Why I didn’t shoot the coyote behind my house

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 2, 2025

I was OK with the bobcat behind my house, and loved having a fox around. However, that coyote was an unwelcome sight. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s furbearer management plan describes how tolerant we are of coyotes. Hint: We are not. While I don’t want coyotes around, maybe it’s OK to have coyotes nearby if the result is a reduction in deer densities. Maybe predation could help reduce the population a bit. Hunters harvest thousands of does each year, but it’s not enough. I can’t guarantee that I won’t shoot a coyote if I see one while I’m out in the woods, but for right now, the one behind my house is safe.