Courtesy Photo A coyote is seen standing in a snow-covered field in this photo provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. According to a Michigan Senate Republicans press release, a female coyote can have up to 100 pups in a lifetime.

ALPENA — On Thursday State Senator Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton) and State Representative Parker Fairbairn (R-Habor Springs) introduced legislation to restore year-round coyote hunting in Michigan. This follows the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) ruling in March 2024 to prohibit coyote hunting from April 15 to July 15.

According to Senate Bill No. 366, the bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.”

Hoitenga said the current bill proposal has language struck that doesn’t align with current rules.

“For instance, in this case, the NRC has updated hunting dates, therefore they struck language that reflected old dates/fees,” Hoitenga said.

In addition to the struck language, Hoitenga stated that she wanted to include language that indicated year-round coyote hunting would be implemented until the species was approaching endangerment.

“Also, I wanted the bill language to say that year-round coyote hunting would be restored until such time that the state biologist deems them at risk of extinction,” Hoitenga said.

However, lawyers writing the bill explained that the language wasn’t needed because it already existed in another section.

“They told me since that already exists in another section of law (biologist safeguard) that it was unnecessary to write it again pertaining to coyotes,” Hoitenga said.

In a Michigan Senate Republicans press release, Hoitenga explained that the shortened coyote season that was invoked by the NRC in 2024 lacks scientific cause.

“The NRC’s decision to shorten the coyote hunting season lacks a foundation in scientific evidence and appears to be driven more by subjective and emotional considerations,” Hoitenga said in the press release. “The bottom line is that coyotes are able to reproduce at staggering rates, easily spread disease in the wild and are a threat to livestock and pets. Actively hunting coyotes helps keep numbers down to manageable levels. Otherwise, the results will be devastating.”

In addition to Hointenga’s assertion that the NRC’s ruling lacks scientific evidence, Fairbairn states in the press release that coyotes are a prevalent, problematic species throughout the state and need to be managed.

“Coyotes are abundant in all 83 Michigan counties and are often considered by many to be a nuisance species due to their tendency to prey on pets and livestock,” Fairbairn said in the press release. “Restoring the year-round open season that existed prior to NRC Order 1 of 2024 is a commonsense approach to coyote population management that we can all agree on.”

According to the press release, a single female coyote is able to give birth to more than 100 pups in her lifetime. Regular litters can range from four to 12 pups.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.