I was raised in Wyoming a large commercial sheep operation we had
commercial sheep operation we had
commercial sheep operation we had probably about 4,000 had a sheet that
probably about 4,000 had a sheet that
probably about 4,000 had a sheet that ranged on the public lands in Wyoming
ranged on the public lands in Wyoming
ranged on the public lands in Wyoming one of my jobs as a kid when I was
one of my jobs as a kid when I was
one of my jobs as a kid when I was growing up there was they would bring
growing up there was they would bring
growing up there was they would bring orphaned lamb Holmes me on the ranch and
orphaned lamb Holmes me on the ranch and
orphaned lamb Holmes me on the ranch and I would bottle feed them this is a more
I would bottle feed them this is a more
I would bottle feed them this is a more intensive operation it’s more hands-on
intensive operation it’s more hands-on
intensive operation it’s more hands-on when you do a commercial operation you
when you do a commercial operation you
when you do a commercial operation you don’t get to handle the Lambs like we do
don’t get to handle the Lambs like we do
don’t get to handle the Lambs like we do here but each and every one of them we
here but each and every one of them we
here but each and every one of them we get to handle and and work with and you
get to handle and and work with and you
get to handle and and work with and you do become a little bit more attached
do become a little bit more attached
do become a little bit more attached they have name this is wheezy there’s
they have name this is wheezy there’s
they have name this is wheezy there’s significant value in what we do they’re
significant value in what we do they’re
significant value in what we do they’re just not a product they’re their lives
just not a product they’re their lives
just not a product they’re their lives they’re living and hate to see them hurt
they’re living and hate to see them hurt
they’re living and hate to see them hurt if a coyote comes in and gets a lamb or
if a coyote comes in and gets a lamb or
if a coyote comes in and gets a lamb or a kid goat
a kid goat
a kid goat they’re gone this Chad just let you know
they’re gone this Chad just let you know
they’re gone this Chad just let you know they went out this morning and found
they went out this morning and found
they went out this morning and found three three lambs that work I’ll kill
three three lambs that work I’ll kill
three three lambs that work I’ll kill that happened last night I know it’s
that happened last night I know it’s
that happened last night I know it’s just an ignoble everything here whatever
just an ignoble everything here whatever
just an ignoble everything here whatever you call it but it it that’s what
you call it but it it that’s what
you call it but it it that’s what happens they’ve got the lambs up there
happens they’ve got the lambs up there
happens they’ve got the lambs up there and the trapper will go up and get on
I don’t want Kyoto dead
I don’t want Kyoto dead I just don’t want coyotes killing my
I just don’t want coyotes killing my
I just don’t want coyotes killing my animal that’s as simple as it is
I didn’t grow up hating coyotes I grew
I didn’t grow up hating coyotes I grew up hating the fact that coyotes are
up hating the fact that coyotes are
up hating the fact that coyotes are killing my sheep
killing my sheep
killing my sheep I guess we we work to co-exist together
I guess we we work to co-exist together
I guess we we work to co-exist together that I don’t want them I don’t want them
that I don’t want them I don’t want them
that I don’t want them I don’t want them killing my sheet that has to be
killing my sheet that has to be
killing my sheet that has to be understandable we talked to the hers we
understandable we talked to the hers we
understandable we talked to the hers we compensate the herders every time they
compensate the herders every time they
compensate the herders every time they kill a coyote we don’t want them hunting
kill a coyote we don’t want them hunting
kill a coyote we don’t want them hunting coyotes they got to be watching the
coyotes they got to be watching the
coyotes they got to be watching the Sheep but they’ll go out and if they get
Sheep but they’ll go out and if they get
Sheep but they’ll go out and if they get a coyote they bring us a tail and and
a coyote they bring us a tail and and
a coyote they bring us a tail and and we’ll we’ll compensate them the bounty
we’ll we’ll compensate them the bounty
we’ll we’ll compensate them the bounty program incentivizes people to go out
program incentivizes people to go out
program incentivizes people to go out and on coyote and shoot them
and on coyote and shoot them
and on coyote and shoot them I’ve never honestly participated in the
I’ve never honestly participated in the
I’ve never honestly participated in the bounty program but I think the bounty
bounty program but I think the bounty
bounty program but I think the bounty program if it takes more coyotes then
program if it takes more coyotes then
program if it takes more coyotes then it’s helpful to me
coyote are extremely smart animals they
coyote are extremely smart animals they know when you’re moving in on them they
know when you’re moving in on them they
know when you’re moving in on them they know they consent when their existence
know they consent when their existence
