The population of coyotes in Alberta has increased in the past few years, creating a conflict between farmers and animal rights activists.

On one hand, the farmers say they are losing too many of their animals, from young cattle to pet dogs, and they want more coyotes killed. On the other hand, animal rights groups say nature should be allowed to sort out the population problems.

There's no doubt on which side you'll find Richard MacIntyre. The coyote tracks in the snow on his Red Deer area farm are the least graphic indication of his problem.

Richard MacIntyre
Richard MacIntyre

The most graphic evidence could be the bloody and eviscerated carcass of a calf he says was killed moments after it was born.

"We've had coyotes in the pen with cows that are calving in the middle of the night," he said. "There's lots of them around. They need food and if they find it they'll keep coming around."

Conditions in southern Alberta have been good to the coyotes for the past few years, providing mild winters and plenty of gophers to eat in the summer. And there's been little demand for coyote pelts, removing trappers from the animals' list of enemies.

A coyote with signs of mange
A coyote with signs of mange

Mike Murray is a trapper who says the high population of coyotes poses problems for the animals themselves. He says many of them have mange, and it's spreading rapidly among the dense population.

Mange is caused by an infestation of mites, and leads to a slow painful death.

"Coyotes do have a place in this area," Murray said. "They come in handy for getting rid of mice and gophers and so on. But the same as any animal, when there gets to be too many of them they need to be controlled."

Animal rights groups don't approve of what they see as interference with nature.

The Voice for Animals Society in Edmonton recently protested the idea of a competition to encourage people to kill coyotes.

"It's another case of man meddling, thinking they know better, they know how to manage the wilderness, or they know how to manage wildlife," said Tove Reece, spokesperson for the group.