I know it’s important to put your emotions aside when it comes to understanding how things work in nature.
In a landscape where every creature is either predator or prey, death is the common denominator. It’s an ugly truth that we all must accept, and it’s a process that we, as hunters, contribute to anytime we make a harvest.
Still, I always buffered myself from just how vicious the entire predator-prey relationship can be. I think all of us who hunt are somewhat distanced from the raw reality of predator killing prey. When we kill our quarry from afar with the squeeze of a trigger, we’re still disconnected from what it’s like to truly be a predator in the natural world.
That’s not a bad thing.
Sometimes, however, the predator-prey relationship in nature is a thing of beauty.
A red fox “mousing” in a hay field is actually an elegantly orchestrated act of predation that’s always fascinating to watch.
And I’ve been fortunate on several occasions to witness a mink as it methodically ambushes a frog along the edge of a pond.
Yet nothing impresses more than the sight of a great blue heron patiently wading the shallows of a swamp before using its dagger-like beak to pierce a fish.
Those are the scenes of predation that are palatable to watch. The G-Rated versions, if you will.
But there’s a dark side to predation that is seldom seen, yet ever present. These are the images that remind us that, in nature, when a predator kills its prey, it’s not always pretty.
I was reminded of that recently when a reader shared a trail camera video taken during the night on Jan. 13.
The video clip is only 11 seconds, but its impact is long-lasting:
The video captures the last desperate moments of a doe as it’s being attacked by a pair of coyotes. I have to caution the clip is hard to watch, but I think it’s important that people do see it.
The video captures predation in its rawest, most unpleasant form. It also serves as proof that coyotes in Pennsylvania don’t just prey on fawns, and they aren’t solitary hunters. In the clip, a seemingly healthy, adult doe scrambles into the frame with two coyotes dragging it down. The deer struggles as one coyote latches onto its abdomen, and the other clenches its neck.
From there, the doe is able to turn, but fails to regain its footing as the coyotes continue to attack.
The coyotes overpower the deer and the attack fades into the darkness.
My first reaction to seeing the video was one based on emotion. I actually felt sorry for the deer and immediately wanted to take up coyote hunting. The images in the video instilled a sentiment that more needs to be done to control coyotes, and I needed to do my part. I was mad that the coyotes took down a healthy deer.
But is that the right reaction?
Take emotion out of the equation, and the video takes on a different context. Considering the incident was captured in the middle of January, it’s likely the coyotes were facing lean times – like most predators in the dead of winter.
They were killing the deer not for fun or sport, but to survive. Is that so wrong?
And even though the video shows two coyotes attacking what appears to be a healthy, adult doe, it really isn’t indicative of any type of population problem. It doesn’t mean there are too many coyotes – although there could be – and it also doesn’t imply that coyotes are constantly killing deer. Heck, it doesn’t even mean this is a common occurrence.
But worst of all, for as disturbing as the video is, the act captured by the camera pales in comparison to some of the dastardly deeds that humans have committed against wildlife.
Is this particular coyote attack any worse than a poacher shooting deer at night? Considering the former is nature and the latter is heinous and illegal, the obvious answer is no.
So why, if the video is nothing more than an example of nature’s predator-prey relationship, is it so bothersome?
Why did I find it hard to watch?
Perhaps I’m more disconnected from that part of the natural world than I realized. While I’m keenly aware of what predation entails, maybe I’ve been masking the ugly reality with an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach?
Whatever the reason, the video is a conclusive reminder that nature isn’t always pretty. Predators kill, and prey dies.
But one thing the video does effectively emphasize is that yes, predation can be cruel, and if we as hunters and trappers don’t do our part to help maintain the balance between predator and prey, the end result is uglier than anything captured on a trail camera. Coyotes are here to stay and they’re going to continue to kill deer. It’s up to us to keep the predator numbers balanced, however, so scenes like the one captured on the trail camera don’t become a common occurrence.
