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South Dakota wildlife official urges residents to report coyote problems, outlines control options
Summary
Chris Ray of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks told Buffalo County commissioners his office documented calf losses and can provide aerial and trapping control when called; he urged more landowner sign-ups for flight coverage and said calling carries no per-call fee.
Chris Ray, wildlife damage specialist for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, told the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners that his office responded to predator reports across the county and urged residents to call when they have verified livestock losses.
Ray said his 2024 response included “10 calf kills and about 50 coyotes on those calf kills for Buffalo County,” and that aerial operations and trapping are his main tools. “More people call me, more work I can do,” Ray said.
The nut graf: County commissioners and landowners discussed how the program works, who pays and how landowners sign up for aerial operations. Ray said counties make a one-time annual payment to the agency (he did not specify the exact county contribution), and most of his salary and operating costs are funded by state hunting and fishing license revenue.
In the discussion, Ray explained priorities for field responses: verified calf kills receive priority for immediate action; calls about general coyote sightings may prompt pre-calving surveillance or follow-up closer to calving season. He said lack of snow and cover this season reduced aerial detection and that snow events typically make aerial control more effective.
Ray described a landowner permission system for aerial flights: landowners may sign one-year or 10-year agreements that the office maps for pilots. He said maps are integrated into the aircraft GPS so pilots know which parcels are authorized for flight. He said landowners who initially refuse sometimes sign later after neighbors report losses.
Commissioners and other attendees asked about tribal coordination; Ray said he planned to meet tribal wildlife staff and land managers to discuss sign-ups and would provide a map screenshot to local officials to aid those conversations. Ray also described tools and logistics used by his office, including phone-based mapping (Onyx) and radio communication with pilots.
Ray and commissioners clarified funding and fees: calling the wildlife damage office to report coyotes carries no per-call fee, and equipment and flights are funded primarily from license dollars. Ray said the county’s annual payment to the agency is “a smaller amount” but did not provide a dollar figure.
Ending: Ray said he would follow up with county staff and tribal contacts and send a map screenshot to county officials to support sign-ups and future flights.
