Missouri Landowner Predator Control Program
1946 to 1953
Predator & Prey History Matters – Read the original documents of the Missouri Landowner Predator Control Program from 1946 to 1953.
Wouldn’t it be awesome so see the 15-minute sound and color movie “Wolf Medicine” produced by the Missouri Conservation Commission in 1949 – Depicts Coyote Habitats and Trapping Methods.
Times sure have changed!!! Helping landowners helping themselves. History teaches alot.
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The idea of helping farmers help themselves, which is at the root at all agriculture extension service.
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Whether a meeting is held or only field training is conducted, the extension trapper emphasizes subject matter of most timely local interest. Along with necessary information and “know how” include under the following subjects.
1. Purpose of the program and sponsoring agencies.
2. Explanation of normal beneficial predation. As distinguished from individual predators that may cause livestock and poultry losses.
3. Characteristics and life history of coyotes and foxes, as background information necessary to successful trapping for damage reduction.
4. Trapping compared to other methods as the most practical and dependable method for Missouri farmers to use.
5. Trapping equipment required and where obtainable.
6. Selecting good trap location and how to utilize various kinds of animal sign to accomplish this.
7. How to make an effective trap site.
8. Variation in trap sets for coyotes and foxes.
9. Trapping parents and pups during the denning and rearing of season.
10. Winter and Frozen ground trap sets.
11. Using various types of scent, manufactured and home-made.
12. Precautions to be followed in farm trapping for the least harm to beneficial wildlife and dogs to maintain the good-will of neighbors.
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For the 6-year period, 816 farmers reported annual losses before trapping totaling $101,679, and for the year after instituting damage-control, $19,774. The resulting saving of $81,905 is an over-all damage reduction.
Summary
Compared to either methods tried, extension predator-control provides the best system of providing sufficiently prompt and immediately effective service to all requests for farm predator damage assistance. Also, once farmers are trained, they can apply control measures at any time needed.
2. Simplified trapping techniques designed for busy farmers and demonstration by extension trappers with suitable ability have been important contributions to the effectiveness of the program.
3. Average annual damage reduction of 61 per cent, accounting to $100.37 per farmer of 816 reporting, has been attained over 6-year period by farmers who applied their training. They indicate that they are well-satisfied with this result.
4. During eight years, 635 demonstration meetings have been requested and conducted throughout the State, arranged usually though county agricultural agents. These have been attended by nearly 16,000 interested farm people, and 5,800 of those have participated in field training, with 873 farmers given individual follow-up assistance.
5. From annual mail surveys during a 6-year period, over 1,100 farmers reported an average of 49.7 hours per year spent in trapping an average of 9.2 predator each. The total reported catch for fiscal 1946-1953 was 10,195 predators (3,099 coyotes, 5,444 red foxes, 1,555 gray foxes 66 bobcats, and 31 wild dogs).
