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Post by Iowa Badger on Mar 16, 2004 15:21:01 GMT -6
What part do you feel, if any, do major highways serve as barriers for canines? For next season I am planning on trapping farmground along a major 4 lane highway with pretty steady traffic. Obviously we have all seen coyote road kill and coyotes crossing roads, but should I expect all, 90%, 75%, of the coyotes to not cross the highway?
My opinion is that it is more of a barrier than a large stream, but less than a major river. Got that?
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Post by dj88ryr on Mar 16, 2004 15:23:49 GMT -6
I think your assumption would be pretty accurate.
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Post by Edge on Mar 16, 2004 15:36:23 GMT -6
A four lane highway?Yuck. I would think you're right;I dont see a yote crossing a road like that if it doesnt have to....or maybe when running a female.
Edge
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Post by chessiepup on Mar 16, 2004 15:58:24 GMT -6
I have seen one road kill coyote in my life ( yes I picked it up ;D ) so I had to to believe that 75-80% of the time a major road was a barrier here in michigan
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Post by Traveler on Mar 16, 2004 16:09:59 GMT -6
We have the same thing here naturally,BUT,one thing to keep in mind.We also have little "bridges"so to speak that drains water from low areas,ditches etc.These can run maybe 4 or 5 feet wide and maybe 5 or 6 feet high.If they are lined up with a good natural crossing,coyotes will use these.I've sure found sign at them before.
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MikeD
Skinner...
Posts: 58
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Post by MikeD on Mar 16, 2004 17:02:10 GMT -6
Hey badger, You might want to take a look around any bridges along that highway, be they wet or dry. Even if the bridge is over a stream there is usually bank enough on each side for some sets.
MikeD
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Post by briankroberts on Mar 16, 2004 18:48:19 GMT -6
I trap along many miles of interstate highway ( 4 lane) I've seen quite of Coyotes killed on these roads over the years. If you look you will find good crossings also, like said on here earlier, bridges are good, really good if its a major drainage. Also where you go a few miles and there isn't a drainage look for out standing features, like a fencerow that connects to the road and a major timber on the other side. They will have places where they cross regular.....B......
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Post by trappnman on Mar 16, 2004 19:18:53 GMT -6
Roads are defintely barriers- but what roads and why..I have no idea. On my line, there is a county road that appears to be a "barrer" road. It is just a simple 2 lane country blacktop road- like any other in the area- yet no coyote from 1 side was ever tracked on the other- and visa versa. The coyotes appeared to not cross this line.
Why? Don't have a clue.
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Post by woody on Mar 16, 2004 20:57:41 GMT -6
I find this post interesting. I know when we go to Kentucky on 1-75, after leaving Ohio and entering into Kentucky, once you leave the major area of cinninnati Oh and covington Ky. You start to see yotes as the primary road kill, why this is I don't know, but they don't seem to mind trying to cross a major highway ;D just wanted to throw that in to the equation of this topic.
In this area. both the fox and the coyotes are seen along the highways and country roads. most don't seem to mind the cars and trucks as long as they are moving ;D stop to take a look at him and he's headed in the opposite direction. woody
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woodtick
Demoman...
NS Canada
Posts: 119
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Post by woodtick on Mar 17, 2004 6:28:51 GMT -6
Here, the Trans Canada Highway is lined with little communities and clumps of houses, and I've noticed that yotes or bobcats will find the gaps or thin spots between the little settlements and cross the highway there.
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Post by vttrapper on Mar 17, 2004 6:35:31 GMT -6
In my area i have 1 four lane highway and there are plenty of road killed coyotes on it, year after year. I have large creeks and streams, but there are nota uncrossable boarder because they freeze in the winter. Even Lake champlain is not a boarder because ti freezes over for a short time and those sly NY coyotes probabaly hop the ferrys. Nope, there are few physical barriers around here.
frank
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Post by chessiepup on Mar 17, 2004 6:51:28 GMT -6
Roads are defintely barriers- but what roads and why..I have no idea. On my line, there is a county road that appears to be a "barrer" road. It is just a simple 2 lane country blacktop road- like any other in the area- yet no coyote from 1 side was ever tracked on the other- and visa versa. The coyotes appeared to not cross this line. Why? Don't have a clue. I'm not sure if this forum answer more questions or creates them for me It sure does make me think alot though ;D so going by trappnman statement could it be where in a coyotes territory that barrier is that makes the difference if he crosses or not, say at the edge of his territory he is less likely to cross than if it was in the middle?
