Co-Existing with Coyotes - A Solution!

[Bridget Conant]

The city just posted this on their Facebook page.

Thoughts?

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[Bridget Conant]

BE BIG, BRAVE AND LOUD!

[m buckley]

Ms. Conant,
First, I'm struck by the signage. I can never get enough of that.

But something else grabbed me.
That bit about: If You See A Coyote... If You See Tom Bullock.
I suspect the instinctive response to both is preliterate.
And yet worthy of a sign.

"Be Big Brave and Loud.
Stand tall wave arms overhead.
Make some noise- whistle,yell,clap.
Yell" Go Away Coyote!''
Stand your ground and never run.
Walk slowly backward so that you do not turn your back on the coyote."

This part goes without saying, never turn your back on Tom Bullock.
Never turn your back on The Terror of Tiny Town.

If you know you were lied to during the hospital debacle.
If you're a friend of Charlie's.
If you believe that truth and transparency are critical underpinnings to a healthy democracy.
If you just believe in common decency. That bullies should never be rewarded.
Then send Tom Bullock a message. Send Them a message. Kick Tom Bullock to the curb.

Vote for MIKE SKINDELL.

[Kate McCarthy]

Perhaps this was the inspiration.



Though every time I read that sign, it feels like it's straight out of the Onion.

[Dan Alaimo]

I'm just not sympathetic to the idea of coyotes in Lakewood. They don't have to be killed, just relocated back into the Metroparks, preferably far away. The kind of damage they do is not good for a community like this.

[Gary Rice]

My family came off the side of a hill in Pennsylvania, backed up against a huge forest. I learned the ways of the forest from my grandfather as a small child and freely roamed that forest for years without any kind of harm coming to me in the face of many encounters. Deer? Rabbit? Bear? Snake? I was taught well how to deal with them. Generally, if you leave them alone, they will accord you the same courtesy.

When they confront you, confront them back, if you must, stand them down, or slowly eye-to-eye back or side-walk away if you can CAREFULLY.

Coyotes are often solitary, but they, can and do hunt in packs. A pack of them took down a deer at a friend's house in Rocky River a few years back, and a famous Canadian folksinger, Taylor Mitchell, was attacked and killed by coyotes in 2009.

Above all, anywhere you are at anytime, always try to be aware of your surroundings.

Last I heard, there are about 60 breeding pair of coyotes living within a few miles of us and yes, many of them do happily dwell right among you here, as much as over the cliff. They can range quite a ways in a short period of time.


Funny, here in Lakewood, not long before Dad died, we had this old coyote that liked to patrol our neck of the woods. One time, about 11 p.m., when Dad got out of the car, the coyote peeked around the edge of the house at Dad. Dad just started happy baby-talking the guy from about 10 feet away. It was like a scene from Kipling's Jungle Book. Both Dad and coyote were at peace.

There's something that is hard for someone not of the forest to understand, but animals have all sorts of feelings, just as humans do, central among them being the response to love, a demand for respect, a willingness to defend,and an loathing of rejection.

Dad and that coyote saw each other from time to time. So did I. Nobody bothered anybody. All were at peace with each other. We all just KNEW.

The posted guidelines are what is considered to be the "correct" response to coyotes. Meet their aggression if necessary with your own strong response, and as with the rest of life, and with any animal... including human ones...NEVER back down or turn away.

People often have said to me "But Gary, you are such a kind person", and God willing, so shall my kindness always be, but NEVER... EVER make the mistake of confusing kindness for weakness.

But I digress here...

Above all, don't turn and run. You then become their prey and you are not a roadrunner. They love to outrun bikes and can easily grab you off them.

Another thing: if you see animals during the daylight that normally range at night, and particularly if they are acting strange, that's usually not a good thing. Report such sightings immediately and do not approach the animal. Rabies shots tend to get your attention.


All of the above reflects only my subjective opinions as a private citizen, and I may be wrong. Always check with City or Park officials regarding best wildlife practices in your area.

Back to the banjo...