Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2022 13:41:14 GMT -6
Trumpeter swan towers over coyote in standoff at icy Missouri refuge. ‘Sight to behold’
www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article257887963.html?fbclid=IwAR2S9DM5EQPvL-YuZipI-9dYOTuwRRB1tzouu_hfxUByjJwHX8YNd8hflN8
While a coyote and a trumpeter swan engaged in a standoff on the ice of a national wildlife refuge in Missouri, the striking moment was captured by a photographer on a tour. In the photo shared to Facebook by Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge this month, the swan is seen towering over the coyote prior to battle. “A sight to behold,” the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District said.
But the story of this standoff didn’t end there. As the photo garnered hundreds of comments and thousands of shares, many wanted to know what happened next, after the massive swan made the coyote look small. “Unfortunately for the swan, the coyote won this battle,” the wildlife refuge said in a comment. The fight may not have been a fair one, though, as officials say the swan appeared to have been injured before facing off with the coyote.
This is a loss for the species, having almost been declared extinct in the early 1900s. But, “its healthy comeback is considered a success story for conservationists,” according to Audubon. Trumpeter swans were once a common migratory bird across Missouri and a summer resident in the northern part of the state, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. They are now listed as a species of conservation concern in Missouri, with only about 5,000 of the birds in the Midwest. Like other swans and geese, trumpeter swans “are important components of wetland, pond, and lake ecosystems, pruning the steadily growing vegetation and insect populations,” according to the state conservation department. “In turn, these birds, especially their vulnerable eggs and young, provide food for carnivores.” The bird has a wingspan of about 8 feet and length up to 60 inches long, officials say, and eats aquatic vegetation, roots, seeds and insects. Coyotes, on the other hand, are considered common and a nuisance throughout the state, even in urban areas.
“The bulk of its diet consists of small mammals, insects, carrion, and wild fruits,” according to the state conservation department. “However, coyotes sometimes kill poultry, young pigs, goats, sheep, small calves, and pets. ... These opportunistic feeding habits can lead to conflicts with farmers, ranchers, and suburbanites.” Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is about 85 miles northwest of Kansas City, and it has a Wild Goose Auto Tour loop and hiking trails throughout the park.
www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article257887963.html?fbclid=IwAR2S9DM5EQPvL-YuZipI-9dYOTuwRRB1tzouu_hfxUByjJwHX8YNd8hflN8
While a coyote and a trumpeter swan engaged in a standoff on the ice of a national wildlife refuge in Missouri, the striking moment was captured by a photographer on a tour. In the photo shared to Facebook by Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge this month, the swan is seen towering over the coyote prior to battle. “A sight to behold,” the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District said.
But the story of this standoff didn’t end there. As the photo garnered hundreds of comments and thousands of shares, many wanted to know what happened next, after the massive swan made the coyote look small. “Unfortunately for the swan, the coyote won this battle,” the wildlife refuge said in a comment. The fight may not have been a fair one, though, as officials say the swan appeared to have been injured before facing off with the coyote.
This is a loss for the species, having almost been declared extinct in the early 1900s. But, “its healthy comeback is considered a success story for conservationists,” according to Audubon. Trumpeter swans were once a common migratory bird across Missouri and a summer resident in the northern part of the state, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. They are now listed as a species of conservation concern in Missouri, with only about 5,000 of the birds in the Midwest. Like other swans and geese, trumpeter swans “are important components of wetland, pond, and lake ecosystems, pruning the steadily growing vegetation and insect populations,” according to the state conservation department. “In turn, these birds, especially their vulnerable eggs and young, provide food for carnivores.” The bird has a wingspan of about 8 feet and length up to 60 inches long, officials say, and eats aquatic vegetation, roots, seeds and insects. Coyotes, on the other hand, are considered common and a nuisance throughout the state, even in urban areas.
“The bulk of its diet consists of small mammals, insects, carrion, and wild fruits,” according to the state conservation department. “However, coyotes sometimes kill poultry, young pigs, goats, sheep, small calves, and pets. ... These opportunistic feeding habits can lead to conflicts with farmers, ranchers, and suburbanites.” Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is about 85 miles northwest of Kansas City, and it has a Wild Goose Auto Tour loop and hiking trails throughout the park.