Coyotes in Town
At about 9:00am on the morning of August 1, 2008, I was in the yard watering trees when I heard a howl that sounded much like a wolf. It was soon followed by several answers that were definitely coyotes. Almost every day, I hear coyotes howling, so I don’t usually perk up that much at the sound. But this day the sound was a little different and seemed to be within 2-300 yards.
I ran into the house, grabbed camera, gun, and binoculars and headed for the truck. I drove past the neighbors, parked the truck and headed after the coyotes. Right in the neigbors front yard I noticed a doe acting a little peculiar. I was in a hurry to find those coyotes, so I didn’t give the doe much thought.
After a good hike, and having found no sign of coyotes – I returned to the truck. When I went past, the doe was still standing in the same spot. If it is possible for a doe to be forlorned and depressed, that is exactly how she looked. She did not move. I suspected she had just had fawns. And then realized why the coyotes had been there so close to the houses. I filmed her and then looked around for fawns. Examining the doe closely, it very much appeared as if she had just had fawns, but I could not find them. Talking with another neighbor, the next day, I learned that the coyotes had killed the fawns.
Last year, my other neighbor had a very similar episode right in his yard. It seems that the deer, and quite a number of other animals, as well, have decided that it is safer by the houses than out with the predators. This time it didn’t work. The coyotes are getting more brazen. They come in the yard frequently. Both of our cats have succombed to coyotes. One was taken right off the back porch.
I do what I can to save the little game we have from being eaten by coyotes, but sometimes my efforts are not enough.
