Our Feds - Now the coyote gets screwed

[pearblossomal]

From the Associated Press. They mess with mother nature, take the federally protected tortoise from their safe environment and now they're tasty-tidbits from a predator that evidently was in lesser numbers from whence they came. What a bunch of clowns.

Coyotes kill relocated SoCal tortoises

The Associated Press

04/17/2008 12:07:32 PM PDT

BARSTOW, Calif.—Endangered tortoises that were moved to make way for Army tank training in the Mojave Desert are facing a threat from coyotes.

Coyotes have killed 11 relocated desert tortoises since March, when federal officials began moving about 770 to make way for expansion of Fort Irwin training grounds north of Barstow.

A dozen tortoises already living in the relocation area also have died.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife expert says three tortoises survived attacks, although two lost a leg.

Authorities say the coyotes may be attacking tortoises out of desperation because a drought has depleted their usual prey: rabbits.

Federal authorities plan to track the coyotes and kill or capture them to protect the tortoises.

[sportbiker929]

they should just buy some bunnies

[MotoChris521]

they should just buy some bunnies

Naw, give them some section 8 diggs and food stamps.That 'll solve the problem.?

[RCA600]

Tortoises are harder to grow then coyotes, damn coyotes are like fuzzy cockroaches. Thin them coyotes out.

[reconranger]

All the animals on the farm are equal....it's just that some are more equal than others!

[Border Patrol]

There's a shortage of rabbits in the Mojave? "W" -"T"-"F"?

Who makes this stuff up?

Coyotes will eat whatever is in front of them.

[FlyLikeABandit]

Exactly, What is harder to catch, a rabbit or tortoise? Duh. Chasing rabbits makes you hungry, then go eat a tortoise.

[drzsporter]

robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario. That our cali gov't!?

[OrangeTJ]

robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario. That our cali gov't!?

This looks like a fed government situation, not a CA government issue.

[desert rat 2]

The part that wasn't mentioned in the article is that when the expansion was done at Ft. Irwin, the military had to build what are called "turtle pens", which are much larger than they sound, but still result in a higher density of tortoises in certain areas. Pretty much makes them easy pickin's for those pesky coyotes.

[bikeslut]

Exactly, What is harder to catch, a rabbit or tortoise? Duh. Chasing rabbits makes you hungry, then go eat a tortoise.

In the cartoons, the tortoise was always faster in the long run... it pissed off Bugs BIG TIME, too

[YZDOC]

Thats great, Wil-E-Coyote finaly wins. This time against the tortis not the road runner. Please send in the Sierra club dressed as a tortis to see if it really is the coyoty eating the tortis. A couple less double standard SC members will never be missed.?

[OldeDude]

Federal authorities plan to track the coyotes and kill or capture them to protect the tortoises.

Your tax dollars hard at work ................. the Federal Government SCREWING THE POOCH!

[joDer]

Just need 5.4 million to move all the coyotes, problem solved ?

[joDer]

Or get wolves? I think they'll thin out the coyotes, toss in a few elephants just to keep it intresting. Then 20 million to study what happens???

[Mike in Fresno]

and I thot no one was supposed to touch a tortise for exactly this reason, man doesnt know enuf to protect them, case proven by the govt.