Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Coyote & Pups found in Grosse Pointe Farms

Just days ago, a mother coyote and her six pups were found under the deck of a Grosse Pointe Farms home. Here's a link to the Detroit News story. Fortunately, the coyotes were relocated to a "friend's property" in Hillsdale, Michigan. The property has an abandoned coyote den. Unfortunately, it wasn't clear if the friend is that of the Grosse Pointe family or the owners of the "pest control" company that caught the animals. Hopefully, not the latter, as they have a history of killing coyotes and other animals, according to the article, and one of the owners is quoted as saying about the 4-6 week old pups "They were nasty little buggers who didn't want to go peacefully."

Since when is an animal less than two months old "nasty"? Does any baby want to peacefully leave its home or parent? Is a six-week old coyote pup any nastier than a six-week old domestic canine?

Let's hope that these coyotes were relocated to a safe place, and not for the purpose of easy hunting for the landowners (coyote hunting is legal in Michigan).

There has been only one recorded Michigan coyote attack on a human, and that was early in the 1900s. Coyote attacks on animals are believed to have been for food (small pets) and to protect newly born pups (large pets, which are only injured and not killed).

Click on the link to read more Michigan Coyote Facts from the Michigan DNR website; the two paragraphs below are from that site.

What do coyotes eat?
Coyotes are opportunistic and will eat almost anything available. Small mammals such as mice, voles, shrews, rabbits, hares, and squirrels are preferred foods. However, insects, fruits, berries, birds, frogs, snakes, plants, and seeds round out their diet. In areas with high deer numbers, carrion resulting from vehicle-deer collisions, natural causes, and crippling losses is an important source of food. In urban areas, coyotes are attracted to garbage, garden vegetables, and pet food. They will also prey on unattended small dogs and cats, if opportunities exist. Some coyotes learn to kill smaller livestock, such as sheep, goats, calves and poultry. Larger animals are almost always consumed as carrion.

Do coyotes present any danger to people?
Coyotes rarely attack humans. Bites from snakes, rodents, and domestic doges are a far greater possibility than coyote bites, according to public health authorities. Coyotes that are fed become accustomed to people and present a human safety risk. People should never intentionally feed or attempt to tame coyotes. It is in the best interest of both coyotes and humans if coyotes retain their instinctive fear of people. The following important points can help minimize potential conflicts with coyotes:

  • Never approach or touch a coyote
  • Never intentionally feed a coyote
  • Eliminate all outside food sources, especially pet foods
  • Put garbage out the morning of pickup day
  • Clear out wood and brush piles; they are good habitat for rats and mice and may attract coyotes
  • Good husbandry practices, guard animals, and coyote control measures can help to protect livestock
  • Do no allow pets t roam free when coyotes are present
    • Consider keeping pets indoors or accompany them outside


4 comments:

  1. nice info although there is no coyote in my country

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very nice blog. You have a lot of links that are relevant to your main subject.
    My parents have 3 formally 4 dashunds that they treat like their own kids. I know how sad it is to lose a pet and see other animals that face struggles.
    I'll be forwarding this blog to my mom..I think she would enjoy as much as me.
    A Cowboy's Wife

    ReplyDelete
  3. hi there
    thanks for adding me in your fav list technorati..
    I'll do the same thing for you.
    thank you very much

    ReplyDelete

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