ABC 12 News – by Natalie Zarowny
LAPEER COUNTY (WJRT) –(01/26/15) – It’s a sad day for the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Mounted Division.
The team is down a member now, after a coyote attack killed one of their oldest, most well-behaved horses.
“Now she’s gone and you can see they’re just kind of lost. They’re not quite sure just what to do,” said her owner, Kallie Meyers.
Meyers tells us the other seven horses that are left have been surrounding the dead mare’s grave for hours, mourning after their lost leader, 27-year-old K.O. Carmen.
“You know, this was a big healthy horse, it shouldn’t have happened,” Meyers said.
Sunday afternoon, K.O. was eating some food near a water trough. Just yards away, Kallie heard some noise, and saw a pack of coyotes ambushing K.O.
By the time she and her dogs got there, the mare’s injuries were so severe, there was no hope.
“I knew I couldn’t do that because I knew she wouldn’t live through her injuries. She wasn’t going to make it and we knew that, so when the vet came, we put her down and ended the suffering that she was having,” Meyers said.
This isn’t the first time Kallie’s seen coyotes on her property. She says for the past year or so, they’ve been coming out in broad daylight.
Last summer, they attacked her chickens and ducks.
“They dug under one day and killed everything else we had,” she said.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources was alerted after K.O. was killed by the coyotes.
“It’s very unusual behavior and we were very, very surprised to hear about it,” said Holly Vaughn, with Michigan DNR.
They say coyotes usually don’t attack in packs, especially during breeding season this time of year. They also don’t go for bigger animals.
In this case, the coyotes likely became comfortable with the location.
“They’ve gotten used to this site as a source of food,” Vaughn said.
Shooting and killing coyotes is legal in certain situations, but the DNR says the best thing you can do is instill fear.
“Make yourself look big and scary, you know, make loud noises, bang pots and pans, shoot a gun,” Vaughn said.
As for Kallie, she plans on buying a donkey to help out too. Besides fighting back against coyotes, their loud noises also act as a warning sign.
The memory of K.O. and the horrific scene from Sunday afternoon, will forever be etched in Kallie’s mind.
“You know, we expected her to live many more years,” Meyers said.
If you have any questions about coyotes, and what to do if they’re getting to close, contact the Michigan DNR by clicking HERE.
http://www.abc12.com/story/27938028/lapeer-county-sheriffs-departments-horse-killed-by-coyotes
I wonder if it tasted like pig.
They’re getting bolder. I’ve seen at least 3 different ones in the warehouse district where I work in Compton.
I’m sure officer glue factory had a good life. 27 is pretty old for a horse. I don’t know why the DNR is very very surprised, I heard about the coyote problem 7 months ago. They’ve probably been to busy attacking the evil scourge that is called the Michigan pig farmer.
Michigan DNR=waste of oxygen.
their getting closer here as well. had one in my back yard last winter.
“Make yourself look big and scary, you know, make loud noises, bang pots and pans, shoot a gun,” Vaughn said.”
Yeah, right. Gotta train those horses and livestock to be scary, you know, make loud noises, bang pots and pans, shoot a gun.
Yup get a donkey, pasture protectors.