RALEIGH – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) has created a draft coyote management plan and is seeking comments from residents.

Comments will be taken until Feb. 9 and can be submitted by email or mail.

The 187-page plan was created by the WRC at the request of the N.C. General Assembly to address the impact of coyotes in North Carolina and the threats that coyotes may pose to residents, industries and native wildlife species, according to the WRC.

The draft plan includes biological information on coyotes in the state, identifies concerns about coyotes, outlines the challenges of coyote control and provides strategies to minimize impacts of coyotes.

The WRC also says the plan outlines statutory changes that will improve coyote management, identifies known knowledge gaps and research needs as well as recommends new biological and social strategies to address coyote management issues.

The final plan will include public feedback and will be presented to the Wildlife Commissioners for their approval of the plan during a Feb. 22 meeting.

The draft coyote management plan can be found by visiting http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Mammals/Coyote_Management_Plan_DRAFT_1.pdf on the WRC’s website.

Comments can either be submitted to coyotemgtplan@ncwildlife.org or mailed to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Coyote Management Plan, MSC 1722, Raleigh, NC 27699-1722.

For more information on coyotes, visit www.ncwildlife.org/coyote.