MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. -According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service four percent of the U.S. total sheep inventory are killed each year by carnivores such as coyotes.
Since 1887, Double Scott Farm has been breeding sheep in Mercer County. John Scott Jr., owner of Double Scott Farm, says coyotes migrated into the area back in the late 70’s and since then predators have been an issue.
“They’re everywhere. I mean, towns and everywhere. You just don’t see them. They’re so cunning. That’s the big problem is to just find them and to get rid of them,” said Scott.
Each year Scott’s expands his flock 75-80 heads to later sale for the breeding market but on average loses 3 to 4 ewes yearly. Although he has tried many tactics such as Great Pyrenees dogs and donkeys, Scott must bring the flock inside instead allowing to constantly roam.
“We like to run them on top of the mountain behind us and that’s where we have our problems. So, when we start having problems, we have to bring them in and bring them in the barns at night and so the coyotes can’t find them,” continued Scott.
Scott says he remembers southern West Virginia being covered by a large sheep population but due to the coyotes terrorizing the land few remain. He informs us coyotes pin one prey instead of the flock causing them to be a sneaky and witty predator.
“I’d hope that everybody that doesn’t farm realizes the problems you know that farmers have and it’s a new problem. It hasn’t been here about 50 years so it’s not a case where we’ve had it forever. I don’t think you can ever really control them; you just have to battle them and try to find ways to take care of them,” said Scott.
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