Coyote Yipps

I listened to a recent news story about coyotes. The news spot reported that a woman “believed” her cat was taken by a coyote. That a coyote actually took the cat was not observed, but since there are coyotes in the area, the coyotes were blamed.

The track record for the news media concerning coyotes seems to follow this general pattern. When coyotes are reported by the media, the stories are sensationalist and fear-provoking. Just by being around, with no evidence to prove it, coyotes are often blamed for problems that they have never been connected to. But the news doesn’t let the facts interfere with what they consider a good story.

People against the coyotes are driven by rumors and fears: they latch onto whatever feeds their point of view. This entire TV news spot was created based on this approach. The basis of the story was what a woman “believed”, and this was based on her personal preconceived prejudices. And the news report was full of  inaccuracies.

Foremost, the story exploded the number of coyotes from three to seven. Since two howling coyotes can sound like many more, this is what fed the new rumor.  An excited, but irresponsible observer announced that she “could distinguish seven voices.” The rumor spread and was irresponsibly reported on this news station without checking this out.

Then by questioning the “safety of our children” the news station fanned additional fears about coyotes. The fact is, coyotes have never approached people in our parks. Before running off, a coyote might stand in a path to see what is going on, but that is as close as a coyote has ever allowed a person to come to it. Actual parents, those who have children, have not joined the hysteria against the resident coyotes. The one human activity that could lead to aggression is feeding, but everyone knows this and everyone makes an effort to strictly keep this from happening.

To get a more realistic view of how most walkers perceive coyotes, try canvasing for opinions. Almost everyone is thrilled with the coyotes and considers it a real treasure to have them in our parks. Everyone knows that if you leave the coyotes alone, they will leave you alone. The few perceived coyote problems have actually been created by one small group of dog owners who do not wish to leash their dogs and whose dogs have gone after the coyotes.  Allow your dog to chase a coyote, especially if it is a parent coyote and pack leader, and it may return to defend itself. Not only will it do so at the time of being chased, but it will remember the specific dog involved for a long time to come, and it will be ready to make its own “statement” whenever it happens to see this dog for the next little while. Coyotes do not want to be chased. Fortunately our Department of Animal Care and Control allows coyotes to defend themselves from such aggressions — even if the “aggression” was intended as fun and games by the dog.

Please take a look at some of the behavior postings in this blog: they are almost all supported by photographs. Coyotes are not malicious: if they were to be put in trial, and all evidence listened to, they would come out way ahead in people’s minds. But with coyotes, there never is a trial, only a final firing squad. Please get to know them: they are amazingly intelligent, warm and fair-minded themselves.

One reason a news station might proceed with this kind of a story is that the media very often relies on sensationalist material — that is what sells: who is going to watch your program if everything is fine at the OK Corral? But this is irresponsible journalism: facts must be checked out, views should be balanced and a story should not be based on one woman’s personal “belief”. Let’s give equal time to how the rest of us see coyotes and their behavior, and to the experiences we have had when we come across one.

I’ve read where newspapers are “not here to report the news, but to form the public’s opinion, very often with misinformation.” The problem is that inciting fear and hysteria is not helping anyone except the newspaper itself.

In one of our parks recently — a wilderness area — someone put up a notice that their “cat had been taken from their porch by a coyote”. They conjured up fear and danger to all pets, and especially to all children living in the immediate vicinity and to groups of children who come to the park as summer campers. Then they gave an email address if anyone might be interested in “relocating” the resident coyotes. What is sad here is that the posting was made solely “on the belief” that a coyote had caused this mishap. No one saw it happen.

When there are coyotes in an area, there are some people who will blame them for any crimes and any possible crimes that they themselves can think of. This is due not only to fears regarding coyotes, but also to misconceptions about them. Education at all levels and following a few simple rules may aid coexistence, so that people will know what to expect from coyotes, and they will know what is expected of themselves.

First of all, it is too bad and very sad that a cat was either killed or lost: pets are members of our families. Coyotes are often made the culprits for these tragedies, simply because they are in the area. However, many possibilities exist, so we shouldn’t be so fast to just point at the coyotes. Not only do we have raccoons in the area, but cats often “move on” or leave their homes of their own accord, they are killed by cars, or they leave the premises to die peacefully away from their homes. Yes, coyotes can take cats: this becomes a possibility especially if cat food is left out — this is what attracts coyotes to backyards. The logic is, that if you live in an area that has coyotes, it is your responsibility to keep your pet safe. It everyone’s responsibility not to leave out food which will attract animals. Our park service will tell you: “I’m sorry, but take better care of your pet.”  This is common sense.

It is interesting that it is often people without children who seem to malign the coyotes regarding children’s safety. However, I don’t hear actual parents doing so. Those who have children or are in charge of them, parents and camp counselors: we do keep a careful watch on our children, yet we also know the joy and excitement of seeing wildlife, and of teaching responsibility and respect for wild animals.  Coyotes never have bitten or hurt any person in our parks here. Our coyotes are not aggressive. We all need to continue to follow the rule: never, ever feed a coyote. Feeding is the one human behavior that MAY cause a coyote to become aggressive — this is because what a coyote is “offered” may eventually become “demanded” by the coyote. By not feeding a coyote in the first place, ever, this sequence of events can be prevented.

Of course, coyotes will defend themselves from dogs, and sometimes will taunt dogs which have come after them or antagonized them in some manner. Remember that dogs and coyotes do communicate on a subtle level that we humans rarely pick up on: body language and visual cues are readily communicated. Keep your dog leashed and close to yourself in a coyote area to prevent problems. This is common sense too.

Lastly, everyone should know that it is illegal to relocate wild animals. This is because of the cruelty involved to the animal. The resident coyotes in the new relocated area are established and often kill incoming coyotes. Also, IF the coyote tends to be a problem coyote — one who possibly has become aggressive from being fed — the problem behavior would be transferred to the new location.

It is extremely easy and safe to coexist with coyotes: don’t approach them so that they feel intruded upon, keep your dogs leashed and next to you in a coyote area, never let your dog chase a coyote, and never feed a coyote — even unintentionally by leaving out pet food.