USDA Wildlife Services: plane based in Gordon, 70 coyotes removed in three weeks

Ryan Powers of USDA Wildlife Services briefed the Dawes County Board at 9:18 A.M. that the agency now has an airplane stationed in Gordon and that its aerial asset has been critical for coverage across four counties.

Powers reported that "in the past three weeks they have flown for thirteen hours and eliminated 70 coyotes" and said the flights recently concentrated along the Dawes–Sioux county border. He added the agency is still looking to fill an agent position for Dawes and Sioux County and that lawmakers are considering legislation next session that could provide additional funding for the program.

Commissioner Walter Juhlin asked whether new state or federal funding was expected; Powers said the agency is looking at legislation in the next session to help expand results but gave no specific funding commitments.