This story is one that I covered for several postings on my Instagram Account. Rather than writing it out again for those of you not on Instagram, I’m including links to those postings. After writing about the catastrophic and senseless slaughter — this is embedded in my previous post — I wrote about the specific importance of *denning* signs (as opposed to simply *awareness* signage) where there is coyote denning going on: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8-oZdSSm25/. Denning behavior intensifies all coyote protective behaviors, which is why this is so important to have the proper signs out, especially where there are children around. There were no denning signs at all in the area.
I next posted a short *homage* to the killed family, briefly summarizing who they were and what the family consisted of when I last saw them 6 weeks ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9AUEBQpgKZ/.
I followed up then with how older family members — youngsters born in previous years — are capable of of helping and *possibly* taking over the raising of orphaned pups, if indeed the pups are orphaned: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9DpnUDyLZL/.
Finally, so far, I’ve investigated which members of this family still remain alive. I found this one older yearling male and a female I believe is Mom (I need to confirm this).
So it appears that Dad and two one-year-old yearlings were annihilated. Again, the reason is that ONE bit a child. When language is used like *attack*, the connotation is that the coyote had set out to do this. This is not so: we know the child approached where the coyote was. We’ve tried educating folks that they must stay away, and walk away from a coyote whenever they see one. A five-year-old child does not have the capacity to deal with potential dangers of this sort. There were no *denning* signs out there to warn the adults that a child needed to always be tightly supervised in the area. Hopefully we can all learn from this and prevent it from ever happening again.
Jul 08, 2024 @ 22:03:00
This makes me heart-sick.
In Maine, I have asked of our Wildlife Department, that signs be placed on public land trails where coyotes are active. And that Coyote Do’s & Don’ts be permanently erected at all park-trail entrances.
They are making this low on their priority list. The reason is clear to me, and it is not acceptable.
In my mind, a wildlife agency that does not pay due diligence in informing citizens who use public lands, of reasonable behaviors to be expected of our predators … along with listing necessary science-based facts of the animal, should be called to task in a court of law. They are not doing their jobs of keeping our citizens and our wildlife safe. Remember… we are paying their salaries.
Jul 08, 2024 @ 23:24:53
I agree. Thanks for your input, Claire! Janet
Jul 08, 2024 @ 22:09:32
Thank you for the great picture and thank you for educating us all. Coyotes really earn their keep and should be protected not annihilated. (below is a pic from SF Botanical garden I took last December)
Jul 08, 2024 @ 23:26:46
WordPress won’t post your photo. If you want you could send it to me via email. Janet@coyoteyipps.com
Jul 08, 2024 @ 22:24:08
I have no words.
Jul 09, 2024 @ 00:30:45
Senseless and vengeful sadism.
Jul 21, 2024 @ 16:25:16
Thank you Janet for the update.I was wondering is any were left.
That was such a sad situation.
Jul 21, 2024 @ 16:33:39
Hi Jeannie — I’ve posted more updates on my Instagram account, notably that Mom was not one of those killed by the city. Her life seems to have returned to normal, except that she’s moved the *hub* of her activity away from the Botanical Garden. Thank you, Jeannie, for being involved. Please be sure to speak up whenever you can in support of them. I don’t know if you saw this, but I’ll be giving a presentation on August 31st, here are the details: https://sfpl.org/events/2024/08/31/presentation-citizen-coyotes-san-francisco. Please help spread the word! Warmly, Janet
Jul 21, 2024 @ 17:21:33
Hi Janet,Thanks for telling me about your presentation.
Ill look at your Instagram page.
Glad she moved away from there.
If I hear of any incidents that you may not have known,Ill continue
to give you heads up as I have been doing.
Hugs,
Jeannie
Jul 21, 2024 @ 17:34:10
Super-appreciatively, Jeannie! Hugs back! Janet