$50 bounty yields fewer coyotes than projected

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah wildlife officials say a higher bounty on coyotes’ heads didn’t work as well as they’d hoped to cut the predator population.

A report from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources found that 7,160 coyotes were turned in from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. That’s about one-third of the 20,000 coyotes that bounty supporters projected would be turned in after the bounty was raised from $20 to $50.

Republican state Sen. Ralph Okerlund tells The Salt Lake Tribune he’s disappointed by the numbers, but says sheepherders have reported fewer losses this year and others have reported more baby deer.

Officials with the Utah Humane Society say they’re glad the number of dead coyotes is low. They question whether the program is necessary and should be taxpayer-supported.

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