Spring Break
Backyard buddies?
Brenna Harvey
Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Focus
Ask anyone living in New England, and they can tell you about coyotes. Even if you haven't seen them, you probably have stories of terrifying howls in the night, or a favorite family cat that never came home.
"We think of urban areas as our areas, that it's not natural to have these animals around. In fact, as an animal, it's very natural to go to a place where there aren't more of your kind," said Jonathan G. Way, a UConn alumnus and wildlife expert. "They don't move into neighborhoods to bother you, but to meet their biological needs."
Way spoke Thursday evening in the Ratcliffe Hicks Arena as part of "An Evening of Howls," a UConn Wildlife Society presentation. Way's lecture, an overview of his research into the ecology of eastern coyotes, was part of a night dedicated to understanding and celebrating North America's unique wild canines.
"Of course most people are worried about their kids and small pets getting taken," Way said. "But when you look at the numbers, it's pretty amazing how different the human interaction between dogs and coyotes is."
Way went on to explain that 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. every year, and approximately 1,000 dog bite victims go to the ER daily for emergency treatment. Meanwhile, he knew of only one officially documented coyote bite, which occurred because a 3-year-old was hand-feeding the animal. Way emphasized that coyotes only cause harm when encroached on by humans.
"They're actually pretty shy, and try to avoid people," Way said.
Way then described his wide variety of experiences throughout his years of coyote research. Not only had he spent years tagging and tracking coyotes in Cape Cod and around the north shore of Massachusetts, but he also got a unique opportunity to raise a litter of pups at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Mass.
"It's absolutely amazing the stuff you can learn in captivity," Way said. He described that each animal had a completely individual personality, including one dominant female who would fight to sit on his lap.
"We think of urban areas as our areas, that it's not natural to have these animals around. In fact, as an animal, it's very natural to go to a place where there aren't more of your kind," said Jonathan G. Way, a UConn alumnus and wildlife expert. "They don't move into neighborhoods to bother you, but to meet their biological needs."
Way spoke Thursday evening in the Ratcliffe Hicks Arena as part of "An Evening of Howls," a UConn Wildlife Society presentation. Way's lecture, an overview of his research into the ecology of eastern coyotes, was part of a night dedicated to understanding and celebrating North America's unique wild canines.
"Of course most people are worried about their kids and small pets getting taken," Way said. "But when you look at the numbers, it's pretty amazing how different the human interaction between dogs and coyotes is."
Way went on to explain that 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. every year, and approximately 1,000 dog bite victims go to the ER daily for emergency treatment. Meanwhile, he knew of only one officially documented coyote bite, which occurred because a 3-year-old was hand-feeding the animal. Way emphasized that coyotes only cause harm when encroached on by humans.
"They're actually pretty shy, and try to avoid people," Way said.
Way then described his wide variety of experiences throughout his years of coyote research. Not only had he spent years tagging and tracking coyotes in Cape Cod and around the north shore of Massachusetts, but he also got a unique opportunity to raise a litter of pups at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Mass.
"It's absolutely amazing the stuff you can learn in captivity," Way said. He described that each animal had a completely individual personality, including one dominant female who would fight to sit on his lap.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
James
posted 4/10/09 @ 12:16 PM EST
[quote]...Way went on to explain that 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. every year, and approximately 1,000 dog bite victims go to the ER daily for emergency treatment. (Continued…)
Clatrans
Robert
posted 4/11/09 @ 2:39 AM EST
Mr. Way is mistaken about documented coyote attacks on humans. Perhaps what he meant to say is that there has been only one fatality to date, occurring in Glendale, CA in 1981 when a 3-year-old girl was killed in her own front yard. (Continued…)
tigG
posted 4/12/09 @ 10:59 PM EST
Dog bites have nothing to do with coyote bites. The anatomy dog and coyote attacks are completely different. Coyotes may attack fewer people than dogs (not surprisingly given their greatly lower density) but attack and kill excessive numbers of domestic animals and pets. (Continued…)
Sam Wonderlicks
posted 4/13/09 @ 12:04 PM EST
what about fox bites? I am very concerned with this epidemic devastating America. Please advise.
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