Posted on 01/18/2004 3:34:21 PM PST by Moleman
The sun was beginning to set a week ago Sunday when Tom Miller heard his dog, Poochie, yelp from the woods behind his home on Heather Lane.
The rambunctious 2-1/2-year-old German shorthaired pointer had been romping free in the woods, but ran back to Miller and remained at his side as they walked home.
In the light of his house, Miller saw why Poochie had yelped: She had a cut about 5 inches long on her left hind leg.
The cut was definitely a bite and most likely caused by a coyote, Miller said.
He and his family have seen coyotes in the woods behind their home "pretty infrequently" over the past 10 years, but his son had seen one earlier that day on the trail where Poochie runs daily.
"We knew they were out there," Miller said. "She probably just came across the coyote and tried playing with it."
Miller said Poochie gets along well with other dogs in the neighborhood, so although it is possible she was bitten by another dog, he believes it's unlikely.
Coyotes are known for being territorial. A dog could be seen as an intruder. Coyotes usually kill by biting their prey's neck. So the bite on Poochie's leg probably was meant as a warning, Miller said.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources notes that coyotes are more visible during their mating season, which runs from January into March.
Grosse Ile Animal Control Officer Lora Schaller was contacted by Miller, but said she has not received any other complaints about coyotes since about this time last year.
"We have had three small dogs killed by coyotes over probably the last three years," she said. "We've had dog encounters with them where dogs have been injured."
Schaller said there are no plans to attempt to control the coyotes.
The Miller family said they don't want the coyotes killed. The wildlife was one of the reasons they like living in Grosse Ile.
"You can't punish an animal for acting on instinct," Miller's daughter, Gloria, said. "People should just know they're there and be careful."
Any attempt to remove the coyotes from Grosse Ile would require the DNR to be involved. Although coyote hunting season is in effect, local ordinances prohibit hunting or trapping any animal in Grosse Ile Township.
Although coyotes rarely approach humans, much less attack them, the DNR recommends the following preventive measures:
lNever approach or touch a coyote.
lNever intentionally feed a coyote.
lEliminate all outside food sources, especially pet foods.
lPut garbage out the morning of pickup day.
lClear out wood and brush piles; they are good habitat for rats and mice and may attract coyotes.
lDo not allow pets to roam free when coyotes are present. Consider keeping pets indoors or accompany them outside
Gloria Miller says this because she didn't have her dog KILLED by a coyote right here in Grosse Ile as we did. It wasn't easy explaining Oscar's death to my three year old daughter when shee asks "where's puppy?"
Our Township Supervisor did bring in the DNR and State Senator to talk about the problems with coyotees after our dog Oscar was killed, but they have no plans to reduce the population, at least this action provided some education for some. The animal control office on Grosse Ile however is useless and could barely catch a mouse.
"They're are just following their instincts"
Well, if it's my kid, then MY INSTINCT would be to eliminate the dangers to my kids. Why is this so diificult for these people to stomach?
Of course. But such things never go both ways. It's like the folks who push for diversity -- but insist that everyone match their own view of the world. REAL diversity means embracing Nazis, the Klan, Pedophilia, and violent rape. No one embraces those things. Which is to say, no one embraces REAL diversity. The clarion call of diversity is always a smokescreen.
Allowing wild animals to do whatever THEY want, simply because its instinctual, is also a smokescreen.
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