Sportsmen’s Organizations Sue Michigan Over Shortened Coyote Season

Two groups have filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Natural Resources Commission for shortening the coyote season from year-round to nine months out of the year.

According to mlive.com, the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) filed in Ingham County, while the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers (MTPC) filed in Mackinac County, the report said.

"The problem necessarily isn't about coyotes and coyote hunting; it's because the Natural Resources Commission actually made this decision based on public perception rather than biological science," Amy Trotter, CEO of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, told CBS News.

Trotter says the commission made the decision based on the belief that year-round hunting gives hunters a bad reputation. She says, according to Proposal G, the commission must base their decisions on science.

"The public perception that the commission actually stated was that there would be perhaps some negative public perception with hunting a coyote during a time when it has its young," she said.

Bee Friedlander, board president for Attorneys for Animals, said she supported the decision to shorten the hunting season for coyotes.

"The year-round season was not good because it included the times when the pups were young and in the den," she said. "There is no reason to hunt them during that period of time. I think this was a recognition by the NRC that there have to be some limits."

Friedlander said the commission isn't required to only base decisions on hard science, so she says she believes the rules were followed.

The suits came just prior to the city of Dearborn deciding to consider mitigation measures after increased coyote sightings.

"Some residents have said their house pets were attacked by coyotes. There have been sightings of coyotes eating feral cats. And others have expressed anxiety with coyotes roaming their backyards, streets, and local park — given they have small children and pets," said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud in a Facebook post.

The rule change for hunting coyotes in Michigan doesn’t impact nuisance control.

"We still have nuisance control opportunities for people on their own private lands," said Trotter.