Information on Coyotes

Interesting point the last press release sent by the State of RI about coyotes was sent out in 1998. Considering that we have a population of animals that is constantly increasing why isn't more information available to the public at this time? Is it a case of out of site out of mind until there is a larger problem that needs to be addressed? We have a history of overreaction when it comes to animal issues. One only has to think of the fisher cats that were brought in up in New Hampshire to control the porcupine population. These fisher cats that are know to be very dangerous nasty little animals have now traveled from their homes in New Hampshire and are invading the east coast. Our animal control policies seem to cause more harm than good. What is the solution going to be when the coyote population gets out of control? Bring in wolves. It sounds funny but the reality of American expansion is that coyotes have expanded there habitat. Wolves were decimated by hunters. And now were are on the verge of a crisis when it comes to the coyotes how are we going to fix it?

Conservation and Preservation

Today on the radio I heard an advertisement for conservation preservation in the area. The point of the ad was to had land that is designated as no hunting zones to preserve our natural wild life. I'm all for conservation. We need to keep animals off of endangered lists and preserve the species that we have. We've all seen the devastation that decimated the bald eagle, Wolf, and buffalo populations of North American. But how do we determine what is an appropriate level and what do you do when the populations become to much for the local habit ates? We already have hunting laws in place to protect animal population levels, land can be posted to prevent hunting on private property, and normal hunters safety rules prevent shooting with in so many feet of private property. I understand the propaganda that is put out that it is so horrible to hunt a poor helpless animal. Doesn't Bambi show us how horrible hunting is. But lets turn this theory on its ear, animal populations with no predators. Populations that become so large the food source cannot handle the populations. Bambi isn't taken out by a hunter instead they starve because of lack of food.

Why the coyote has survived

The Canis latrans if the official name for the coyote. The animals has managed to survive because the animal is adaptable and has great survival instincts. These survival instincts have given the animals the ability to survive in a variety of settings that would not be thought possible. The live in country settings and they are also living in Pawtucket. Why has the animals moved to urban settings? Because of people. We are our own greatest enemies. Our simple habits of trash disposal can attract any kind of animal. The trash practices that we used on the family farm attracted coyotes. We had a crazy cocker spaniel that used to stand in the corner of the room and bark so one night she was out side barking. No big deal, she barks at nothing all the time. As the barking continued we went outside and checked on her. She was nose to nose with a coyote who was thankfully more interested in the garbage that has been thrown out. The family practice on the farm had always been to throw household scraps outside the main kitchen door for the birds and skunks. My grandfather always feed the skunks. We used to set of the car alarms when we left the house to scare off the skunks before we left the house. The practice of throwing out this food had been practiced at this house for the almost hundred years that my family had owned the property. But it finally lead to the attraction of the wrong sort of animal. Even previously to this incident we were aware of coyotes in the area, coyotes had attempted to attack a small child and dog down the street a few years before. But no one had thought of changing our habits to help protect our family pets. Habits like this have aided in the survival and the animals adapting to our environment.

American Expansion

As Americas expanded across the open plains of the Unites States this expansion had an unforeseen consequence. Animals native to certain parts of the US used the new roads and bridges created to expand themselves into new parts of the US. As predator animals were hunted down almost to the point of extinction, these animals were able to breed and survive with out the natural population reductions they had been subject to previously. The issues involved with animals under the protection of the Endangered species acts and other animals under protection statuses can be be debated ad nasium. The point is that a crisis situation is building with the current coyote population in the New England area. While the situation is still contained and has not become a major problem at this time in a few years I doubt the same can be said. The time for a plan for sensible population control of these animals is now. I do not claim to have a answer of even a hit of a plan for a control solution but I can state the time to start paying attention is know.