know they consent when their existence is being threatened you take a shot at a
is being threatened you take a shot at a
is being threatened you take a shot at a coyote once and you may never get a
coyote once and you may never get a
coyote once and you may never get a second shot
second shot
second shot [Music]
[Music]
[Music] they become educated very fast and so
they become educated very fast and so
they become educated very fast and so new bounty hunters that come out
new bounty hunters that come out
new bounty hunters that come out sometimes do a great job of educating
sometimes do a great job of educating
sometimes do a great job of educating the Coyotes they don’t do quite as great
the Coyotes they don’t do quite as great
the Coyotes they don’t do quite as great a job of killing them I think a lot of
a job of killing them I think a lot of
a job of killing them I think a lot of the idea is really removing coyote from
the idea is really removing coyote from
the idea is really removing coyote from the landscape in the hopes that it will
the landscape in the hopes that it will
the landscape in the hopes that it will help deer and then maybe even have side
help deer and then maybe even have side
help deer and then maybe even have side benefits on livestock and those species
benefits on livestock and those species
benefits on livestock and those species too they’re all in the same range
whether or not it’s helping is something
whether or not it’s helping is something where the jury’s still out if people are
where the jury’s still out if people are
where the jury’s still out if people are thinking that we’re going to remove all
thinking that we’re going to remove all
thinking that we’re going to remove all coyotes from Utah lure the West that’s
coyotes from Utah lure the West that’s
coyotes from Utah lure the West that’s not going to happen the research is
not going to happen the research is
not going to happen the research is really strong on this one that if you
really strong on this one that if you
really strong on this one that if you want to reduce coyote populations you
want to reduce coyote populations you
want to reduce coyote populations you need to remove 70% of the animals from a
need to remove 70% of the animals from a
need to remove 70% of the animals from a given area for a few years in a row
given area for a few years in a row
given area for a few years in a row they’re incredibly reproductive they
they’re incredibly reproductive they
they’re incredibly reproductive they bounce back really quickly so just sheer
bounce back really quickly so just sheer
bounce back really quickly so just sheer numbers there’s so many guys that have
numbers there’s so many guys that have
numbers there’s so many guys that have to be taken to have any impact on the
to be taken to have any impact on the
to be taken to have any impact on the population statewide it’s not so much
population statewide it’s not so much
population statewide it’s not so much people have moved into the Kyoto maz
people have moved into the Kyoto maz
people have moved into the Kyoto maz we’ve created nice places for them to
we’ve created nice places for them to
we’ve created nice places for them to live something with food and cover
coyotes historically were known to live
coyotes historically were known to live in the southwest us there’s been a lot
in the southwest us there’s been a lot
in the southwest us there’s been a lot of changes
of changes
of changes since those times the way land use has
since those times the way land use has
since those times the way land use has done things like agriculture they do
done things like agriculture they do
done things like agriculture they do quite well in you put out that many
quite well in you put out that many
quite well in you put out that many sheep on the landscape they’ll take
sheep on the landscape they’ll take
sheep on the landscape they’ll take advantage of that
advantage of that
advantage of that they’re very individual in the sense
they’re very individual in the sense
they’re very individual in the sense that if there’s a certain condition
that if there’s a certain condition
that if there’s a certain condition where a Kyle could live there will be a
where a Kyle could live there will be a
where a Kyle could live there will be a coyote out there they’ll find a way to
coyote out there they’ll find a way to
coyote out there they’ll find a way to live in that condition they’ll adapt to
live in that condition they’ll adapt to
live in that condition they’ll adapt to urban areas about the rural area so
urban areas about the rural area so
urban areas about the rural area so because of that they’ve spread and
because of that they’ve spread and
because of that they’ve spread and extended the range from South America up
extended the range from South America up
extended the range from South America up to Alaska essentially and all the way
to Alaska essentially and all the way
to Alaska essentially and all the way from the west coast to the east coast
from the west coast to the east coast
from the west coast to the east coast and they show up in places like Central
and they show up in places like Central
and they show up in places like Central Park not again in urban environments we
Park not again in urban environments we
Park not again in urban environments we sort of almost encouraged coyotes to
sort of almost encouraged coyotes to
