Our focus this week is going to be on coyotes. When I was a kid, the only ones we thought about were the ones howling while the Lone Ranger and Tonto were camping in the wild, or Wile E. Coyote chasing obsessively after the Roadrunner. Now, however, they are among us. In fact, there have been a number of sightings in East Brady, right in town, by credible people. We have had them in Brady’s Bend for many years. The town sightings are not all that surprising, as coyotes are very adaptable to areas occupied by humans. These critters know how to get by wherever they are.
Did you ever wonder how coyotes got their name? It traces back to an Aztec word for trickster. In Native American mysticism, the spirit Coyote is often thought of as the trickster. This is probably because of how smart and clever coyotes are. They can work alone or in packs. They do whatever the situation requires. They are both predators and scavengers. Their senses of hearing, sight and, especially, smell are very keen. They seem almost able to plan things out. For example, if someone puts food out at night for cats, a coyote will eat the cats and then keep coming back to eat the cat food. The person placing the food is often convinced that cats are eating the food, so they keep putting it out.
Mr. Spock is on the lookout for
prowling coyotes
Over the years, coyotes have become more and more adapted to the presence of humans. This raises concerns for people with outdoor pets. For whatever reason, they are especially fond of cats as food. If you have outside cats, it is a very good idea to bring them in at night. Coyotes will also eat small dogs, and, especially during mating season, they will attack and maul larger dogs, sometimes in packs. If you love your pets, you should be really careful. Coyotes also prey heavily on wildlife as well. They are a major factor in fawn mortality. They also feast on wild turkeys and any other small animals they can catch.
Does this mean that I think coyotes are somehow bad or evil? Of course not. They simply do what nature has programmed them to do. I, for one, do not hunt them. I don’t want to eat them, so my “if it dies, it fries” philosophy gets in the way. I must emphasize, however, that I have absolutely no quarrel with those who choose to hunt them. It is simply a matter of personal choice .
Coyotes aren’t the only critters that have a fondness for pets. We can’t forget the birds of prey. They, too, are very fond of cats as table fare. In fact, a buddy of mine once saw one of them taking an adult cat. Eagles, of course, are more than capable of grabbing your feline friend. Even a red tailed hawk could probably handle a cat, especially one on the small side.
On another front, debate is still raging when it comes to the first day of deer season. Especially angry are those who favor a return to Monday as opposed to Saturday. Being retired, and not owning a hunting camp, I don’t really have a dog in the fight. I haven’t even been to a camp for quite awhile. To me, it’s a price you have to pay for good hunting. I do, though, feel for those who love it, but I’m afraid their efforts are in vain. It’s like antler restrictions for seniors. The Game Commission has a tendency to turn a deaf ear.
Email: salmonangler1@gmail.com
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