Government efforts to kill livestock predators

Saturday, June 17, 2000 | 8:50 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Figures compiled by Predator Conservation Alliance of Bozeman, Mont., based on budget figures and kill counts provided by U.S. Agriculture Department's Animal Services and Bureau of Land Management:

PREDATOR KILL:

USDA Wildlife Services predator kill figures nationally for fiscal year 1998 (from Oct. 1, 1997 through Sept. 30, 1998):

77,997 coyotes (26,065 by aerial gunning)

6,809 fox

2,250 bobcats

580 badgers

380 bears

338 mountain lions

88,354 total

COYOTES:

Number of coyotes killed in Western states under the program in FY 1998:

Texas, 16,223

California, 8,390

Montana, 8,458

New Mexico, 6,213

Wyoming, 6,146

Oklahoma, 4,545

Utah, 4,169

Nevada, 4,014

Colorado, 3,088

Nebraska, 2,613

North Dakota, 1,792

Arizona, 940

Washington, 838

South Dakota, 22

Kansas, 1

FEDERAL SPENDING:

Current year's federal appropriation: $31.7 million

President Clinton's proposal for next year: $28.8 million

Level approved by House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture for next year: $35.5 million.

STATES MOST ACTIVE:

States where the USDA Animal Services spent the most of the $9.5 million in federal money on livestock protection from Oct. 1 1997 through Sept. 20 1998:

Texas, $1.5 million; New Mexico, $1.1 million; California, $929,000; Montana, $906,000; Wyoming, $882,000; Idaho, $824,000; Nevada, $681,000; Colorado, $670,000; Utah, $479,063; Oregon, $398,00.

NEVADA:

In Nevada, from Oct. 1 1998 to Sept. 30 1999, USDA Animal Services killed 2,179 coyotes, 110 ravens, 12 mountain lions and three bobcats. Of the coyotes, 866 were shot from aircraft and 675 caught in leg traps.