The sheep producer who sees a coyote kill one of his lambs is pretty certain that this particular coyote is a predator. The hunter who is fortunate enough to see a coyote catch and kill a rabbit knows that the coyote is a predator, too. In each case, the coyote has taken a creature which the man valued and perhaps desired for his own use. There are many other people who view the coyote in quite a different light To many hunters, the coyote is a challenging quarry which gives many a thrilling chase. To people who simply enjoy nature, the coyote ranks as one of the most beautiful, intelligent creatures on earth.
Fur trappers realize that the coyote can be a valuable furbearer.
The eating habits of the coyote don't interfere with the enterprises of these men and so, to them, he is something more than a competing predator. The late Dr. Paul Errington observed that people often confuse the fact of predation with the effects of predation. Few actual incidents of predation are actually witnessed by man. When predation is observed, it usually makes a vivid impression on the observer. Most of us have difficulty rationalizing the idea that a destructive act can be anything but detrimental to the prey animals.