Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
December 1985
Abstract
In the early 1900's organized predator control was initiated to remove coyotes and wolves from the sheep and goat producing areas of Texas. Operations were begun in the Edwards Plateau, the largest area of sheep concentration. By the 1920's, many of the inner Edwards Plateau counties were considered to be practically free of coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus, Canis rufus). The 1950's found coyotes and wolves extirpated from most of the Edwards Plateau. After a coyote population erruption in the late 1950's, coyotes began to re-establish themselves on the periphery of the Plateau. This encroachment process continued throughout the next 2 decades and continues to progress in the 1980's.