{"id":1835,"date":"2020-12-01T19:07:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T04:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prwriterpro.com\/blog\/?p=1835"},"modified":"2021-04-22T19:48:43","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T03:48:43","slug":"a-coyote-is-so-much-more-than-a-cat-eating-canidaeinterpreting-the-misinterpreted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.prwriterpro.com\/blog\/alaska-news\/a-coyote-is-so-much-more-than-a-cat-eating-canidaeinterpreting-the-misinterpreted\/","title":{"rendered":"A Coyote is so Much More Than a Cat-Eating Canidae
<\/strong>Interpreting the Misinterpreted<\/em><\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cover Photo \u00a9Wally Nussbaumer for projectcoyote.org<\/strong> —

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Coyotes adapt easily to living near people. In fact, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game\u2019s (ADF&G) coyote profile states, \u201cIn the wake of man\u2019s relentless expansion into wildlife\u2019s domain, few species have been able to coexist and even expand their range as well as the coyote.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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\u00a9Wally Nussbaumer for projectcoyote.org<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resembling a scruffy underfed German shepherd, coyotes are generally nocturnal and secretive creatures that avoid human contact. This is why even though coyotes roam throughout our forests, parks, and neighborhoods we rarely see one. Therefore, for me, it is thrilling to catch a glimpse of one darting across a trail or bounding through a meadow. When I do see one, I think, \u201chow cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, if such an encounter takes place during an interpretive program, a guest may spew vitriol about a coyote eating his or her cat. Having lost a cat to a coyote, I empathize while thinking, \u201chow cool, a teachable moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My reaction to a coyote sighting often sets the tone for how my guests perceive an encounter. Therefore, when I see a coyote, I exclaim, \u201cA coyote, how cool is that?\u201d I then listen to a guest\u2019s story about a coyote snatching a pet. Often guests just want to be heard, and once heard, are more receptive to learning how humans need coyotes more than they need us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecological Role<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCoyotes play an important ecological role by keeping other wildlife in check,\u201d I explain to guests. \u201cIf we eliminate coyotes, our yards and gardens may be damaged by rodents, rabbits or raccoons. They also eat squirrels, skunks, raccoons, snakes and feral cats that eat eggs and baby birds, thereby negatively affecting songbird populations. As scavengers, coyotes are housekeepers of their range, cleaning up animals hit by cars, die naturally or left behind by other predators. In short, coyotes are our friends if we manage our coyote interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projectcoyote.org<\/a> offers a variety of educational resources<\/a> to download. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt appears that this newcomer to the Alaskan scene\u2026has found a niche in our state<\/em>.<\/strong>“
\u2014 Alaska Department of Fish & Game Coyote Profile<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a9 Wally Nussbaumer for projectcoyote.org<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Howls, Yips and Yaps<\/strong>

The ADF&G species profile also states that humans\u2019 fear of coyotes is rooted in the history and folklore of the American West and magnified by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n