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Getting to Know Your Neighbors Living in Harmony with Coyotes
By Alison Elsner For Desert Mobile Home News
T
here are thousands of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects going about their work each day here in the Coachella Valley, out of sight to us. Some are plentiful, and some, sadly, are threatened or endangered. The coyote is one of the most visible and frequently encountered. Fortunately, they are also categorized as stable / nonthreatened, and there are things we can do as humans to keep it that way. Many of us, as desert dwellers, have a story about the time we came face to face with a handsome coyote family while out for our evening walk or how Fido or Fluffy just barely avoided becoming a tasty snack. A close encounter is possible when we least expect it, especially when considering the sheer strength, stealth, and cunning of these powerful and resourceful creatures. But, it’s helpful to keep in mind that we moved into their habitat. In the end, we are seeking the same things: food, water, safety in our homes and the ability to protect our families. The more we educate ourselves about our local fauna and realize that there are common-sense ways to live together in this desert ecosystem, the more likely we are to peacefully co-exist and maintain a healthy respect for what nature has to offer here in this northern extension of the of the Colorado desert. Part of the dog family (Canidae), the coyote’s scientific name, Canis latrans, means “barking dog.” These highly adaptable omnivores will eat anything from small mammals, reptiles, rodents and arthropods (like scorpions and crickets) to plant material such as fruit, seeds, beans, fan palm fruit, and dates. Noctur-
nal hunters, they are valuable as rodent control. Their only predator is man. Coyotes communicate using scent, body language and vocalization. They roam extensively throughout their territory, hunting, resting and sleeping where comfortable, living in a den only when raising pups. Coyotes usually mate for life, and breeding takes place between January and March. If you see a group of three to six coyotes, it is most likely a mated pair with their young of the year or a group of litter mates. Here are some steps we can take to keep both ourselves and our pets safe as well as to protect the survival of this spectacular species: • Keep secure lids on garbage cans and compost bins. • Remove standing water including outdoor pet water bowls.
• Collect fruit that has fallen to the ground from fruit trees.
make its own and creates more problems than it solves.
• Keep cats and small dogs indoors unless outside with them, and bring them in at night when hunting coyotes are most active.
So, what if you are unloading your groceries (a true tale for this writer) and you look up to see six coyotes standing bolt still on the golf course staring right back at you? If you can’t quickly get inside to your home or car, and especially if a coyote starts to approach you, it is strongly advised that you make loud noises to “haze” the coyote and even throw rocks or pebbles towards the animal. Remember, the goal is to keep them in fear of humans to avoid future interaction, without causing harm.
• Do not try to feed or tame coyotes. This type of habituation can cause the coyote to see the human as a source of food, leading to overly aggressive coyote populations who no longer fear humans. California Department of Fish and Game even coordinates a campaign called “Keep Me Wild,” which protects both humans and coyotes. • Do not try to “eradicate” coyote populations with poison and firearms. Not only is this cruel if the coyotes have a den of pups waiting to be fed, but also it opens up the habitable territory for another searching predator to
The Humane Society’s website at hsus. org has other suggestions on how to live in harmony with our furry, feathered or scaly neighbors, and livingdesert.org also offers some very useful information. A wild coyote is a safe coyote.