St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

State Senator Michele Hoitenga and Representative Parker Fairbairn have responded to a recent move by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) regarding coyote hunting regulations in the state. The NRC has indicated it will allow year-round coyote hunting, but both lawmakers are urging the commission to make permanent policy changes.

“The Natural Resources Commission’s announcement is a step in the right direction, but it was not the final decision we were hoping for,” said Hoitenga, R-Manton. “Its original repeal lacked any scientific basis and essentially opened the floodgates for coyotes — which can reproduce at an extremely fast rate — to wreak havoc on farmers and landowners, spread disease and harm the natural balance across Northern Michigan and throughout the state.

“It is our responsibility to hold the NRC to its word and ensure it follows through.”

Earlier, Hoitenga and Fairbairn introduced Senate Bill 366 and House Bill 4554. These measures aimed to establish year-round coyote hunting by overriding a previous NRC decision that had closed off hunting between April 15 and July 15 each year.

“Though coyotes are a natural part of Michigan’s ecosystem, they proliferate incredibly quickly, and their numbers need to be aggressively managed to keep them from negatively impacting deer, turkey, hare, rabbit and other game and non-game species throughout the state, not to mention predation of pets and livestock,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “Returning to a true year-round season is the right thing to do, and now we need the Natural Resources Commission to listen to our call and reverse its previous action in full.”

Coyotes are present in every county in Michigan. According to estimates, one female coyote can produce more than 100 pups during her lifetime with litters typically ranging from four to twelve pups.