In regard to people’s objections to Maine’s approval of coyote snaring, have any of these people personally seen that the coyote did not die as quickly or humanely as expected? A snare is designed to do nothing but tighten when any resistance is exerted upon it. To those people who are objecting; what about the poor deer that is eaten alive while trying to run away? Is that humane?

Several years ago, while fishing West Musquash Lake in February, I spotted a deer being chased by coyotes approximately one mile down lake. I took off on my snowsled and scared them away. Alas, too late for the deer as she was dead. She had run for one mile with the coyotes tearing at her rear end (I followed the blood trail) until she fell from exhaustion and then a coyote bit her throat. It was a grim sight to witness and if anyone would like to see the inhuman things that coyotes do to deer, give me a call. I have pictures of that event and it isn’t pretty.

Since their introduction to Maine coyotes have steadily become more populated and are wreaking havoc on our deer herds. men like Dave Tobey and others who are removing coyotes should be complimented as deer are slowly coming back in that area, as he stated in the Bangor Daily News (Jan. 8), due to predator control. If a person doesn’t believe what I’m saying, rent a plane and fly over the lakes in the winter and see how many deer are killed from coyotes.

Carl N. Ripley

Stetson