Coyote hair as an area repellent for white-tailed deer

Published source details Seamans T.W., Blackwell B.F. & Cepek J.D. (2002) Coyote hair as an area repellent for white-tailed deer. International Journal of Pest Management (formerly PANS Pest Articles & News Summaries 1969 - 1975, PANS 1976-1979 & Tropical Pest Management 1980-1992), 48, 301-306.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use predator scent to deter crop damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict Action Link
	Use predator scent to deter crop damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict Action Link

Use predator scent to deter crop damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict

A replicated, randomized, controlled, before-and-after study in 2000–2001 in a forest in Ohio, USA (Seamans et al. 2002) found that coyote Canis latrans hair reduced feeding at troughs by white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. With one bag of coyote hair/trough, deer consumed less corn (103 kg) than before bag placement (246 kg). With three bags of coyote hair/trough, deer consumed less corn (46–108 kg/week) than in the week before bag placement (323 kg). At control toughs with empty bags, operated concurrently to experimental troughs, consumption (284–425 kg/week) did not differ to that in the week before bag placement (247–265 kg/week). Ten troughs (≥1 km apart) were fenced on three sides and stocked with whole kernel corn. Five were treatment troughs and five were controls. Stage I (January–February 2000) entailed one week with unprotected troughs. The following week, a nylon mesh bag containing 17 g of coyote hair was placed touching the back of treatment troughs. An empty bag was placed at control troughs. Stage II (January–March 2001) had a similar pre-treatment week, then five weeks with three bags, each containing 16 g of coyote hair, in front of each treatment trough. Three empty bags were placed at each control trough.

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
Use predator scent to deter crop damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict

A replicated, randomized, controlled, before-and-after study in 2000 in a forest in Ohio, USA (Seamans et al. 2002) found that hanging bags of coyote Canis latrans hair did not reduce use of established trails by white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. The number of deer using treatment trails did not differ significantly before (2.6 deer/day) or after (3.1 deer/day) placement of coyote hair bags. Similarly, the number of deer using non-treatment trails was not significantly different before (3.4 deer/day) or after (5.1 deer/day) placement of empty bags. Deer passes along 10 active trails (around 1 km apart) were recorded for three weeks (18 August to 8 September 2000) using infra-red monitors. A nylon mesh bag containing 16 g of coyote hair, was then suspended 2 m high from a tree along five randomly selected trails. Empty bags were hung at the other five trails. Monitoring continued for three further weeks (8–29 September 2000).

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)