By Tom Collins
ATHENS — Farmers are applauding a decision by the province to allow a non-lethal snare to curb coyote kills of livestock.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry quietly approved the relaxing cable restraint just before Christmas. The non-lethal snare, similar to a dog collar, tightens around the captured animal’s neck, but not tight enough to choke it. The farmer can shoot the coyote when he checks the restraint. But if it is another animal, it can be released.
Ontario beef farmer Kim Sytsma plans to hire a trapper to set the snare and check it if coyotes become a problem this year. Coyotes killed 13 calves in 10 days on her farm a few years ago and she knows of some farmers who got out of the beef industry because of coyote attacks.
“We do know from studies done that using a snare is the best way to target the problem predators,” she said.
An Eastern Ontario pilot project for the restraint was completed in the spring of 2014.
