More Fluff: Predators!

[FrmlyZ]

I remember when we moved here in 1974. We had a lot of coyotes. You would see them in the day. Near the end of Feb, when they mated, you would hear them howling at night. I haven't seen one in years.

We are less than two miles from the edge of a National Forest boundary. We now have a lot of new predators. Peregrine falcons have always been here. Now they are very common [along with Prairie falcons; same thing to us non-experts]. We have all of the falcons. We have harriers and hawks and have begun to see kites. Bald eagles and Ospreys show up in the winter. Someone in the county killed a large coyote last week and it turned out to be a wolf. We have had a confirmed siting of a cougar [puma; mountain lion] about 20 miles south of the place. My neighbor [about 5 miles away] showed me signs of a black bear [confirmed by the DNR].

Have you seen these changes where you are? [May partially explain why the coyotes have disappeared [img]smile.gif[/img] }

Best Wishes,,,,,

Z

[Tricia the Canuck]

We still get coyotes here. Also hawks and other carrion birds. I saw a dead porcupine this summer on the road, and every once in a while smell a skunk about. I live in a suburb of Edmonton (about 750,000 population including 'burbs, I think) and a cougar made headlines when it was seen right near the downtown area. Edmonton has a river running right through the center of town, and has parkland running the length of it so there are signs warning to watch for deer on the roads right near downtown. In our 'burb, we're warned that coyotes have been known to kill cats and small dogs. I haven't heard them "singing" for some time though.

[the mule]

We have coyotes who sing a few feet from the door. They really like warm chicken on a cool night. Someone dumped a wolf-dog cross out here. He's joined up with the coyotes. It crossed my mind that coyotes also can mix with dogs. If any of the coyotes are also dogs, and they mix with this wolf/dog -- we'll have something as big as a wolf, smart as a coyote, and as aggressive as a dog.

[FrmlyZ]

Helen:

We had some of those here in the 70's and 80's. I was used to coyotes in the west. They are pretty small. We had some here that went well over 100 lbs and bore a striking resemblance to German Shepards. Those appear to be gone too.

It is interesting that the DNR has an official policy which declares wolves are extinct in the state. Apparently, the wolves haven't read this opinion. This was a big sucker. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Best Wishes,,,,,

Z

[the mule]

Z, years and years ago, someone dumped a huge german shepherd cross dog. She was nearly as tall as an irish wolfhound. Somehow she managed to feed herself and a litter of at least seven mostly-shepherd pups. The pack became a true menace, killing healthy cattle etc. I think that's when people started using poison, and then regular coyotes and fox died too. The wild dogs eventually died out.

The official policy here is that wolves are extinct. By law, the wolf on my doorstep is NOT a wolf, but a dog hybrid. A dog hybrid is legally a dog. In order to deal with a stray dog on my property, I am legally obligated to call the sheriff's office unless the dog is actively killing something of mine. If I believe the animal is a coyote, I may kill it any time of the year for any reason. The game ranger repeated the part about believe the animal is a coyote, so I guess the unofficial word is that I can kill this wolf.

The wolf always watches to be sure I'm unarmed before he shows himself. I'm building a fenced yard for the hens.

[FrmlyZ]

Helen:

Yeah, I know what you mean. The big coyotes that were here before the middle of the 90's were identified as dog-coyote crosses by genentic analysis. The wolf that was shot and shouldn't be here, was identified the same way. He [yes it was a he] was genetically identical to the population in Michigan [I have my contacts in Animal Science]. While not officially here, they are around. Like everyone else they are moving south. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Best Wishes,,,,,

Z

[larsguy]

Grandma, what big teeth you have