Coyote attractant

A fermented-egg product (EEP), patented as an attractive bait for synanthropic flies, has been shown to be attractive to coyotes and repeUent to deer (79). Its components are variable, with relative concentrations of 77% fatty acids, 13% bases, and 10% (primarily) neutrals composed of at least 54 volatiles such as ethyl esters, dimethyl disulfide, and 2-mercaptoethanol. Synthetic formulations have been evaluated to find a replacement for a patented fermented-egg protein product that attracts coyotes and repels deer. Ten aUphatic acids (C-2 to C-8), four amines (pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, and trimethyl), dimethyl disulfide, 2-mercaptoethanol, and 54 more volatiles (C-1 to C-5 esters of C-1 to C-8 acids) have been tested as synthetic fermented egg (SEE) (80) in approximately the same proportions that are present in EEP. Weathering was a problem that caused decreased efficacy, which suggests trials of controUed-release formulations. Eourteen repeUents have been examined against white-taU deer in Peimsylvania in choice tests when treated onto sheUed com (81). 

Both male and female coyotes, C. latrans, are attracted to volatile aldehydes from sheep liver and estrous urine of female coyotes. The most active compoimds were octanal, nonanal, decanal, and imdecanal. The aldehydes released sniffing and rub-rolling, but little lick-chewing and biting. Therefore, these compoimds are better suited to attract coyotes to traps than to toxicant-delivery systems that rely on the latter behaviors (Scrivnereta/., 1984). 

Dog repeUents available commercially in the 1990s have been generally unsuccessful in laboratory tests. Por example, lithium chloride treatments were usually rejected immediately with no ingestion, and bone oil treatments that contained up to 0.1% of the active ingredient were stiH consumed (93). Oleoresin capsicum [8023-77-6], the essence of red pepper, did have an extended effect on coyotes, even though the deer repeUents mentioned above were attractive to coyotes (93). Although a capsicum-base aerosol repeUent has been described as potentially harmful (94), pepper spray is commercially available in the United States to repel humans, as is Mace. 

Scents from coyotes, foxes, and other carnivores traditionally have served to attract these animals to traps. Trappers also use conspecific secretions to attract beavers, raccoons, and other fur bearers to traps. The use of scent lures in predator control is discussed below. 

Coyote scent (urine) stations also attracted cottontail rabbits Sylvilagus flori-danus. In Texas, this behavior has aided rabbit censuses. The scent station count is more accurate than the traditional headlight count but more labor intensive... 

Scrivner, J. H., Howard, W. E., and Teranishi, R. (1984). Aldehyde volatiles for use as coyote attractants, InProceedings of the 11th Vertehrate Pest Conference, ed. D. D. Clarke, pp. 157-160. Davis University of California. 

One measure of the attractiveness of scents to carnivores is the number of approaches to a scent station. Typically, a scent station is a scented stake surrounded by a raked patch of dirt. Bullard et al. (1983) placed scent stations near known coyote locations to assess relative efficacy of materials for use as attractions. Approaches to the scents were then calculated by counting the number of tracks and deposited scent mounds (scats) in the raked area after a specified interval. 

The chromatogram by gas-liquid chromatography. Figure 9, indicated over thirty major peaks or chemical compounds in the acids fraction of the estrus coyote urine. Mass spectral data permitted tentative identification of the methyl esters of a series of short chain fatty acids, C2-C- g, together with aromatic compounds as present. Table 1 lists 19 tentative identifications of compounds in the acids fraction. Because other investigators ) have reported that an artificial mixture of similar fatty acids demonstrated significant attraction of coyotes it will be interesting to prepare a mixture of the fatty acids identified in coyote urine in the exact ratio that they are in... 

Putrefied animal matter hcis formed the basis for coyote attractants of possible value in pest control programs. Thus, a putrefied fish formulation has been used as a coyote lure and, more recently, attention has been directed to a fermented aqueous suspension of chicken whole-egg powder, developed initially as an attractant for flies (48). The odor components csf this material have been subjected to detailed chemical analysis ty Bullard et al. (49) and are reported to include volatile fatty acids (77% total 13 acids identified), bases (13% total, mainly trimethylamine, 9 amines identified), and headspace volatiles, including esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, alkyl aromatics, terpenes and sulfur compounds (10% total, 76 compounds identified). Based on these data, a synthetic mixture, "synthetic fermented egg" has been formulated, composed largely of a mixture of ten volatile fatty acids (81%), together with a diverse range of amines and other compounds (50). This mixture was found to be as attractive to coyotes as the fermented preparation itself. The volatile fatty acid component alone was found to exhibit substantial coyote attractancy also (50,51). ... 

Basing our methods on those employed by Linhart and Knowlton (59) using fermented egg product as a coyote attractant, we have studied the response of the fox to fermented products related in some measure to anal sac secretion. A detailed account of this work will be published shortly (Macdonald, Hough, Blizard and Perry, in preparation). 

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