Nevada Hopes Study on Coyotes Keep Sage Grouse off Endangered List

ELKO, Nev. (AP) — County commissioners in rural northeast Nevada say they'd rather kill coyotes than study them. The Elko Daily Free Press reports  the state Department of Wildlife wants to use part of a $3 fee on hunting tags to fund a $100,000 study on coyotes as part of efforts to try to keep the sage grouse off the federal list of endangered species in Nevada, Utah and much of the West.

Elko County Commissioner Charlie Myers says the money should be spent as originally intended on projects to bolster mule deer habitat and benefit Nevada hunters. He says the county is doing its share by agreeing to spend $25,000 on predator control for local ranchers. He said at Wednesday's commission meeting, "I think we've studied the coyote to death."