‘Different from wolves’
State wildlife experts said it is possible to determine if coyotes or dogs killed an animal. Without seeing Stevens’ horse it’s hard to tell what happened, but they say the signs are pretty consistent.
“They’re different from wolves,” said Chad Fox, district supervisor for the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. “One of the signs it’s a coyote that has killed is that they typically bite the throat area and suffocate their prey. Neck wounds around the jawbone are one sign it was a coyote kill.”
He said coyotes are more likely to feed on their prey.
“Dogs will bite the hind quarters and chew, but not eat. They tend to kill for fun,” Fox said. “That’s one way farmers can distinguish what killed their animals. Were the animals fed on or not?”
Eight to ten sets of eyes glared from the woods at Stevens the night Hershey died. That was the last time, he said, he’s seen a coyote on his property.
