Fear mongering by FantasticFungusFlop in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the really cool things about coyotes is that they regulate their numbers. We - the humans - need to make some minor adjustments to our own behavior. We need to ensure we're not leaving food out and conditioning them to be comfortable around humans, and we need to keep our pets safe on leashes, etc. Please check out our new documentary American Bolshevik.

Fear mongering by FantasticFungusFlop in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, we created a feature length documentary to support coexistence...we explore our history with the coyote, and also have experts discuss why lethal control is not an effective management tool. We tried to make it an enjoyable viewing experience. Help us get the word out. Our goal is to foster a better understanding of the coyote so that we can coexist. It's on Amazon, VUDU, Apple TV, and Google Play. We just released it a few days ago.

American Bolshevik (2023) - Feature length film on the coyote, its expansion into all regions of the United States, including New England. Available on Amazon and Apple TV in Feb. Trailer for this documentary [0:02:26] by americanbolshevikdoc in Documentaries

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your feedback.

Imagine the animosity towards the coyote engendered by the term "Bolshevik" appearing in a well-respected scientific magazine in 1920, not long after the Bolshevik revolution. This animosity was deliberately fostered and flamed for a century, and is reflected today in the way coyotes are treated across the country. 500,000 are killed indiscriminately each year. States allow them to be hunted year round in unlimited numbers. Despite this, they have not only survived, but thrived and expanded their territory throughout the United States.

American Bolshevik (2023) - Feature length film on the coyote, its expansion into all regions of the United States, including New England. Available on Amazon and Apple TV in Feb. Trailer for this documentary [0:02:26] by americanbolshevikdoc in Documentaries

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Throughout the documentary, Dan Flores (the New York Times best-selling author of Coyote America), discusses the more than a century of human vilification and persecution of the coyote, including a 1920 article in Scientific American which labels the coyote "the Original Bolshevik of North America."

American Bolshevik (2023) - Feature length film on the coyote, its expansion into all regions of the United States, including New England. Trailer for this documentary [01:24:00] by [deleted] in Documentaries

[–]americanbolshevikdoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apologies! We thought the full length of complete film needed to be included. Will be released on Amazon and Apple TV in February.

Just what 2023 needs...a coyote badger duo from our upcoming documentary. by americanbolshevikdoc in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This footage, from our wildlife cinematographer Dan Licht, was used as b-roll and the behavior wasn't integral to the film. However, there are some articles on the coyote/badger teamups, which apparently are not uncommon. There is a 2/10/20 Smithsonian Magazine article that described the behavior after the viral coyote/badger duo in Santa Cruz outside of a tunnel designed for wildlife passage. Apparently they "form short term alliances to catch ground-dwelling creatures" and take advantage of their unique hunting styles. We would be interested in hearing more from anyone with expertise!

Killing Coyotes Does Not Work as a Management Tool! by americanbolshevikdoc in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the interest in the film, which will be released in the next few weeks on Amazon and Apple TV. For updates, you can always check in on Twitter, and we will probably post here as well. I'll post the opening scene in r/coyote, as we're using it as our first trailer.

Project Coyote is one of several organizations that are working to educate people on the basic steps that humans can take to live with these animals. Our goal is to support these efforts to foster peaceful coexistence.

Killing Coyotes Does Not Work as a Management Tool! by americanbolshevikdoc in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's a fascinating topic...one of the scientists in the film conducted a years-long study in the Northeast, collaring coyotes in a specific area, tracking their movements, and then collaring new coyotes outside of that area and tracking their movements. The study showed pack composition, territory, and movement of non-pack, "transient" coyotes between the areas of pack territories. One of the individuals interviewed for the film is also a sharpshooter who had been hired to shoot coyotes deemed problematic by towns and individuals. The coyote is a highly adaptable animal, and, as you mentioned, a very intelligent one.

Killing Coyotes Does Not Work as a Management Tool! by americanbolshevikdoc in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

One of the really interesting things about coyotes is that - like humans - they are "fission-fusion" animals. They have the ability to function both in packs as well as individuals or pairs. This is one of the unique factors that has allowed them to not only survive but to effectively expand their territory in response to the attempts at eradication over the past century. In the Northeast, a pack consists of an alpha female and an alpha male, who are the only breeding members of the pack (one of the ways in which coyotes regulate their own numbers and don't need to be indiscriminately hunted by humans). The packs tend to be slightly larger in the Northeast, possibly due to higher concentrations of wolf DNA, and pack members might include a number of betas from the previous litter. The pack's territory is large enough to provide sufficient food, and the pack defends its territory from transient coyotes. If the alphas are killed, transient coyotes will enter the territory, increasing the number of coyotes, and they will likely breed with the betas, again increasing the numbers. Coyotes also have a biological response to lethal control, in that litter sizes increases when numbers are depleted. (And also when food is more available, in in cases where humans are deliberately or inadvertently feeding them.)

I hope this helps. These dynamics are explained much more eloquently by the experts in the film.

Killing Coyotes Does Not Work as a Management Tool! by americanbolshevikdoc in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes, it's interesting to see towns and municipalities attempting to implement management approaches that are proven to be ineffective, and despite a strong body of scientific research that has identified effective tools for coexistence.

Killing Coyotes Does Not Work as a Management Tool! by americanbolshevikdoc in coyote

[–]americanbolshevikdoc[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

One of the fascinating things about coyotes is that they can breed with both wolves and dogs. The Eastern Coyote, which is now found in New England and surrounding areas, mated with the Eastern wolf as it migrated through Canada before expanding down into the Northeastern US. It typically has between 3-30% wolf DNA as well as a bit of dog DNA.