Podcast Summary: "Why is the federal government still killing coyotes?"

The Indicator from Planet Money
Host: Darian Woods
Guest: Kate Dario, Producer for Outside Inn
Release Date: March 17, 2025

Introduction: A Costly Predator Control Program

In the March 17, 2025 episode of The Indicator from Planet Money, host Darian Woods delves into a controversial United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program focused on wildlife damage management, primarily targeting coyotes. The episode explores the economic implications, biological resilience of coyotes, and the effectiveness of lethal versus non-lethal control methods.

USDA's Wildlife Damage Management: An Expensive Endeavor

Kate Dario introduces the USDA's wildlife damage management initiative, which allocates millions of dollars annually to control coyote populations. The program employs various methods, including rifles, cyanide, and aerial gunning, to reduce coyote numbers. However, precise expenditure figures remain undisclosed by the agency. Estimates from news outlets and nonprofits suggest costs range from $200 to $1,600 per coyote, totaling nearly $17 million annually for taxpayers (01:16).

The Paradox of Coyote Control: Increasing the Problem

Contrary to the program's intent, Kate Dario highlights that these eradication efforts might be inadvertently boosting coyote populations. "The program may actually be increasing the number of coyotes overall," Dario explains (01:32). This paradox arises from coyotes' remarkable adaptability and reproductive strategies, which counteract the effects of lethal control.

Coyote Biology: Nature's Resilient Survivors

Christine Wilkinson, a carnivore ecologist from the Bay Area, provides insights into the biological traits that make coyotes exceptionally resilient. "[Coyotes] are generalists. They're very flexible in their diets. They're omnivorous," Wilkinson states (04:13). Their ability to thrive in diverse environments—ranging from rural plains to urban parks like Central Park in New York City—illustrates their adaptability.

Coyotes exhibit compensatory reproduction, increasing litter sizes and breeding earlier when faced with population declines (04:25). This behavior, akin to economic offsetting, ensures that coyote numbers rebound swiftly despite extermination efforts. Additionally, their fission-fusion social structure allows them to operate both collaboratively and independently, further enhancing their survival prospects (07:35).

Historical Context: From Wolves to Coyotes

Dan Flores, an environmental historian and author of Coyote America, traces the origins of the USDA's predator control program. Initially established as the US Biological Survey with a focus on scientific cataloging, the agency pivoted towards predator eradication to secure consistent funding (06:26). Between 1910 and 1925, the Biological Survey successfully eradicated wolves across North America. To fill this ecological void, coyotes were promoted as the new primary predator, leading to nearly $10 million allocated in the 1930s for their eradication (06:47; 07:16).

Economic and Agricultural Impacts

The westward expansion of coyotes in the 19th and 20th centuries coincided with the growth of livestock farming. Ranchers initially blamed wolves for livestock losses, but as wolf populations dwindled, coyotes became the primary target of extermination efforts (04:25; 05:02). In 2019 alone, USDA data reported over 100,000 sheep and lambs killed by coyotes (09:02). However, research indicates that lethal control does not significantly enhance livestock safety. Studies show that non-lethal methods—such as fencing and using guard dogs—are more effective in reducing predation (09:09; 09:23).

Shifting Strategies: Embracing Non-Lethal Management

Recent trends suggest a gradual shift towards non-lethal management practices. From 2004 to 2019, operations utilizing non-lethal methods to protect flocks increased by 140% (09:44). Furthermore, in 2020, Wildlife Services received congressional funding to explore and implement non-lethal techniques. Despite these advancements, policy changes under the Trump administration have introduced uncertainties, leaving the future of coyote management in flux (09:44; 10:17).

Government Response and Public Perception

Efforts to obtain current budgetary information and the USDA's stance on coyote culling were unsuccessful, as the agency did not respond to inquiries (10:17). Public perception remains divided, particularly among the declining American sheep industry, which continues to advocate for lethal control despite evidence favoring non-lethal methods. Christine Wilkinson emphasizes the necessity of coexistence with coyotes: "We need to just accept the fact that there are coyotes and they will continue to persist" (09:35; 09:39).

Conclusion: Reevaluating Predator Control Policies

The episode concludes by questioning the efficacy and financial wisdom of the USDA's ongoing coyote eradication program. With coyotes expanding their range across the United States and adapting to various environments, the traditional approach of lethal control appears increasingly ineffective and economically burdensome. The rise in non-lethal management practices offers a promising alternative, yet legislative and administrative support remains uncertain. As the federal government grapples with balancing agricultural interests, ecological realities, and taxpayer dollars, the future of coyote management hangs in the balance.

Notable Quotes:

• Darian Woods (04:45): "We call this offsetting behaviour in economics. And that basically means when somebody changes their behaviour in response to a policy meant to limit risk, like riding your bike, more dangerously than you normally would when you're wearing a helmet."

• Dan Flores (07:35): "Our attempts in the American west, which was the coyotes original range, to try to control their populations, resulted in spreading them across the continent as they went into fishing mode."

• Christine Wilkinson (09:39): "We need to just accept the fact that there are coyotes and they will continue to persist."

This comprehensive exploration sheds light on the complexities of wildlife management, the unintended consequences of predator control programs, and the imperative to adopt more sustainable and effective strategies in coexisting with nature's resilient inhabitants.