A Bay Creek resident reported to the Mirror the apparent shooting of a coyote on the property. Coyotes have been spotted in and around Cape Charles over the last several weeks. Sightings have prompted the Cape Charles Police to post warnings about the appearance of the animals in town.
According to the resident, “I was up early, and I heard the coyote howling, and it is a very distinct sound. I then heard on gun shot, then a second. After that, I did not hear the coyote anymore.”
While there tends to be a modicum of hysteria surrounding the existence of a coyotes around suburban neighborhoods, according to the Humane Society of the United States, the fear surrounding this phenomena is inflated:
“If you spot a coyote in your neighborhood, relax: Most coyotes avoid people. ‘Seeing a coyote out during the day is not a cause for alarm, especially in the spring and summer when they’re looking for food for their pups,’ says Lynsey White Dasher, HSUS director of humane wildlife conflict resolution.
If a coyote displays no fear of people, he’s probably been fed. You can reinstill his fear by raising your arms and yelling to drive him away. This is called hazing. Unlike trapping, which sometimes catches pets or other wildlife but rarely the coyotes who are causing problems, hazing works.”
Or, as the Red Hot Chili Peppers say, “True Men Don’t Kill Coyote”:
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Is this article for real, I hear a coyote I hear a shot coyote shot. What kind of reaction are you looking for ? It seems this is just a ploy to get people up in arms, haven’t we got enough false news reports in the world today.
Note: This is filed under the Gossip column. Take it or leave it.
I think it is unlikely that a coyote was shot. It may have been. Having to deal with the predators on a cow calf-farm in another part of the state, you do not want people thinking they need to protect them. You also don’t want people thinking they need to shoot every time they see one. The police have done the right thing by telling people they may be around. You did the right thing by saying they basically are scared of humans unless sick or have been fed by humans. They can be destructive to farm animals and small domestic animals (cats, small dogs). Right now fawns, baby turkeys and rabbits are abundant for them most likely. Beyond basic facts, even though this is gossip section, any other reporting is possibly harmful to the coyote. I don’t like them but they are part of nature. Don’t let them become over or under populated.
Note: Good points, agreed. One reason we accept and depend on citizen reporting such as this is because these folks are on the front line of most issues. Citizen reports like this really get in front of the issue and promote thought and analysis, such as your thoughtful comment. Thank you for taking the time to submit it.