What’s going on tonight with the coyotes?

Submitted by 16F4 t3_y2my5c in Maine

I’m visiting my sister in Fairfield. I do not remember ever hearing coyotes howl at night while growing up. Tonight they are howling so loud it is eerie! Is it mating season, or something else?

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FITM-K t1_is3uxa0 wrote

they're coyotes man, they do that. IDK what's normal in Fairfield but not unusual at all around here.

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PGids t1_is430sc wrote

1: moon

2: weather/changing seasons

3: they’re fuckin weird

Only place I’ve ever almost hit and killed one was right on 201 in Fairfield near the Purple Cow, take that for what it’s worth. Just got sone tail fur though

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16F4 OP t1_is4hyis wrote

All good explanations.

And I do like the Purple Cow.

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Super-Lychee8852 t1_is484jl wrote

Coyotes populations have grown but I'm shocked you didn't hear them growing up in that area

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16F4 OP t1_is4hv7j wrote

Nope. We didn’t have coyotes in the area when I was growing up around here (40+++ years ago)

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Super-Lychee8852 t1_is4ixdd wrote

Yeah over 40 years ago the population was much smaller. In the early 1960s there were less than 1000 coyotes in the entire state. Today there are over 15,000.

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16F4 OP t1_is4k9fn wrote

I did not realize the coyote population here is so large! When I was growing up in town (Winslow) we never heard or saw coyotes. Of course, my sisters property in Fairfield is quite rural field and adjacent to trees so a perfect habitat for them. I am also wondering since it’s six months past litter season if I am hearing the pups getting ready to leave the den.

I’ve been reading up on Maines coyote population this evening. Interesting stuff, especially the wolf DNA measurements and conservation measures.

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Super-Lychee8852 t1_is4ksln wrote

It is very large, I didn't expect you to be as old as you are so that makes more sense as to why you wouldn't have heard them. They're considered pretty over-populated and are basically considered pests, it's been open season on them for many years now in an attempt to bring down the population. The only species that's allowed to be hunted at night and with thermal and/or night vision. And can shoot as many as you want

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16F4 OP t1_is4kwyp wrote

Who you calling “old”, whippersnapper? I prefer the term “experienced”…kick your ass at fiddlehead picking.😉

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IamSauerKraut t1_is7nvif wrote

There were coyotes out on the road to China and off GarlandRd decades ago.

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Shilo788 t1_iscake8 wrote

They have been on the increase since the late seventies, early eighties. I would lie in a tent and listen to them in my twenties above Baxter. Now they are like raccoons, every where. They even are in NYC they have a video about it on YouTube.

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IamSauerKraut t1_is7nqrs wrote

I shot one in Albion back in the day. And on days when Dave Martin had us running down to Benton Falls or out on Ohio Hill Rd, we would see them.

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AtariHeavy26 t1_is5h91m wrote

Good to hear they’re rebounding. So many places need the predators to thin out the sick animals.

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Super-Lychee8852 t1_is5kc09 wrote

Rebounded a bit too much. Considered over populated now. Damaging other populations now like deer

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sharklar t1_is3vc2a wrote

Probably the moon , and getting ready for winter out on the hunt

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16F4 OP t1_is4kbwl wrote

Six months past litter season, so I’m thinking the pups are also active.

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Shilo788 t1_iscautk wrote

Packing up after living apart during summer.

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sharklar t1_ise81tg wrote

Getting the family going, is always a progress

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astrangedecember t1_is4gfdf wrote

Moons big and bright tonight, that's all. Nothing unusual at all for Fairfield.

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16F4 OP t1_is4hr2t wrote

Good point. Didn’t notice the full moon. Makes sense

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Smokin77 t1_is4tfza wrote

They're really loud, and a single one can get you a "who's killing that woman in the woods" scream. Dozens nah 3 or 4 with a litter of 5 sounds like a ballroom full. As far as this DNA from a wolf, no shit no surprise. A couple of dozen years ago in the Catskills there was a problem pack that folks started calling coydogs exactly what it sounds like. They started getting really aggressive, and big. Finally they were hunted out after three year of terrorist dog stuff, chickens, ducks, cats, small dogs. The deer had been long hunted out, then a pig got killed and eaten in a dooryard. 8 total 2 big males and six females. Word to the wise, if you do hunt and you see em kill em and say nothing yeah They're legal to kill, lots of hearts around here though.

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photonsarefun t1_is6bkup wrote

I wouldn't be surprised if the coyotes have some wolf dna

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Shilo788 t1_iscbej3 wrote

The ones in Canada in the Maritimes do. They are big. I would let someone trap for rhem on my land, they hang around pretty close and constantly try to trick my dogs into the woods to be murdered. My one is 120lbs and the other 80 but that doesn't seem to phase them.

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16F4 OP t1_is78mkd wrote

I actually came across an article that stated Maine coyotes have 8% wolf DNA!

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IamSauerKraut t1_is7o6so wrote

Coyote with wolf DNA was caught in upstate NY just a couple months ago.

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Shilo788 t1_iscbh96 wrote

Ooh source? I would love to read that.

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sweetpeanut_ t1_is6tu0w wrote

I’ve only lived in Maine for the past year and I hear them constantly! I must just have a pack near me

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Shilo788 t1_isca1qh wrote

Near me two nights ago they were vocalizing what sounded like coyote laughing. They alot of different sounds, that is what it sounded like to me. Not human laughing but like they were talking trash to each other and joking. I opened the window to listen until I fell back to sleep. They also yelp and bark like a small dog to try to lure my dogs away to be jumped but my dogs just looked at each other and stayed in camp. Lots of snowshoe hares this year, other people noticed too. So I guess they are happy with that and the large number of game birds around.

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16F4 OP t1_iscvxjb wrote

My sister has the same problems with her dogs being coaxed out into the woods by a single coyote to be jumped by the pack. She keeps them on a leash now after being warned.

Makes sense re: the hare population. More food, more pups.

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