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Suburbs clash over solutions as residents battle coyote infestation
The Washington Times ^ | September 28, 2014 | Valerie Richardson

Posted on 09/28/2014 3:34:31 PM PDT by jazusamo

When Charlene Warner walks her dog each morning in her neighborhood in upscale Seal Beach, California, she’s terrified she’ll be attacked—not by muggers or gangs, but by coyotes.

“They are killing our animals. They are scaring us. I go out every morning with rocks in my pockets, tennis shoes on, mace on my neck, a whistle on my neckand a foghorn on my leash, and I still don’t feel safe,” Ms. Warner said last week in comments before the Seal Beach City Council.

She has reason to be nervous. Stories abound in nearby Orange County of dogs and cats snatched off leashes and plucked out of backyards a few feet away from their horrified owners. Mangled pet carcasses turn up on front lawns, often identifiable only by their tails.

Earlier this month, a woman living in the Leisure World retirement community opened her screen door to pick up her newspaper, only to watch a coyote scamper inside, grab her cat, and run back out. Another Seal Beach resident, Nate Kranda, started a memorial Facebook page for photos of dead pets.

It’s not just Southern California. From Florida to Washington to Maine, communities are wrestling with how to handle the influx of a surprisingly fearless coyote population. Nobody knows whether the coyote’s numbers are actually on the rise, but there’s little doubt that the adaptable predator is increasingly making itself at home in urban and suburban America.

“It’s spreading all across the United States now,” said Rex Baker, professor emeritus at Cal Poly Pomona, who’s done extensive research on coyotes. “You’re having less hunting going on, and urbanization is continuing, and the coyotes are showing up everywhere.”

In rural America, the solution is obvious: Trap and shoot the varmints. In suburbia, however, local governments are increasingly adopting a “coexistence” philosophy...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: animallovers; california; cities; coexistence; coyotes; environuts
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To: Lurker
They’re called “handguns”, ma’am. [...] Look into them.

It's California. Coyotes have the right of way.

One reason there are so many coyotes in cities is that they have the same range of diet that we do. They can eat almost any food we throw away, so trash is an easy meal.

41 posted on 09/28/2014 7:37:25 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: jazusamo

Instead of rocks in your pockets try a Keltec PMR 30 on you hip. Blast the little so and so’s.


42 posted on 09/28/2014 7:48:50 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: jazusamo

I popped one out back with a 410, 3” 5 pellet buck shot. Havent’ seen one since.


43 posted on 09/28/2014 8:00:22 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi (NOPe to GOPe)
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To: jazusamo

A few months ago we lost a Shih Tzu to Coyotes.

We have almost every night visits by Coyotes up in the area between the Horse corrals, and the Barn. We see their prints in the loose soil in the mornings.

Our last Donkey passed away last December, or we probably wouldn’t have the Coyotes so brazenly running around the yard at night.

We keep the little critters kenneled at night not only due the Coyotes, but the birds of prey as well. If the area wasn’t growing I’d sit up, and shoot the b-stards, but there are too many homes around here now, and more being built.

We really wish for the old days when it was just us, and a couple of others out here surrounded by Orange groves. Orange groves are all gone now, and more homes in most all directions around us. Still rural, but not like it was.


44 posted on 09/28/2014 8:09:08 PM PDT by rockinqsranch ((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
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To: rockinqsranch

I am so sorry for your loss.


45 posted on 09/28/2014 10:18:02 PM PDT by lulu16 (May the Good Lord take a liking to you!)
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To: jazusamo

We sure have plenty here in NW Iowa. I was just out on the front porch and I could hear ‘em yipping and yelling outside of town.


46 posted on 09/28/2014 10:23:56 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (Repent.)
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To: rockinqsranch

That’s a shame, rqsr, sorry to hear that.

I think I’d be tempted to put a couple traps out at night to get their attention


47 posted on 09/29/2014 8:16:40 AM PDT by jazusamo (Sometimes I think that this is an era when sanity has become controversial: Thomas Sowell)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Cunning is a good word to describe coyotes.

I’ve read some on coy-wolves and seen pictures. I believe they were blamed for the death of a woman in the NE either hiking or jogging a few years back but I could be mistaken.

They sound like an animal that a bounty would be justified on but the animal enviros would go ballistic.


48 posted on 09/29/2014 8:24:02 AM PDT by jazusamo (Sometimes I think that this is an era when sanity has become controversial: Thomas Sowell)
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To: Polynikes

Ms. Fox in that article and those like her are many times quick to discount a possible coyote attack on people.

They do happen and I recall at least one attack and believe there were two on small children in areas of So California in the last 5 or so years.


49 posted on 09/29/2014 8:35:00 AM PDT by jazusamo (Sometimes I think that this is an era when sanity has become controversial: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo
A coyote pack killed a woman in Canada back in ‘09. She was 19 and certainly not a 7 y/o ( she was 19). I am just trying to illustrate they can pose a threat to a full grown adult in the right circumstances. One of the differences is that eastern coyotes are larger than their western relatives due to having interbred with wolves The names are ironic to. The fox complains about the coyotes.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33509516/ns/world_news-americas/t/coyotes-kill-woman-hike-canadian-park/
50 posted on 09/29/2014 9:33:48 AM PDT by Polynikes (What would Walt Kowalski do. In the meantime "GET OFF MY LAWN")
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To: jazusamo

I’m not sure that the previous order by Interior is still in effect, since apparently somebody is capturing/studying/then releasing them.

http://www.easterncoyoteresearch.com/coywolfgallery/

But seriously, anybody who wants more coyotes around is just being a public pest, like breeding lampreys for release.

A decade or more ago, some jerk who really liked snapping turtle meat decided to become the snapping turtle “Johnny Appleseed”, by introducing them to lakes throughout the Midwest. The imbecile should have been put in prison for that.


51 posted on 09/29/2014 12:38:42 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative." -Obama, 09-24-11)
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To: jazusamo

we’ve always had coyotes in upstate NY, this year they look bigger - maybe they are better fed. I’m seriously considering carrying a pistol when walking the dog on a neighborhood trail.


52 posted on 09/29/2014 12:43:31 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: rockinqsranch

I’m so sorry.


53 posted on 09/29/2014 12:49:42 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Salvey

Hey, Bears gotta eat too...


54 posted on 09/29/2014 12:57:54 PM PDT by Delta Dawn (Fluent in two languages: English and cursive.)
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