Coyote population on the
rise
By Julie Shehane-Bannink, News staff reporter
jshehane@rivertowns.net
When wild animals become neighbors in more populated communities like St. Croix County, people can get a little uneasy.
Residents in and around the Roberts area have reported so many coyote sightings that the village recently brought in an official with the Department of Natural Resources to answer questions and help the community learn to cope with their new neighbors.
“We had quite a few concerns from residents, especially in the new developments in the outskirts of the village, so we wanted to have a presentation for our community to help us know exactly what we are dealing with,” said Roberts Village President Willard Moeri. “The number of coyotes is definitely increasing, but it’s not just in Roberts. It’s all over the county.”
Records from the Department of Natural Resources show that the general coyote population in Western-Central Wisconsin has increased four-fold in the past 15 years. But estimating exact numbers of animals is very expensive and the DNR can only afford to do it for a few of the species in the state. Coyotes are not included on the list.
“Most populations are monitored for abundance relative to prior years,” explained Jescie Kitchell, DNR assistant survey analyst and database manager. “We estimate abundance, hunting harvest numbers and trapping harvest numbers.”
There is no question the coyote population is increasing. But DNR officials say there is no reason for residents to become concerned.
“St. Croix County has experienced some farm problems with coyotes, but not many in urban settings,” said DNR game warden Dave Hausman, who gave the presentation in Roberts.
Preying on domestic animals Coyotes (Canis latrans) are members of the dog family and are often described as having a “German Shepherd-like” appearance.
They are both predators and scavengers that feed primarily on rabbits, small rodents and carcasses, but will also eat a wide variety of other things including reptiles, fish, birds, fruit, vegetables and plants. Here in Wisconsin, white-tail deer carcasses are the primary source of protein for coyotes.
DNR officials say when coyotes have plenty of food, they are not likely to prey on domestic animals. Pet cats and rabbits, however, can become prey to the hungry predator.
Because coyotes are territorial, they can sometimes perceive dogs as threats. To alleviate this concern, dog owners are urged to not to leave their dogs outside unattended at night, the time coyotes are most active.
Keeping other animals, such as rabbits, close to a building is another suggestion for steering coyotes away.
Controlling coyotes in communities. While residents in rural areas can use trapping and hunting as a means of controlling coyote populations, residents in urban areas are often restricted by laws of their municipality and must use non-lethal means to get rid of coyotes.
Loud noises, throwing rocks or spraying them with a garden hose are a few of the more typical means used. But DNR officials say hiring a professional trapper might serve as a better way to control the population.
“If coyotes are going into more urban areas, I recommend that the animals be trapped,” Hausman added.
If you have a concern about coyotes, call the USDA’s Wildlife helping at 1-800-433-0688 or your local DNR office.
