Maine Coyote by Rich Bard
COMMMUNITY is caring about everyone’s best interest
So here is a community happening playing itself out in a Maine community~ One of our Maine farmers who raises vulnerable farm animals like goats and chickens co-exists well with the carnivores that live on their farm…especially the coyotes and hawks. They want the coyotes on their farm because they understand how important they are for the overall health of their farm…including their farm animals.
This summer two of their goats contracted meningeal worm, an organism whose carrier is the deer. A large number of deer enter their pastures and by doing so can pass this infection onto their goats. Where are the coyotes!
Their neighbor wants LOTS of deer, so he kills the coyotes and then feeds the deer. We know from our science that the presence of predators actually creates larger deer…for the predator does not kill the most powerful ones. [ Hunters look for large deer with big antlers. ] We also know that the predator balances the populations of large herbivores like deer, and as a result the herd is stronger and healthier.
SO ~ The neighbor of this farmer is really affecting the whole community in a negative way by killing the coyotes: the farmer’s hooved animals are contracting meningeal worm, the deer are in poorer condition…and nobody wins!
WE LIVE IN THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF LIFE…AND THE ACTIONS WE TAKE AFFECT ALL.
KILLING COYOTES AFFECTS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY…IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
