PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 17, 2023
A series of coyote traps set up near the popular Greenbelt trails in Cape Elizabeth has alarmed some residents who question whether the practice is necessary and humane. A local farmer says something had to be done to control a large group of coyotes, saying the pack is becoming increasingly brazen and poses a safety threat to animals and young children on her farm. The Eastern coyote expanded its range into Maine in the 1930s and now occupies almost every habitat type. Biologists estimate there are around 15,000 coyotes living in Maine. Each year, 1,200 to 1,500 are killed by trappers. The state does not track the number of coyotes that are hunted because there is an open season and no permit is required.