'We need to help Mother Nature out a little bit': Sask. RMs introduce coyote bounties

There's a $20 price on coyote paw sets in some parts of southern Saskatchewan as rural municipalities (RMs) try to cull the growing populations.

Coyote numbers have become an issue not only for livestock producers, but also for people living on acreages in and around Weyburn, which is about 115 kilometres southeast of Regina, Reeve Norm McFadden said. 

They have started seeing packs of up to 15 coyotes in the area and families are concerned, he said.

"That can be a little scary at times and intimidating," he said. "So this is something we've talked about for a while and we just decided: 'Let's see if this will help.'"

Weyburn, Estevan and Cymri are among the RMs in the province's southeast that are offering the $20 bounty. And McFadden said he wouldn't be surprised if all the RMs that border Weyburn follow suit in the next few weeks.

Coyotes have been in Weyburn's city limits during the last few years and residents are concerned that little kids riding their bikes and playing outside might not be safe.

"God forbid something ever was to happen," McFadden said. "And then it's kind of too late, right?"

Weyburn's coyote bounty program is expected to run until late fall, he said, adding the end date will be determined by the size of the cull and whether people are still seeing the large packs.

About 95 per cent of the bounty feedback has been positive, McFadden said, adding he knows it won't be popular with everyone.

"We're not looking to wipe these animals off the map," he said. "We need to help Mother Nature out a little bit. Because, typically, Mother Nature takes care of itself, right? But these numbers are getting high."

McFadden said people who turn in paws have to fill out a remittance form and provide the name and contact information of the owner of the land where the coyotes were killed. He said it's to ensure people are following Saskatchewan's anti-trespassing law and to guard against people trying to claim the bounty for coyotes harvested elsewhere.

Ray Orb, the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), said it seems as if the coyote population in the province has grown.

Orb said he's received a few calls from producers in different areas of the province in recent weeks who are having a lot of problems with coyotes.

He said some regions have had a lot of snow and combined with the cool spring, it's contributing to the predators causing more damage.