Brash coyotes, fearful families

Philly Inquirer ^ | Jun. 04, 2007 | Edward Colimore

[george76]

Five-year-old Brayden Gazette was crossing a neighbor's lawn near his Monmouth County home last month when a coyote burst out of the pine woods and bit him on the head.

Twenty-month-old Liam Sadler was in a relative's backyard in April when a coyote grabbed him by the neck and tried to drag him off.

The rare daylight coyote attacks on humans were interrupted before the yellow-eyed beasts could kill. Nevertheless, brazen coyotes have rattled residents across North Jersey's Monmouth and Bergen Counties, where scores of sightings have been reported and where numerous pets have been killed or mauled this spring.

In a state known as America's most densely populated, the eerie nighttime yip-howls and almost daily reports of sightings and attacks signal fresh strife in New Jersey's struggle with its wildlife.

Last year, authorities killed several bears that were marauding in urban areas. Persistent but unconfirmed reports of cougars and panthers continue to plague South Jersey residents.

"There is considerable community concern about coyotes," ... "We have 3,000 of them in all 21 counties of the state.

"The problem now may be a bold pack of coyotes that are ...seeing children as a possible source of food. We don't know."

Middletown Township Administrator Robert Czech said the township had begun to feel like it's "the Colorado of the East." ...

Capturing or killing them is the goal, Czech said. "This group of coyotes has decided it's going to go after young children because of their size.

"If they can't be contained, then I hope they terminate them."

Also, the number of bear-human encounters has risen steeply.

[Tailback]

I lived in Arizona in the country, people killed coyotes and then complained about the over abundance of rabbits, etc. Coyotes are opportunistic which makes cats an easy meal.

This was the original reason why states created "Fish and Game" departments. About 30 years ago these departments existed to keep a balance between the number of "game" animals, natural predators, and fishery stocks for sport and commercial fisheries. Unfortunately, in states like Oregon the fish and game departments have been stuffed with uber liberal animal rights types.

We don't control sea lion populations even though they aren't even native and they prey on "endangered" salmon populations. Oregon outlawed hunting bear and cougar with dogs which meant an explosion in the predator population. With no control on predator populations, bear and cougar began moving into suburban areas. Wow! It's like freakin' magic! Who could have guessed this would happen?

Now Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are bringing back wolves. Hmmmmm, let's see. A much more dangerous predator than a coyote, hunts in packs, feeds on game animals like deer and elk. What will happen once the wolves decimate the game animal population? I'm gonna guess that sheep, cows, pets, horses, people, etc... start getting gnawed on. It's amazing! I must have some type of psychic ability to see into the future!

[BobS]

"I live in Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley and saw a coyote outside my office last week."

Yeah. I had one pass me by just about every morning on a hill range in Calabasas. They don't attack prey taller than themselves. All it came by for is water out of a sprinkler before a rabbit breakfast. It sat down to watch me work a few times. Nice strong looking tan dog. Very fast. Too bad you can't own or interact with one.

[kvanbrunt2]

the south (new jersey) needs to secede from the north

[Nachoman]

I thought mother nature would have better taste than to reclaim New Jersey.

[live+let_live]

The spread of wildlife into the cities has nothing to do with people moving into the animal’s habitat.

The wild animals are moving into a void in the city eco-system that used to be filled by dogs.

30 years ago everyone had a dog. And everyone let their dogs run free. The dogs harrassed the wildlife and kept them at bay. No more, now we have leash laws.

You know the saying, unintended concequences.

[george76]

One of our neighbors have an old dog that stays in the yard and mostly sits around. It is real good at keeping the deer away from their flowers.

We lost our spring bear hunt season and more. We are also swamped with illegals and newbie city people from other states who do not understand hunting, fishing, farming, ranching.... They all vote the wrong way.

Now the bear break-ins are huge. It is even dangerous to open one’s windows in the summer.

[BobS]

There was a dumpster here in CA that seagulls were eating out of - 10 miles inland. A bunch of skunks scared them off and took it over like a family business. Nobody could get near it without a pffft. Those will make you take your clothes off before they melt on you. Those are butyl mercaptans in that spray. And they are like cats.

[OldPossum]

I don’t know whether this information is correct or not but I have read that there are coyotes in every county in the USA.

[george76]

Sounds about right.

They are even in Central Park NYC.

[Secret Agent Man]

The mexican coyote is worse.

Yeah, those mexican coyotes think they have a right to eat your son.

[Liberty Valance]

Mexican Coyotes?

[GladesGuru]

” “We’re not the only animal on the planet,” said Elizabeth Engelbert, 27, an engineer who works in Middletown and lives in Aberdeen, Monmouth County.

Now why did the reporter quote this engineer who is not referenced anywhere else in the article? Is she a “wildlife engineer”?

I can’t say whether she is a “wildlife engineer” or not. But she is a “Mistress of the Obvious”.

[NRA2BFree]

I’ve got a lot of coyotes in my area. A neighbor’s kids were riding their four wheelers out behind my house and a coyote followed them right into my back yard. They’re getting very brave these days!

[GladesGuru]

The ‘politican class’ would screw Wily the Coyote out of his fangs and hide before the poor beast knew what was happening. Don’t belive they could do it? Think about how fast they skin the taxpayers, every day.

[Pontiac]

I can’t say whether she is a “wildlife engineer” or not. But she is a “Mistress of the Obvious”.

I was thinking her comment was the typical liberal, Green Party, PETA obligatory “Man is bad and is ruining the planet for everybody” statement.

[teeman8r]

sss? do you still have to call miss utility before doing that?

teeman

[absolootezer0]

coyotes are a wild dog, and can be very dangerous, and there’s tons of them around. altho they’re typically scavengers, lately there are more and more reports of them breeding with domestic dogs, banding in packs, and attacking humans.

[absolootezer0]

They don't attack prey taller than themselves.

you've been misinformed. one of my friends was attacked last year by coyotes.

[george76]

The kids or the coyotes ?

“They’re getting very brave these days!”

[Bernard Marx]

We must sacrifice a certain number of our children each year to appease the Environmental Gods. They know What is Best for all of us, and we must not question their judgment. As I write they are teaching children in public schools that being food for wild animals is the highest calling a human being can aspire to. Timothy Treadwell will be canonized soon as the first Environmental Saint.