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Zoo to hunt down coyotes that killed endangered gazelle at Front Royal site Zoo to hunt down coyotes that killed endangered gazelle at Front Royal site
(about 11 hours later)
FRONT ROYAL, Va. — The Smithsonian National Zoo says it wants to hunt down the trio of coyotes that recently killed a critically endangered dama gazelle at its sprawling Conservation Biology Institute here. FRONT ROYAL, Va. — The Smithsonian National Zoological Park says it wants to hunt down the trio of coyotes that recently killed a dama gazelle at the zoo’s sprawling Conservation Biology Institute here.
Plans are, in the next few weeks, to target the coyote group that got into an enclosure and was seen near the gazelle carcass. Those predators, having found a good food source, are now liable to kill other such vulnerable animals at the 3,200-acre site. Plans are, in the next few weeks, to target the coyote group that got into an enclosure and was seen near the dead gazelle, a member of a critically endangered species. Those predators, having found a good food source, are now liable to kill other such vulnerable animals at the 3,200-acre site.
The institute’s deputy director, William Pitt, said last month that it was a painful decision, but the zoo has a responsibility to protect endangered species like the gazelle from predators like the coyote. The institute’s deputy director, William Pitt, said last month that it was a painful decision, but the zoo has a responsibility to protect endangered species from predators, such as the gazelle from the coyotes.
A rash of coyote sightings have recently been reported in Fairfax and Prince William counties in Northern Virginia. Several coyote sightings have recently been reported in Fairfax and Prince William counties.
“It is a choice you have to make,” Pitt said in an interview. “It hasn’t been an easy decision for me. . . . If there were a thousand coyotes on the property and this (killing) didn’t happen, it would be fine.” “It is a choice you have to make,” Pitt said in an interview. “It hasn’t been an easy decision for me. . . . If there were a thousand coyotes on the property and this [killing] didn’t happen, it would be fine.”
The killing of the gazelle was the first time the institute has lost an animal to a coyote. The gazelle’s death was the first time a coyote killed one of the institute’s animals.
Pitt said the hunt will try to target only those coyotes that killed the gazelle, by focusing on the specific territory where they live around the complex. Pitt said the hunt will try to target only the coyotes that killed the gazelle, by focusing on the specific territory where they live around the complex.
[Zebra attack at zoo was the result of human error][Zebra attack at zoo was the result of human error]
He said a hunter will probably stake out the area, lure the coyotes with a recording of a rabbit in distress, and shoot the predators when they come to investigate. He said a hunter will probably stake out the area, lure the coyotes with a recording of a rabbit in distress and shoot the predators when they come to investigate.
On the morning of Oct. 10, a keeper spotted the young female dama gazelle dead and partially eaten in its enclosure at the complex’s Meade Barn site.On the morning of Oct. 10, a keeper spotted the young female dama gazelle dead and partially eaten in its enclosure at the complex’s Meade Barn site.
Such gazelles are among the rarest in world, with only about 200 still surviving, in Africa. “There’s more coyotes in this county than there are dama gazelles . . . in the wild,” Pitt said. The institute has eight. The zoo has four.Such gazelles are among the rarest in world, with only about 200 still surviving, in Africa. “There’s more coyotes in this county than there are dama gazelles . . . in the wild,” Pitt said. The institute has eight. The zoo has four.
Coyotes, over the years, have greatly expanded from the Western United States to the East, getting larger in size, possibly by breeding with wolves. Over the years, coyotes have greatly expanded from the Western United States to the East and have been getting larger, possibly by breeding with wolves.
They are not picky eaters, have adapted to living around people and thrive in patchwork rural countryside. They are not picky eaters, have adapted to living around people and thrive in patchwork rural countrysides.
“They’re successful, and they’re very adaptable,” Pitt said.“They’re successful, and they’re very adaptable,” Pitt said.
He said the suspect coyotes were seen and photographed near the dead gazelle and fled only when keepers approached. Pitt said coyote bite marks and coyote DNA were found on the carcass.He said the suspect coyotes were seen and photographed near the dead gazelle and fled only when keepers approached. Pitt said coyote bite marks and coyote DNA were found on the carcass.
[Coyote sightings reported in Prince William County][Coyote sightings reported in Prince William County]
He said the animal had probably been killed a few hours earlier. He said the animal had probably been killed a few hours ­earlier.
The coyotes seem to have gotten into the gazelle’s enclosure by squeezing under a gate. “There was one gate that would have made it pretty easy for coyotes to get in,” Pitt said.The coyotes seem to have gotten into the gazelle’s enclosure by squeezing under a gate. “There was one gate that would have made it pretty easy for coyotes to get in,” Pitt said.
And there has been evidence since the killing that they have tried to get into other enclosures.And there has been evidence since the killing that they have tried to get into other enclosures.
“Coyotes originally probably started showing up in Virginia in the ’80s, probably first around this area in the ’90s,” Pitt said.“Coyotes originally probably started showing up in Virginia in the ’80s, probably first around this area in the ’90s,” Pitt said.
The site here dates to the 1970s and enclosures were built to keep animals in, not out. The site here dates to the 1970s, and enclosures were built to keep animals in, not out.
Wildlife abounds.Wildlife abounds.
“I’m sure we have coyotes throughout the facility,” Pitt said. “We have bears that go throughout the facility.”“I’m sure we have coyotes throughout the facility,” Pitt said. “We have bears that go throughout the facility.”
Rarely before have predators preyed on the institute’s animals.Rarely before have predators preyed on the institute’s animals.
Since the incident, vulnerable animals have been kept in more secure enclosures and fences have been extended to make entry more difficult.Since the incident, vulnerable animals have been kept in more secure enclosures and fences have been extended to make entry more difficult.
Once a predator discovers the location of a food source, it will keep coming back, Pitt said. They could try getting under or over a fence. When it snows, fences are shorter. Once a predator discovers the location of a food source, it will keep coming back, Pitt said. They could try getting under or over a fence. When it snows, fences, in effect, can become lower.
The coyotes that ate the gazelle are very likely to come back. The coyotes that ate the gazelle are very likely to return.
“It could be two of them,” Pitt said. “It could be one of them. But probably that trio. And so what we’re going to do is just in that localized area try to target those animals and remove those individuals.” “It could be two of them,” Pitt said. “It could be one of them. But probably that trio. And so what we’re going to do is, just in that localized area, try to target those animals and remove those ­individuals.”
Hunters from the Department of Agriculture will do the work. “These are the people that can do it effectively, efficiently and humanely,” he said.Hunters from the Department of Agriculture will do the work. “These are the people that can do it effectively, efficiently and humanely,” he said.
He said trapping and relocating the coyotes as an option is problematic because the moved coyotes get into competition with coyotes in the new area, or are often hit by cars trying to find their way back to their home turf. He said trapping and relocating the coyotes as an option is problematic because the moved coyotes get into competition with coyotes in the new area, or they are often hit by cars when trying to find their way back to their home turf.
Experts will be able to tell via DNA comparisons if the hunters get the coyotes that killed the gazelle. Experts will be able to tell via DNA comparisons whether the hunters get the coyotes that killed the gazelle.