Ranchers with Coyote Troubles - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

More and more coyotes are moving into farm yards and now some ranchers and hunters are teaming up to take care of the problem. 

The State Department of Agriculture and the Game and Fish Department have developed the coyote catalog.

A program that connects landowners with hunters. 

Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin takes you to a farm yard north of Turtle Lake where those dogs are moving in a little too close for comfort.

Ranching is no easy task and no producer wants to see his profit go to the dogs.

(Durnell Klain / Rancher) "We've had neighbors and people says that the coyotes were eating in the dog dishes, but they follow the food source. If its cows and calves and afterbirth and deer in the yard and the pheasants are in the yard too and they are following them."

Durnell and Darcy Klain have been ranching north of Turtle Lake for more than 30 years.

They say in the past 10 years they've noticed more and more coyotes moving closer to the yard.

It's common to see 2-3 a week.

Durnell says while he is worried about the deer and the pheasants, he's most concerned about the babies that will be arriving in 2-3 weeks. 

(Durnell Klain / Rancher) "We've had one calf disappear and we have had tails chewed off a calf and within 15-30 yards of a cow, it's just a matter of time and they'll get the calf. But, they can really make the cows nervous if they are in the herd."

(Sarah Gustin / sgustin)"Typically the coyotes will stay on the outer edges and the perimeter of the yard, but they have had them as close as on the silage pile and even up to the driveway.

(Darcy Klain / Rancher) "Two years ago when the snow was so thick, they were moving in because the deer were moving in.That one night when the dogs were growling, I opened up the door and the coyote was right outside the door." 

The coyote catalog connects landowners with hunters and trappers.

Wayne Carlson with the State Department of Agriculture says currently about 20 landowners have asked for help and more than 300 hunters have offered to take care of the problem.

(Wayne Carlson / ND Ag Department) "We've heard quite a bit about the coyote population. Especially last year that there were a lot of them. And a lot of the farmers are hearing them in the evenings, they are hearing them, they are seeing them".

(Darcy Klain / Rancher) "I looked into it and was like while, we have enough for everybody so if they want to come, I am sure they can help themselves." 

The Coyote Catalog will remain active through March, and be available again next winter.

Landowners can sign up at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture's website at AG DEPARTMENT DOT COM.

Hunters and trappers can sign up at the Game and Fish Department's website at GF DOT ND DOT GOV.