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Post by trappnman on Mar 17, 2004 7:15:48 GMT -6
The published results of the study I trapped for should be out in a few months-
I know that it will contain territores of the captured coyotes. Maybe...MAYBE....when I can see the territories and put them into perspective with the physical features of my territory, I'll be able to see some patterns as to boundarys.
As far as physical barriers presenting obstacles- it would have to be pretty major- I too see them cross small rivers and interstates.
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Post by k9 on Mar 17, 2004 7:33:03 GMT -6
I am also in Iowa Badger. Interstate 80 is near my hometown. I find the sections that are closest to the Interstate have good numbers of coyotes in them.
I feel that you are right, in that a certain amount of coyotes do not want to cross the Interstates. However I am sure that the area along the interstates has a lot of deer, etc that have been wounded and walked off into the field to die. The Interstate area is a good food source to some coyotes.
In most of this area, the sections along Interstate 80 are very big sections, due to fewer county roads cutting through them. Some of my best coyote trapping is in bigger sections, no matter where they are located. Our coyotes like these bigger sections, as they are safer places to be.
Find a good travelway under the Interstate and you will have a good bottleneck to set equipment in.
I have seen coyotes sleeping in Interstate road ditches. The last one I saw was over by Colfax. Not a good place to trap him, but interesting behavior. Was he there because there was a dead deer nearby? Or was he there because it was the height of deer hunting season, and it's the only place he could find that he was not being harassed by hunters? Only he knows, but I think it is the latter.
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Post by Iowa Badger on Mar 17, 2004 8:04:02 GMT -6
Road kill, never thought of that. Most prey animals would be reluctant to cross highways so the predators would be there also.
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Post by k9 on Mar 17, 2004 8:23:02 GMT -6
One thing you can do is this. Lot's of roads around here that go back to the interstate are dead end level B's. For those of you from other states, that a dirt road in Iowa, that only get's graded once in a while.
For those of you from Alabama, (J) a level B would be an Interstate, so disregard.
Anyway, a couple days after a rain, or after the grader has freshened up the road, drive back there hanging your head out the window. You will see lot's of coyote sign cutting across these level B's and will find some good crossover trail snaring locations. I have even trapped coyotes right in level B road ditches but you gotta be careful. Think about it. That level B will go all the way to the barrier, which is the highway, and then dead end at that barrier. Anything running parallell along that barrier, such as coyotes, will leave sign when they cross the level B.
In this area, I have noticed when I go out and get them howling during the summer or early fall, that I get good responses in the bigger sections along the interstate. Are these denning areas, loafing areas? I do not know. I just know that I have had my best luck getting family groups to respond to a siren or howler, in these types of locations. I just think that the bigger, quieter sections are preferred comfort zones for the coyotes, and the food source makes it a sure thing. There is always a water source along the Interstate, such as creeks, tiles, etc.
I catch plenty of coyotes in other areas, but I would not neglect the ground by major highways for sure.
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Post by trappnman on Mar 17, 2004 8:52:27 GMT -6
Good point about the dead end roads. Along I-90, south of me, those dead enders caused by the interstate are very common- and like you said- no traffic, bigger sections, prey.
I wish I had an interstate in my backyard!!!!!!
Uou could have a pretty decent line- running 1 side up and the other side down-
I can see how those would be very hot locations....and I have realized that on blacktop roads, even in bare fofields not very far fro mthe highway- people in cars whizzing by at 70 mph aren't going to see a coyote laying down in a field.
Good advice.
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Post by Clefus on Mar 17, 2004 9:10:35 GMT -6
Just a thought on trapping from an interstate.... Check with the police to see if it is ok to be stopped along the road frequently ( to check traps).... In this area it seems to be a big no-no......myself and a friend had checked on it and it seems to be a no go... I had planned on running a beaver line along it but figured it wasn't worth the hassle....
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Post by trappnman on Mar 17, 2004 9:18:33 GMT -6
no- I don't believe you could stop- even on the 4 lane non interstates- you need to be off of the shoulder.
What k9 was talking about, when the interstate hwy cae through, they went through the flattest, most direct route- right through the middle of farm country. So a whole series of gravel roads were cut off (dead ended) when the interstate went through.
So- you would need to drive the secondary roads- looping onto each dead end road as you come to them.
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Post by Clefus on Mar 17, 2004 9:27:02 GMT -6
Steve..I know what ya mean about what K9 said....it is the same thing here.....I kinda work some of the interstate locations from the secondary roads .... Man...if I could just run a line off of the 4-lane....maybe a yellow trappin truck with DOT logos??
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