sort of almost encouraged coyotes to hang with us we do landscaping we have
hang with us we do landscaping we have
hang with us we do landscaping we have irrigation we have fruit trees we have
irrigation we have fruit trees we have
irrigation we have fruit trees we have open spaces that we’ve preserved within
open spaces that we’ve preserved within
open spaces that we’ve preserved within these sort of oases and it’s almost and
these sort of oases and it’s almost and
these sort of oases and it’s almost and then we when we see coyotes we tend to
then we when we see coyotes we tend to
then we when we see coyotes we tend to either dismiss them or actually be
either dismiss them or actually be
either dismiss them or actually be excited about it and take a picture with
excited about it and take a picture with
excited about it and take a picture with our phone or some people actually
our phone or some people actually
our phone or some people actually encourage them to come closer and so if
encourage them to come closer and so if
encourage them to come closer and so if you think about that difference that
you think about that difference that
you think about that difference that that urban coyote has a very different
that urban coyote has a very different
that urban coyote has a very different sense of what the presence of human
sense of what the presence of human
sense of what the presence of human beings are from a rural coyote
beings are from a rural coyote
beings are from a rural coyote how you test that and research that gets
how you test that and research that gets
how you test that and research that gets very complicated for sure
very complicated for sure
very complicated for sure [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so we’re inside the predator research
so we’re inside the predator research
so we’re inside the predator research facility in a lab where we’re keeping
facility in a lab where we’re keeping
facility in a lab where we’re keeping some young pups that were born in the
some young pups that were born in the
some young pups that were born in the wild the mother of this litter was cost
wild the mother of this litter was cost
wild the mother of this litter was cost deprecating on some sheep and was
deprecating on some sheep and was
deprecating on some sheep and was legally removed from an area where
legally removed from an area where
legally removed from an area where non-lethal tools had been working and
non-lethal tools had been working and
non-lethal tools had been working and after they removed her they found again
after they removed her they found again
after they removed her they found again because there’s evidence that he had had
because there’s evidence that he had had
because there’s evidence that he had had pups and was lactating and so we were
pups and was lactating and so we were
pups and was lactating and so we were able to find the den and get these pups
able to find the den and get these pups
able to find the den and get these pups and used them as part of our captive
and used them as part of our captive
and used them as part of our captive facility now I got started in coyote
facility now I got started in coyote
facility now I got started in coyote research a long time ago I did my PhD on
research a long time ago I did my PhD on
research a long time ago I did my PhD on Kyle’s I knew pretty much at a young age
Kyle’s I knew pretty much at a young age
Kyle’s I knew pretty much at a young age as I wanted to work something with
as I wanted to work something with
as I wanted to work something with animals and outdoors but as a child I
animals and outdoors but as a child I
animals and outdoors but as a child I thought that meant you’re a veterinarian
we do a lot of different things here as
we do a lot of different things here as a predator research facility we have
a predator research facility we have
a predator research facility we have about a hundred adult coyotes in
about a hundred adult coyotes in
about a hundred adult coyotes in captivity that we use to look at
captivity that we use to look at
captivity that we use to look at different issues to reduce human
different issues to reduce human
different issues to reduce human wildlife conflict and we do that through
wildlife conflict and we do that through
wildlife conflict and we do that through a number of experiments both here with
a number of experiments both here with
a number of experiments both here with captive animals and then also with wild
captive animals and then also with wild
captive animals and then also with wild animals when you talk about metro areas
animals when you talk about metro areas
animals when you talk about metro areas there’s – coyote camps one camp is very
there’s – coyote camps one camp is very
there’s – coyote camps one camp is very adamant they don’t belong here we should
adamant they don’t belong here we should
adamant they don’t belong here we should shoot them all and get rid of them and
shoot them all and get rid of them and
shoot them all and get rid of them and everything will be fine
everything will be fine
everything will be fine and there’s another camp that’s very
and there’s another camp that’s very
and there’s another camp that’s very much we love the Coyotes we took their
much we love the Coyotes we took their
much we love the Coyotes we took their habitat they were here first we need to
