The Observation Deck

I awoke shortly before sunset this morning to the shrill of my neighbor's dog fighting for its life.

Fortunately for the 10 year old dog, my neighbor is a surgeon, (n.k.a. the "coyote whisperer")--calm and steady with nerves of steel. He yelled steadily at the coyote and waved his arms until it let the dog go (apparently a textbook tactic to save the dog). It was the first time I ever heard my neighbor yell in 20 years of living next to him.

The mild mannered doctor later sent the neighbors this posting on how to protect against a coyote attack:

http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Coyote ... oyotes_sub

The dog suffered fairly minor an injury and is off to the vet.

Apparently the city has set up coyote traps down on Nicholson.

Good Morning Brian,

Delighted to be able to discuss something other than you-know-what.

Anyway, not long ago, a dear friend just across the bridge in Riverland was distressed to see a blood trail leading into his back yard. Turns out a deer was brought down by a pack of coyotes.

We had a coyote that seemed to like hanging around our neighborhood several years ago. One night when my dear late father got out of his side of the car, I heard him say "Hi buddy!" Lo and behold, a coyote was standing not 10 feet from him and yes, we were from Pennsylvania and knew the difference between a coyote and a German Shepherd.

The coyote slowly turned and walked around the house, but he seemed to like Dad, and he showed up sometimes when Dad was in the yard, just to say "hi". (or was that "howl"?)

Either that, or because Dad was older and not very well in his last years, the animal may have been thinking about his next meal.

Fortunately, in no case was the coyote ever threatening to him.

Of course, we had a nightly family of deer hike up our street for awhile, so that might have been Mr.Coyote's real attraction to the neighborhood.

On a more serious note, a pack of coyotes took down a female jogger some years back in Canada. Apparently, they can, and have inbred with wolves and the resulting coywolf hybrid is a pack hunter, being a bit shaggier and larger than your normal coyote.

There are many breeding pairs of coyotes in the Metroparks, and quite a few enjoy living in Lakewood, as well. Being mostly nocturnal, you normally will not notice them sleeping under your porch during the daylight hours.

Your posting here is a good reminder to all owners of small pets and yes, those with little children too, that we live in a very active ecosystem, and springtime is one of the most active times for an ecosystem. It pays, without being fanatics, to keep our eyes open.

Back to the banjo...

Lyanda Haupt's recent book The Urban Bestiary: Encountering the Everyday Wild is filled with information about this kind of thing.
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles ... 316178525/

Lakewood, a thoroughly built-up city which nonetheless borders two undeveloped areas (a lake, and a large park system), could almost be exhibit A for Haupt's studies. The specific urban creatures she highlights even include coyotes… and backyard hens.

I borrowed this from our library last month, also, so anyone interested can look for it there.

Someone has suggested that coyotes may be in your neighborhood on garbage days.

Not sure there is any data to support this, but it seems to make sense.

So do they have a "leaker" inside of the refuse department to tell them which streets are scheduled for pick up?

Brian Essi wrote:I awoke shortly before sunset this morning to the shrill of my neighbor's dog fighting for its life.

Fortunately for the 10 year old dog, my neighbor is a surgeon, (n.k.a. the "coyote whisperer")--calm and steady with nerves of steel. He yelled steadily at the coyote and waved his arms until it let the dog go (apparently a textbook tactic to save the dog). It was the first time I ever heard my neighbor yell in 20 years of living next to him.

The mild mannered doctor later sent the neighbors this posting on how to protect against a coyote attack:

http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Coyote ... oyotes_sub

The dog suffered fairly minor an injury and is off to the vet.

Apparently the city has set up coyote traps down on Nicholson.

I'm curious what size dog was attacked. I see coyotes are up to 40 lbs. my dogs are 75-80 lbs and tall with very long legs. They are predatory toward small furry animals. How worried should I be?

And thanks for the info!

It's times like these when some of us wished that Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers and City Council did not ban the discharge of these:
See http://www.foremostcoyotehunting.com/p/ ... ifles.html

In all seriousness, be especially careful if you have chickens/hens/other poultry on your property. It is rumored that coyotes are attracted to them.

Dan Alaimo wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:I awoke shortly before sunset this morning to the shrill of my neighbor's dog fighting for its life.

Fortunately for the 10 year old dog, my neighbor is a surgeon, (n.k.a. the "coyote whisperer")--calm and steady with nerves of steel. He yelled steadily at the coyote and waved his arms until it let the dog go (apparently a textbook tactic to save the dog). It was the first time I ever heard my neighbor yell in 20 years of living next to him.

The mild mannered doctor later sent the neighbors this posting on how to protect against a coyote attack:

http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Coyote ... oyotes_sub

The dog suffered fairly minor an injury and is off to the vet.

Apparently the city has set up coyote traps down on Nicholson.

I'm curious what size dog was attacked. I see coyotes are up to 40 lbs. my dogs are 75-80 lbs and tall with very long legs. They are predatory toward small furry animals. How worried should I be?

And thanks for the info!

The dog is was smaller--like a Chesterfield.

The city has relocated its coyote trap near the the area of the attack.

Stan Austin wrote:So do they have a "leaker" inside of the refuse department to tell them which streets are scheduled for pick up?

Yes. Was this Mrs. Allen who got it all on film:

This got a brief mention on the WKYC 7 pm news.

Dan Alaimo wrote:This got a brief mention on the WKYC 7 pm news.

And the reporter said that wildlife experts believe that coyotes may have set up a den at Lakewood Park.

Brian Essi wrote: And the reporter said that wildlife experts believe that coyotes may have set up a den at Lakewood Park.

Maybe this will prompt the Safety Director to get involved.

Brian Essi wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:This got a brief mention on the WKYC 7 pm news.

And the reporter said that wildlife experts believe that coyotes may have set up a den at Lakewood Park.

The city has ONE coyote trap? The wise amongst the coyotes know that even the most junior of coyote leaders will be able to out-smart and out-flank that line of protection.

The coyote has been hanging in my backyard. I have posted several pictures on Facebook. 19 action news was here in my front yard ... the thing is ...the coyotes have been here for years....YEARS. They live up by Graftech. This is nothing new. Just like the foxes that live here (and one in my backyard...what is it with me and wildlife in this city) I cannot stress enough no matter what you need to keep an eye on all pets. Just because you have a fence does not mean anything. We have hawks too and they will swoop in and grab a little dog.