LJWorld.com weblogs Stumbles
Posted
by Sandy Beverly
April 6, 2010 at 9:26 p.m.
Neighborhood Coyote
For my outdoor wanderings, I almost always go to a natural area near my home in central west Lawrence. It’s not the nicest of areas; there’s litter, and the woods is full of invasive honeysuckle (which really changes the character of a forest). But I can walk there, which means that whatever I observe and experience teaches me something about my neighborhood.
Lately, I’ve been heading in that direction even when I’m going out for a stress-relieving power walk. Who knows what I might learn, even when my mind is a million miles away? And tonight, under a yellow, rumbling sky, I spotted a coyote. I didn’t get a great view, but it was enough. Enough to know that it was a coyote, enough to make my day, enough to keep me coming back.
So I will go to bed tonight knowing, firsthand, that this coyote and I share a territory. Doesn’t that make the world a better place?
[For more blogs about kids and nature, visit trackinginthemud.wordpress.com]
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Comments
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karl_rubis (Karl Rubis) says…
I've also been hearing them a lot lately. Right at dusk or dawn is the usual time. I live in southwest Lawrence and several times in the past week I've heard the distinctive yelping of coyotes around the water plant off Wakarusa.
sgb (Sandy Beverly) says…
That's so great! I've only heard them a once or twice in my life. Would love to hear them often. I imagine that living with/near lots of wildlife is a cool thing about living near the edge of town. Thanks for commenting.
cediger (anonymous) says…
I live near Bob Billings and Kasold and have seen a coyote and fox in the field near the Kansas Continuing Education building.
75x55 (anonymous) says…
Keep your kitties and small dogs inside then, or it'll be Coyote Snacktime.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Mr. C. is never too far away.
rodentgirl16 (anonymous) says…
I've seen foxes in central Lawrence near the KU Campus. They are so beautiful! I've haven't heard coyotes in town, but my parents live in the country and we heard them often when I was growing up. They used to make our dogs crazy, and had howling contests back and forth. Very cool! I have to be honest that I was a little worried that this blog was going to be about how to rid the neighborhood of coyotes and I find your cooperative attitude refreshing. :)
tange (anonymous) says…
"Doesn’t that make the world a better place?"
I saw your blog, this morning, but didn't have time to comment.
The simple answer to your question is, "Yes."
Nothing compares to the bone-chilling cries of the summer coyote runs in the Kawuneechee Valley. Once you've gotten beyond their unnerving quality, you can almost wrap yourself in them.
riverdrifter (anonymous) says…
What Snap said. There is no better criiter at operating under the radar than coyotes. Foxes are downright blatant, by comparison.
And yes, they'll snatch & feast on cats & small dogs at first opportunity.
Coyotes can adapt to any situation. When this planet goes totally to hell they'll still be around and things will be just fine with them.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…
After seeing the results of coyotes ripping a half born calf to shreds on several occasions over the years I will leave it to your imagination how I feel about them.
femail (Linda Hanney) says…
Sandy, there has been a den in the valley below our house in the past. This is the month they are having their pups. We'll see if she comes back. We probably have too many of them in our neighborhood.
oscarfactor (anonymous) says…
I live just south of West Jr. High. I have seen, at daybreak on two occasions, a full-grown fox running across Harvard Rd. Then, this past weekend, my neighbor's Doberman chased one down into one of the big bushes I have on my property.
For some reason, I just think this is all very cool.
sgb (Sandy Beverly) replies…
Oscarfactor, I'd love to talk with you b/c this is my neighborhood, too, and I would love to spot our neighborhood fox(es). If you see me walking--redheaded woman, sometimes with 3 y.o. in tow--I hope you'll introduce yourself. I heard a fox barking around 8:30 pm a few weeks ago. They like the drainage creek, I believe.
Andini (anonymous) says…
I have seen Foxes downtown every Friday & Saturday night. I've also heard the sounds of wolves howling after seeing these foxes.
CWGOKU (anonymous) says…
So, when she goes missing after her "Power Walk", everyone will know what happened to her. Coyote food.
sgb (Sandy Beverly) says…
Rodentgirl wrote: "I was a little worried that this blog was going to be about how to rid the neighborhood of coyotes"
Gosh, it never crossed my mind that the blog title might be interpreted that way! But, yes, coyotes can be pretty controversial...
Linda, maybe you can share some stories or photos of they coyote den near your house.
CWGOKU, your comment made me laugh! But the coyote and I shared brief eye contact, then he disappeared back in the woods.
CWGOKU (anonymous) says…
Last Spring in Wyoming there was a boy that was dragged off by coyotes and would have been eaten if not for his brother helping him.
Coyotes aren't as big as wolves, but they still bite, can get you in a pack and can have rabies. Believe me, I like dogs, and thus wolves and coyotes, but have a respect for nature. You don't go tromping around along with coyotes or bears, or swim with sharks. Tim Treadwell ring a bell?
CWGOKU (anonymous) says…
Seriously, if there were coyotes in my neighborhood I would walk out and see them all the time and make the mistake of feeding them. Just be careful Sandy.
Andini (anonymous) replies…
I agree completely. I'd be going the other way very quickly if i saw one.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Last October, a woman was killed by a coyote attack in Canada.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/stor...
Exceedingly rare, but it does happen.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…
Coyote sneaks up on Lake Oswego girls playing in backyard
http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego...
Rabid coyote attacks cattle
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/...
Some Coyote Attacks on Children
http://www.varmintal.com/attac.htm
Coyote Attacks: An increasing suburban problem
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8qg662fb
DougCounty (anonymous) says…
Roe,
Don't you think coyotes become a problem more due to the spread of suburbia rather than the spread of coyoturbia? I've lived in towns and the country and found dog packs much more worrisome than coyotes. Then there's those idiots who have released european wild boars into the Clinton woods. And while I'm at it, there are untold millions of birds eaten by feral cats--I'd say those are the trio of "wildlife" to clear out, not coyotes. And I say that after having lost some very nice cats to Wiley Coyote. The price of sharing the landscape with the rest of life, I say.
RoeDapple (anonymous) replies…
Absolutely DC! However, suburban spread is not going to come to an end anytime soon, and as long as people continue to think of wildlife as cute and cuddly tragic injuries and deaths will continue to rise. I have witnessed idiots walk up to moose then flash a camera in its face. Take home baby skunks like they were cute little kittens, when skunks found in daylight hours are most likely rabid. Feed people food off the back porch to wildlife in the winter so "the poor babies" won't starve in the cold. Amazes me who the dumb animal really is.