I hope Kim Or Paul or both go to this and get some interesting info to share.
This is what I know about coyotes:
If there was a child attacked by a coyote the news media would blast it all over the place but you don’t hear about those incidents so that gives me a little comfort.
On the other hand if you have a pulse and can see then you have most definitely seen an uptick from no coyote sightings 10 years ago to weekly sightings today.
I understand there are people who would rather see people’s pets eaten rather than take some type of action. I just hope that the current trends of seeing them more and more during the day and seeing them more often doesn’t end up turn into something where people can’t even go for a walk.
Maybe the answer is to walk around with a tazer? “Don’t taze me bro!”
The Eastern Coyote in New England
Sponsored by Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Sat, Jan 11, 2014 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location:
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
Instructor:
Christine Schadler – Wild Canid Ecologist and New England representative for Project Coyote, a national group promoting coexistence with coyotes.
Audience:
Adult
Members:
Adult $8.00
Nonmembers:
Adult $10.00
The howling in New England has returned! Since 1900, when the eastern wolf retreated into southern Ontario, our woods have not known a top predator. Since the 1940s, however, the bark and howl of the eastern coyote has resonated from pasture to mountain. Today, thousands of coyotes occupy New England, but unlike their smaller western cousin, our coyotes are part wolf, can hunt in packs to take deer, and are filling the niche of the wolf. Come learn about the natural history of this adaptable mammal and get answers to any questions or concerns you may have from an expert. How we rethink our woods as a domain to be shared will ultimately determine our success in adapting to life with this amazing predator.
Make it a day – bring a bag lunch and sign up for Tracking Predators with Bob Metcalfe in the afternoon from 12:30-4:30 pm.
Instructions and Directions:
Meets in the Barn.
Registration is required.
Call to register 978-887-9264.
Register by mail: program registration form (PDF 66K)
For your own security, DO NOT send credit card information via email.
For more information, contact:
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
87 Perkins Row
Topsfield, MA 01983
ipswichriver@massaudubon.org
Good Morning Gloucester 
Studies have shown the positive effects of having predators on the health of entire ecosystems. Wolves have been reintroduced in National Parks and it has been beneficial in keeping grazing animal numbers in check. Check NPR website and you will likely find an article about this.
After being bitten by a very large dog that was off leash last summer, I am more fearful of a walk at Good Harbor where dogs run wild than any coyote.
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With all due respect, I have to disagree with you here, Joey. At least on the oversimplification. Nobody wants pets eaten. That said, coyotes and even wolves were here up until recently, in broader historical terms, and nature abhors a vacuum. So they’re back. And sure, we’re going to see them more this time of year, especially when some slobs leave their garbage outside spilling out of the can (I see it all the time). But I’ve also seen several foxes in my yard recently, and evidence of fisher cats, etc. Critters are everywhere, all capable of chomping on kitty. Keep your pets inside if you’re not going to monitor them (save some songbirds in the process, too). If you have a small pet, I can pretty much promise you nature’s fido isn’t going to walk up to you while walking your pet and eat it. And no, they’re not going to grab your child (unless of course you leave your 6 month-old outside playing in the woods alone). I’ve seen some excellent advice in the comments of a few of these posts (wave arms if you see them, make yourself big and noisy to reinforce our dominance). I can’t make the program at the (excellent!) Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary today, but you can bet I’ll be watching the documentary on coywolves showing on PBS on Jan. 22. Thanks for posting the info! I hope folks go and share what they learn with others. Hey, at least we don’t have to deal with grizzly bears like folks out west!
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The one thing I notice is honestly 8 years ago I never saw a coyote and now I see them all the time and in big time increasing frequency.
Id just like to keep people aware and informed and your comment gives great suggestions.
Hopefully wildlife people from the State are keeping tabs and have a plan.
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Right on. I just hope people keep in mind how much green space (wild places, not gardens) we have on Cape Ann. Clean it up too much and we’re living in Wakefield-by-the-Sea. Cheers!
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People can make changes in our behavior to live with these animals that are part of the natural order, as suggested by funkyfreshgloucester .
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Hi Chris,
Just so that you are aware–coyotes were never indigenous to the east coast, ever. Wolves yes, but not coyotes. The coyotes that we are living with today are western coyotes that over the last sixty or so years have gradually moved westward. When they arrived in the central region of this country, a few bred with wolves, which made for a much heartier coyote that can now withstand much colder temperatures. The DNA of these super coyotes shows that they are for the most part over 90 percent coyote.
Recent studies report that the coyote invasion is largely to blame for the tremendous rise in cases of Lyme disease. For many years people blamed deer. But deer are not the main carriers of the disease. White-tailed mice and chipmunks are. In New England, the foxes are the very best and most efficient predators of mice and chipmunks. The coyote has, for the most part, out competed the fox for habitat and food.
Large numbers of coyotes=far fewer foxes=much greater numbers of mice and chipmunks=tremendous rise in Lyme disease. There are other factors that effect the chipmunk and mouse population, but the increase in coyotes/decrease in foxes seems to
be the greatest threat.
The invasive, non nonnative, non indigenous coyote is making a lasting mark on the ecosystem of Cape Ann, and not for the better.
From Mass Audubon–coyotes have only been in Massachusetts since around 1957…”Researchers now believe that the eastern coyote is a hybridization between the western coyote and red wolves many generations ago in the upper Great Lakes region of the United States. It is theorized that as populations of the western coyote increased, they were forced to move east and north in search of food. As they moved into Minnesota they crossbred with eastern/red wolves and produced a genetically hardy animal able to sustain itself through New England winters.”
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We heard and saw Coyotes in the woods behind our house in Gloucester about 4 or 5 years ago. I haven’t seen them since.
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Fact: Police have warned all children’s athletic practice groups to not practice near O’Maley school due to coyote presence. I don’t believe anyone wants the coyotes rounded up and harmed, but I do want to feel safe walking in my neighborhood.
Instead of the reading the same three people’s multiple comments about this is the coyotes land not ours, I would love to hear the mayor or someone – anyone – have a grounded, rational discussion recognizing that there IS a safety concern here – regardless of the size – and give solid, helpful, rational advice as to what the real risks are and how we can best protect ourselves when coming into contact with one that either chases us (as on Washington st) or sits outside of our car staring us down and making us feel we cannot safely exit our car and enter our home (as happened near Goose Cove Reservoir).
It is not helpful to respond with “they are a positive part of our ecosystem”. A simple “here is what you do in the unlikely event that a coyote…” and an educated, balanced discussion about the real number of people – and pets – who have had issues and how to make sure we do not become one of them…THAT is what we need.
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Very well said Jenna. Thank you.
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Indigenous or not, I believe the coyote is likely here to stay. If the wolf had not been extirpated from New England, there would not have been a spot for this predator to fill. Be glad we don’t have bears like the western part of the state.
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There has got to be some draw why they are coming that way? Out west it was partially the severe drought but they ended up killing black bears also – as people were feeding them. I found this…
CAPE COD OFFICIALS: PLEASE DON’T FEED THE COYOTES
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
By: Associated Press
PROVINCETOWN, Mass. — Officials at the Cape Cod National Seashore are threatening to close a parking lot in Provincetown because people have been feeding coyotes, prompting the animals to start begging at cars. Seashore chief ranger Leslie Reynolds says nine coyotes were spotted begging at cars one night last month at Herring Cove Beach. He tells the Cape Cod Times (http://bit.ly/1b1DxbF ) rangers have found dog food and piles of fish guts and heads in the area, which indicates deliberate attempts to feed coyotes.
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