habitat they were here first we need to
habitat they were here first we need to just live with them and by the way we
just live with them and by the way we
just live with them and by the way we love them and and I think the biggest
love them and and I think the biggest
love them and and I think the biggest challenge about what we do as
challenge about what we do as
challenge about what we do as researchers and what we do as educators
researchers and what we do as educators
researchers and what we do as educators is bringing those two camps together
is bringing those two camps together
is bringing those two camps together because actually neither are very
because actually neither are very
because actually neither are very correct
in the 90s they had a group of people
in the 90s they had a group of people that identify themselves with members of
that identify themselves with members of
that identify themselves with members of Animal Liberation Front that came to our
Animal Liberation Front that came to our
Animal Liberation Front that came to our facility and tried to release coyotes
facility and tried to release coyotes
facility and tried to release coyotes from their pens and I think they might
from their pens and I think they might
from their pens and I think they might have used fire as a distraction while
have used fire as a distraction while
have used fire as a distraction while they were releasing coyote
it was not very successful for one ting
it was not very successful for one ting these coyotes are born and raised here
these coyotes are born and raised here
these coyotes are born and raised here and so these are their territories and
and so these are their territories and
and so these are their territories and so most of them didn’t want to leave
so most of them didn’t want to leave
so most of them didn’t want to leave their pins and they threw open they’re
their pins and they threw open they’re
their pins and they threw open they’re also very territorial animals so the
also very territorial animals so the
also very territorial animals so the ones that did get out and get into
ones that did get out and get into
ones that did get out and get into somebody else’s territory fault the
somebody else’s territory fault the
somebody else’s territory fault the facility had to put down a lot of
facility had to put down a lot of
facility had to put down a lot of coyotes that were injured from fights
coyotes that were injured from fights
coyotes that were injured from fights within coyotes so it ended up being
within coyotes so it ended up being
within coyotes so it ended up being quite a bit of a tragedy for the staff
quite a bit of a tragedy for the staff
quite a bit of a tragedy for the staff that had to work here through that time
17 years ago I got my first horse and
17 years ago I got my first horse and started riding out here in Aurora
started riding out here in Aurora
started riding out here in Aurora Colorado through riding on the trails I
Colorado through riding on the trails I
Colorado through riding on the trails I met a group of people that were going to
met a group of people that were going to
met a group of people that were going to construct a trail so I became their
construct a trail so I became their
construct a trail so I became their first equestrian terrestrial well I’ve
first equestrian terrestrial well I’ve
first equestrian terrestrial well I’ve had training and first aid and how to
had training and first aid and how to
had training and first aid and how to communicate with the public about the
communicate with the public about the
communicate with the public about the nature in Aurora including the geology
nature in Aurora including the geology
nature in Aurora including the geology the coyotes the biology the sad things
the coyotes the biology the sad things
the coyotes the biology the sad things I’ve seen on this trail our friend back
I’ve seen on this trail our friend back
I’ve seen on this trail our friend back here I found him when he had been shot
here I found him when he had been shot
here I found him when he had been shot he was dead already
he was dead already
he was dead already but it was a fresh kill and I called the
but it was a fresh kill and I called the
but it was a fresh kill and I called the park ranger immediately to let them know
park ranger immediately to let them know
park ranger immediately to let them know that someone had been in the open space
that someone had been in the open space
that someone had been in the open space with a gun which was against the law and
with a gun which was against the law and
with a gun which was against the law and had killed one of our coyotes when you
had killed one of our coyotes when you
had killed one of our coyotes when you just can’t be shooting in guns in the
just can’t be shooting in guns in the
just can’t be shooting in guns in the city of Denver
coyotes really do respond to hazing you
coyotes really do respond to hazing you make yourself big and you yell and you
make yourself big and you yell and you
make yourself big and you yell and you clap your hands at them you can actually
clap your hands at them you can actually
clap your hands at them you can actually chunk rocks at them don’t go after to
chunk rocks at them don’t go after to
chunk rocks at them don’t go after to hit them but scare them enough and and
hit them but scare them enough and and
