When animals stop eating each other for food, then PETA can come to me and tell me to stop eating animals as well.
The story is that, on their eastward march, the common coyote interbred with Canadian wolves.
These are *not* the little uber-fox-like critters they have out west.
They have nearly the size of a wolf (or small-to-medium German Sheperd) and the lack of of fear of humans, like the coyote.
Very bad combination of traits, really.
Thanks to our last ultra-liberal guv, Glendening, we're lousy with'em now.
I have Ibizan Hounds which are like big heavy Greyhounds, sorta, and I don't worry *too* much about the adults taking care of themselves, since they hunt, chase and kill critters up to and including deer and antelope in their native land.
*But* I also have a 5 month old Beezer pup whom the coyotes would relish as a snack.
"Mom" lets everybody out to pee after nightfall with a .12 ga loaded for bear close to hand.
Far-Western MD now also has a severe black bear problem, thanks to the same "Bambi Worshippers".
Nature is *not* Walt Disney.
This bad cold spell has made them especially bold.
They run the perimeter of my fence at night trying to find a way in to the geese.
To the person who wanted them in N.VA....you'll have them soon enough, if you don't already.
Another thing they've done, by way of "adaptation" is drop the stereotypical "howling" jazz.
They have learned to not give away their presence.
We've had a plague of them for 7-8 years and I've never heard a single howl, even though my Dad saw 3 on the ridge above his cabin, not a hundred yards from my house.
Keep in mind, I love all critters....unless they try to hurt mine.