[ought-six]

"Egads, that is one of the wonders of living for me. Possums, rabbits, coyotes, deer, squirrels. I stop and watch them. I treat the coyotes with caution, and I worry for my cat and encourage the dogs to bark, but what a treat. I would never think that they need to be killed just because they exist nearby and traverse through my pasture looking for bunnies."

Coyotes are mean creatures, and have made literal mincemeat out of some of the pets in my area (and I'm in Illinois). As for me, if I see a coyote and I"m outside the village limits, I'll shoot the damn thing. There's nothing "cute" about finding a bloody pet collar wrapped around some bones and some flesh and some fur that was once your pet. They've also been known in Illinois to take out after little kids.

[MineralMan]

"Coyotes are mean creatures, and have made literal mincemeat out of some of the pets in my area (and I'm in Illinois). As for me, if I see a coyote and I"m outside the village limits, I'll shoot the damn thing. "

I draw the line at coyotes. I won't tolerate them, either, anywhere near inhabited areas. Way out in the boonies, I leave 'em alone, but not in populated areas. That's way different from the odd suburban 'possum, it seems to me. They do no real harm, and are interesting to watch.

[HairOfTheDog]

Coyotes are mean creatures, and have made literal mincemeat out of some of the pets in my area

They aren't "mean", they are predators. They eat for a living. I have lost cats, and I said I fear for my cats and encourage the dogs to bark to keep them wary.... But I also know that they fight for a living better than my dog, and I wouldn't want them to tangle. But they are part of the scenery, part of the wonder of living in a world that is wild... And much as I love my little wild bunnies, their population needs to be controlled too.