Clemson Extension coyote workshop aims to educate trappers

The Horry County Clemson Extension Office is hoping a coyote control workshop Tuesday will help educate the public on luring and trapping coyotes in an effort to control the population.

Ben Powell, a natural resource agent with Clemson Extension, said the workshop will help show people how to trap for coyotes, as well as the history, biology and control measures of dealing with coyotes.

“Trapping coyotes is probably one of the most challenging forms of trapping there is,” Powell said. “It’ll be good to hear from the professionals how they do it.”

Residents in Horry County and Surfside Beach have reported seeing more coyotes in their neighborhoods in the past couple of years.

“The primary impacts to folks in Horry County will be both agricultural and residential,” Powell said. “Livestock operations are impacted by coyotes, obviously due to predators. Hunting and other recreational activities using the rural areas are also impacted because the coyotes are having an impact on deer populations and other small rodents. Those are the concerns for the folks who live in the upper half of the county.

“For those who live in the lower half of the county, from Conway and coastward, they are concerned because of residential activities. A lot of folks like to have bird feeders out in their backyard or they like to let their pets loose in the yard or outside, especially during the night. These pets are getting taken by coyotes. Coyotes don’t know the difference between a domestic cat and a rabbit. It’s still food.”

For about a decade, coyotes have been more visible in the Pee Dee Region. Powell said he has seen four coyotes during daylight hours in the last year, which is rare.

Some of the residential areas that have seen the most reports recently have been in Carolina Forest because of the Waccamaw River Corridor, and in the Enterprise Road, Socastee area. Those interested in attending the workshop Tuesday should log on to www.clemson.edu/extension/county/horry or go to the extension office, 1949 Industrial Park Road, Conway.

Powell said coyote control comes from educating the public.

“So when folks are allowing their animals out at night, unattended, or they’re feeding feral cats and concentrating them in residential areas, that’s just a natural draw to pull a coyote into the neighborhood,” Powell said. “We want to make sure folks are doing it right and also doing it in the most cost-effective manner.”

This story was originally published February 28, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Clemson Extension coyote workshop aims to educate trappers."