How they *hell* did they get here? they ask .. they being "urban coyotes"

[underpants]

This is an undated file photograph taken in November of 2008 of a pair of coyotes roaming through a housing subdivision in the south Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo., that was taken by a member of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. After a handful of recent attacks by coyotes in suburban Denver enclaves, officials are trying to keep the animals away from residents.
(AP Photo/Colorado Divison of Wildlife)

Urban coyote attacks on rise, alarming residents
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMXpglXTzRtmVvd7aJu3k5kR8sMAD977SKK80

DENVER (AP) — A coyote ambling into a Chicago sandwich shop or taking up residence in New York's Central Park understandably creates a stir. But even here on the high plains of Colorado, where the animals are part of the landscape and figure prominently in Western lore, people are being taken aback by rising coyote encounters.

Thanks to suburban sprawl and a growth in numbers of both people and animals, a rash of coyote encounters has alarmed residents.

Wildlife officials are working to educate the public: Coyotes have always been here, they've adapted to urban landscapes and they prefer to avoid humans.

"Ninety-five percent of this problem is a human problem, and we really need to focus on that 95 percent to solve it," said Nicole Rosmarino, wildlife program director of the environmental group WildEarth Guardians.

Since December, four people in the Denver area have been nipped or bitten by coyotes. A fifth told police a coyote lunged at him.

Marc Bekoff, a professor emeritus of ecology at the University of Colorado, says there are more people and less habitat along Colorado's Front Range, bringing the animal and people populations into closer proximity and producing what he calls "an unprecedented scare response."

"The coyotes are here, they've always been here and the only way to deal with them is to understand them and make them afraid of you," said Ned Ingham, a Greenwood Village retiree and one of Rosmarino's volunteers. "We live in an area with wildlife."

[HereSince1628]

1. For the most part, they walk.

Of course.

[seabeyond]

2. i have fox in my neighborghood. they have adapted just fine. n/t

[Marrah_G]

7. Sadly when Coyotes show up they drive out the foxes.

[seabeyond]

8. i would imagine. and if wolf showed up, would the coyote go away???

i have never lived in areas with foxes. kinda fun

[Marrah_G]

11. The coyotes take the foxes food sources.

Foxes are beautiful and elusive. The Coyotes on the other hand, run in packs and kill local pets.

[terisan]

3. Coyotes sense fear-in this case economic and they are coming in for the kill. nt

[skooooo]

14. They sense our economic fear!

Clever devils. We're f*cked!

[kaiden]

4. Those aren't urban coyotes.

Those are exurban coyotes trying to find their den after zillion dollar homes in gated communities (see the gate?) were built in THEIR neighborhood.

[Historic NY]

5. They are opportunistic, looking for that free handout or meal...

would you leave if you didn't have to work for your dinner. I live in a residential area north of NY City, I used to see them at night or hit on the road. NY State has lifted all restrictions on hunting them all year long day or night. the state estimates the population is between 20-30 thousand. It been a hard winter for deer here and the coyotes prey on them.

[jody]

15. I smiled at possible extrapolations of your subject to social problems. n/t

[paulk]

18. I grew up in the Finger Lakes region

There weren't any coyotes then - but there sure are now!

There's nothing quite as chilling as stumbling out to your car, 2 AM, on some pitch black overcast night, and hearing a pack of coyotes howling up a storm about a quarter mile away!

[ejpoeta]

6. well, keep building in areas where animals live and you will end up

with animals in your yards. How would you feel if someone came in and just took over your house?? they keep building and take over land that are inhabited by all manner of animals, and then are surprised by all the deer crossing the roads and the accidents (like out in Amherst, NY.) or bears. or coyote. they have to live somewhere, and when you take over their homes, where are they supposed to go?

[Kalyke]

16. I'd feel like a Palestinian or a Native American...

wait..

:hide:

[hlthe2b]

9. People are the problem here...

They ARE feeding them, encouraging contact with them--approaching them as though they were just an exotic breed of domestic dog. They leave food out and then wonder why wildlife hangs around their homes. Then they wonder why they go for their teacup poodle when they send him sashaying out in the neighborhood, or likewise walk him on a leash.

But, one thing is for sure--they are here to stay. We have to educate people and to require them to reinforce fear of humans in these animals when they encounter them. Just as I have to keep my food and trash in "scentproof" secured containers, I likewise have to carry bear pepper spray, put bells on the dog's collar, carry a cell phone and go in groups, where possible when I hike trails that may well encounter bear or mountain lions. Common sense when you move into their habitat.

[Heidi]

10. Coyotes are asking the same thing about the humans. (nt)

[pnutbutr]

12. all manner of wild creatures

I encourage visitation by all manner of wildlife near my home. I see bears, grey fox, wild turkey, deer, racoons, flying squirrels, all sorts of birds and more. Never seen a coyote but have heard them. A couple neighbors have also said they have seen a cougar on a couple rare occasions. The deer actually mate nearby and bring their young into my fields and teach them to eat apples off my tree from the low hanging branches. As long as you respect and understand the nature and actions of the animals there is nothing to worry about.

It always get me in stitches when I hear people freaking out, terrified, about seeing a bear or a fox. I sneak out with the camera and 300mm lens.

[LWolf]

13. Not uncommon.

I've seen coyotes in town frequently over the last 3 decades.

The only times I've been concerned about coyotes is when I've been out of town with a dog when we ran into a pack. Once when they gathered in an unusually large group to chase a cow away from her stillborn calf.

Once in spring, when we spotted a courting couple. The male was not pleased with the presence of a male dog in our group.

I keep my property fenced to protect my domestic animals at home.

[Are_grits_groceries]

17. Those aren't coyotes.

They are "yee naaldlooshii" or skinwalkers as the Navajo call them. Technically, the term refers to an ’ánt’įįhnii who is using his (rarely her) powers to travel in animal form.

Now we know how the Rethugs travel.

[KittyWampus]

19. Maybe if humans didn't litter the planet with urban sprawl, the coyotes would have some habitat

left.