hit them but scare them enough and and let them know they’re not welcome in
let them know they’re not welcome in
let them know they’re not welcome in your yard or on your street and they
your yard or on your street and they
your yard or on your street and they usually will take off as the Coyotes
usually will take off as the Coyotes
usually will take off as the Coyotes moved closer to the city and the human
moved closer to the city and the human
moved closer to the city and the human population doesn’t understand hazing
population doesn’t understand hazing
population doesn’t understand hazing then the coyote start thinking of other
then the coyote start thinking of other
then the coyote start thinking of other behaviors they start looking for cats
behaviors they start looking for cats
behaviors they start looking for cats they start looking for dog food bowls I
they start looking for dog food bowls I
they start looking for dog food bowls I hate to say this but we have a lady in
hate to say this but we have a lady in
hate to say this but we have a lady in our neighborhood that actually has a
our neighborhood that actually has a
our neighborhood that actually has a heated pet bed for a coyote to sleep in
heated pet bed for a coyote to sleep in
heated pet bed for a coyote to sleep in on cold days if they will haze the
on cold days if they will haze the
on cold days if they will haze the Coyotes and keep them in the urban
Coyotes and keep them in the urban
Coyotes and keep them in the urban corridors of streams and the Coyotes
corridors of streams and the Coyotes
corridors of streams and the Coyotes will stay down there and eat the rabbits
will stay down there and eat the rabbits
will stay down there and eat the rabbits and the bowls and the prairie dogs like
and the bowls and the prairie dogs like
and the bowls and the prairie dogs like they’re supposed to and not Friskies
they’re supposed to and not Friskies
they’re supposed to and not Friskies we do have people that don’t like to
we do have people that don’t like to
we do have people that don’t like to have any lethal removals going on or
have any lethal removals going on or
have any lethal removals going on or legal tools being used we also have you
legal tools being used we also have you
legal tools being used we also have you know some people that don’t want any
know some people that don’t want any
know some people that don’t want any normally go through venues so I figure
normally go through venues so I figure
normally go through venues so I figure as long as there’s people unhappy with
as long as there’s people unhappy with
as long as there’s people unhappy with me on both sides of the issue that I’m
me on both sides of the issue that I’m
me on both sides of the issue that I’m doing a pretty good job at my job
doing a pretty good job at my job
doing a pretty good job at my job because I’m finding that balance where
because I’m finding that balance where
because I’m finding that balance where we can use a majority of non-lethal
we can use a majority of non-lethal
we can use a majority of non-lethal tools and only incorporate those lethal
tools and only incorporate those lethal
tools and only incorporate those lethal tools when it’s absolute you know final
tools when it’s absolute you know final
tools when it’s absolute you know final answer
answer
answer [Music]
when we send our animals out on the
when we send our animals out on the mountain during the summer months
mountain during the summer months
mountain during the summer months they’re there on their own we stand
they’re there on their own we stand
they’re there on their own we stand along with them at guard dogs they have
along with them at guard dogs they have
along with them at guard dogs they have really helped us tremendously there they
really helped us tremendously there they
really helped us tremendously there they work really well on coyote they actually
work really well on coyote they actually
work really well on coyote they actually work a little more in the night time
work a little more in the night time
work a little more in the night time they do in the daytime and so at night
they do in the daytime and so at night
they do in the daytime and so at night that’s when many of the predators are
that’s when many of the predators are
that’s when many of the predators are most active
the other measure we like is is the
the other measure we like is is the longer
longer
longer the llamas of course can graze right
the llamas of course can graze right
the llamas of course can graze right with them because they’re they’re going
with them because they’re they’re going
with them because they’re they’re going to be on the same kind of a diet which
to be on the same kind of a diet which
to be on the same kind of a diet which gives us a real opportunity to use those
gives us a real opportunity to use those
gives us a real opportunity to use those and have them with them a hundred
and have them with them a hundred
and have them with them a hundred percent of the time and they’re there
percent of the time and they’re there
percent of the time and they’re there enough of a dominant force that often
enough of a dominant force that often
enough of a dominant force that often that’ll just end the situation but it’s
that’ll just end the situation but it’s
that’ll just end the situation but it’s not a hundred percent by any stretch
