Page "Coyote" Paragraph 43

Coyotes are presently the most abundant livestock predators in western North America, causing the majority of sheep, goat and cattle losses.

For example, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, coyotes were responsible for 60. 5 % of the 224, 000 sheep deaths attributed to predation in 2004.

The total number of sheep deaths in 2004 comprised 2. 22 % of the total sheep and lamb population in the United States.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA report, " All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on July 1, 2005, totaled 7. 80 million head, 2 % above July 1, 2004.

Breeding sheep inventory at 4. 66 million head on July 1, 2005 was 2 % above July 1, 2004.

" Because coyote populations are typically many times greater and more widely distributed than those of wolves, coyotes cause more overall predation losses.

However, an Idaho census taken in 2005 showed that individual coyotes were one-twentieth as likely to attack livestock than individual wolves.