Den Hunting as a Means of Coyote Control

This work presents practical field guidance for reducing coyote populations by locating and destroying natal dens and removing young before dispersal. It explains denning habits, breeding and brood size, typical den sites across habitats, and signs used to find dens; outlines the qualifications and equipment needed for a den hunter; details techniques for accessing dens and removing whelps, and describes follow-up trapping and shooting of adults. The authors emphasize the effectiveness of early intervention for protecting livestock, note that males contribute substantially to predation, and adapt methods to both mountainous and semiarid country.