Coyote Wild

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed your article on coyotes (Winter 2001). I am researching the coyote, because here in Marin County, California we have what many in this neighborhood would call a coyote problem. We have spent money trying to trap them, to relocate them to open space closer the Pacific. We were not successful.

I am trying to learn what I can do so that we can move them away from our homes. We are fed up with themkilling our house pets. Yes, some can bring their cats indoors in the evening, and alas, some cats just will not come when called. Even our large breed dogs tango with these wild animals, creating the expense of the veterinarian. Many moms here fear for their small children. We have the human predator to be worried about, and would like our young ones to feel comfortable in our open space areas. The coyotes are way too comfortable here. They are in our yards, in our garages. The local Fish and Game Dept. educated us not to leave pet food outside. We still have problems. We are trying to find a solution.

Sheila Habib
Marin County, California

Response from Jennifer Dees, Webmaster of Chicago WILDERNESS:
Across the country, more people are finding that they enjoy living on the edge of wilderness. In the Chicago area, the most desirable places to live often border forest preserves and other natural areas. As we work to restore these places to their natural states, rather than treating them solely as recreation areas, we are seeing wild creatures return to their rightful homes in these woodlands, savannas, and prairies. And sometimes these creatures wander into nearby neighborhoods.

Although many people easily recognize the pleasures of having a back yard filled with birds, other inhabitants of the wild are less familiar to them and therefore make them feel uncomfortable. But as our article pointed out, coyotes play an important role in the environment as predators, helping to keep in balance populations of foxes, raccoons, and opossums that otherwise would eliminate many bird species.

Coyotes are a sign of healthy wilderness, whether in the Chicago suburbs or near the national and state parks in Marin County, California. When people choose to value wild nature and to live near it, they must learn to co-exist with all wilderness residents.

Besides valuing the coyote's place in our natural environment, we need to look carefully at the reasons they are so often considered "a problem." For example, are coyotes really the problem or could it be that we err in providing them food by allowing cats outside?

Perhaps the greatest enemies of wild birds are free-roaming cats. A domestic cat that lives outside may kill up to one hundred fifty birds per year. Near forest preserves they also take a large number of chipmunks and ground squirrels. Even if a cat were not in danger of being a coyote's lunch, no conservationist could consider it acceptable to allow it to hunt freely near a forest preserve.

As for small children, our article pointed out that the rare attacks by coyotes have been on children under five years old. Should children that young be left outside unsupervised anywhere? We have friends who live perched atop a dramatic cliff. But the benefits of that location also require special measures of caution when their young children play outside.

The pleasures of living close to wilderness are many, but with them come responsibilities. If we can learn to coexist with wild creatures, they have much to teach us and the rewards will be great.