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Virginia’s Augusta County puts bounty on coyotes

10.18.05

VERONA, Va. (AP) — Augusta County is offering a bounty for the killing of coyotes in hopes of reducing the number of farm kills.
The Board of Supervisors established a $75 bounty per animal between Jan. 1 and April 30, and a $50 bounty between May 1 and Dec. 31.
Still, farmers wondered whether the bounty will work to reduce the number of nuisance coyotes. They contend coyotes are clever predators that can only be stopped by trained, professional wildlife personnel.
Betty Hamilton of Middlebrook said guard dogs had kept coyotes at bay for several years on her sheep farm until this year.
She lost 40 lambs last spring, and attributes the losses to, “the coyotes getting better at doing their job.’’
Hamilton said she will increase the number of guard dogs on her farm and will fence in more areas. Of the county’s bounty program, she said, “you are trying to solve a specific problem with a nonspecific solution.’’
Hamilton also said she expects that a bounty program will bring criticism from animal rights activists.
Still, supervisors who approved the bounty last week say they are eager to try the bounty program for a year, beginning Jan. 1, and see what results it brings.
North River Supervisor Larry Howdyshell said, “this is an opportunity to try another tool to control (the coyotes).’’
Pastures Supervisor Tracy Pyles said he would support hiring professional help to deal with the problem, but said some immediate help is needed.
“Members of the community are becoming more fearful,’’ he said of the coyotes’ presence. “They are going into people’s driveways. It’s becoming a public safety issue. We have to think of the entire community.’’
Each coyote carcass must be presented to a county animal control officer at the county government center during officer hours. The ordinance also puts a $5,000 limit on the payment of bounties.