it’s no great joy for us to kill an
it’s no great joy for us to kill an animal whether it’s a predator
animal whether it’s a predator
animal whether it’s a predator whether it’s put down on one of our
whether it’s put down on one of our
whether it’s put down on one of our sheep that’s been injured or a meat goat
sheep that’s been injured or a meat goat
sheep that’s been injured or a meat goat that’s been torn up from a predator from
that’s been torn up from a predator from
that’s been torn up from a predator from a coyote we find no joy in any of that
we’d be much happier if we could just go
we’d be much happier if we could just go about applying research improving our
about applying research improving our
about applying research improving our wool quality or whatever the production
wool quality or whatever the production
wool quality or whatever the production issue is we’d be much after your doing
issue is we’d be much after your doing
issue is we’d be much after your doing those things and we would be controlling
those things and we would be controlling
those things and we would be controlling predators but we have to somehow figure
predators but we have to somehow figure
predators but we have to somehow figure out a way to survive and controlling
out a way to survive and controlling
out a way to survive and controlling coyote is one of those key factors for
coyote is one of those key factors for
coyote is one of those key factors for us this year and for the future for
us this year and for the future for
us this year and for the future for urban families I totally understand rule
urban families I totally understand rule
urban families I totally understand rule coyotes and that they can be a problem I
coyotes and that they can be a problem I
coyotes and that they can be a problem I totally understand I was brought up in
totally understand I was brought up in
totally understand I was brought up in the country but for urban people they
the country but for urban people they
the country but for urban people they just need to learn and with them to
just need to learn and with them to
just need to learn and with them to follow the rule that would be the only
follow the rule that would be the only
follow the rule that would be the only thing that I would share and just be
thing that I would share and just be
thing that I would share and just be mindful of our wildlife that let’s
mindful of our wildlife that let’s
mindful of our wildlife that let’s embrace them
embrace them
embrace them and educate ourselves and
here’s the secret here
here’s the secret here about wildlife management while ice
about wildlife management while ice
about wildlife management while ice management is really a misnomer it’s
management is really a misnomer it’s
management is really a misnomer it’s about managing people and law the way
about managing people and law the way
about managing people and law the way these blazing animals are easy we we
these blazing animals are easy we we
these blazing animals are easy we we know the biology and kind of what makes
know the biology and kind of what makes
know the biology and kind of what makes them tick we know the numbers of coyotes
them tick we know the numbers of coyotes
them tick we know the numbers of coyotes that we have to remove in order to get
that we have to remove in order to get
that we have to remove in order to get rid of them for instance we know that
rid of them for instance we know that
rid of them for instance we know that we’re not going to be able to get there
we’re not going to be able to get there
we’re not going to be able to get there what wildlife managers have to do is
what wildlife managers have to do is
what wildlife managers have to do is walk that tightrope between the two the
walk that tightrope between the two the
walk that tightrope between the two the spreader paradox is this issue where we
spreader paradox is this issue where we
spreader paradox is this issue where we want it all we want healthy deer
want it all we want healthy deer
want it all we want healthy deer populations we want livestock to be on
populations we want livestock to be on
populations we want livestock to be on her ass but we also want nature we want
her ass but we also want nature we want
her ass but we also want nature we want you know predators on the landscape and
you know predators on the landscape and
you know predators on the landscape and that’s a really difficult balance to
that’s a really difficult balance to
that’s a really difficult balance to achieve
[Music]
[Music] the fact is predators kill things for a
the fact is predators kill things for a
the fact is predators kill things for a living that’s what they do
living that’s what they do
living that’s what they do Kyle Chilton can be devastating
Kyle Chilton can be devastating
Kyle Chilton can be devastating especially for individuals
especially for individuals
especially for individuals [Music]
[Music]
[Music] the challenge is to figure out how are
the challenge is to figure out how are
the challenge is to figure out how are we going to have all these animals but
we going to have all these animals but
we going to have all these animals but who’s going to bear the cost of it
who’s going to bear the cost of it
who’s going to bear the cost of it [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
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