by Sue Doctrow

On January 29, Arlington Animal Control sponsored a presentation "Living with Coyotes" in the Arlington Public Safety Building.  The speaker, John Maguranis (see his biography) is the Massachusetts Representative to Project Coyote, as well as Belmont's Animal Control Officer. 

I know that coyotes are present in my neighborhood, for example in the Mt. Gilboa conservation land and Arlington Great Meadows, and many of us have been concerned and curious about them.  This presentation was engaging and informative, covering a wealth of information about coyotes and addressing misconceptions.  For example, John explained that, based on DNA and other evidence, the coyotes in the eastern part of the country are related to wolves, so closely that their species is becoming known as the "coywolf". In fact, they are hybrids, created when the Eastern wolf bred with coyotes. This lineage is distinct from that of the coyotes in the western U.S.  He also stressed the value of coyotes to our local ecosystem, because, as hunting mammals, they control the population of rodents and other pests, including rats, squirrels, and rabbits. 

John focused on several topics of direct concern to pet owners, while describing key aspects of the coyotes' habits and life cycle.  What some might believe are coyote "packs" are actually families. Coyotes breeding pairs mate for life, raising their pups to adulthood.  At times, their young adult offspring will return to the family to help raise new pups.  Coyote families occupy certain territories.  If a coyote family is driven from an area, chances are that another coyote family will move in to take its place.  Whereas, if the family stays, other coyotes will respect its turf and keep away.  For this and many other reasons, a strategy of living harmoniously with coyotes is better than trying to remove them.  John noted that, in January and February, it is the coyotes' mating season, a time when they will be particularly territorial.  This is when they are likely to see larger dogs as a "challenge" if approached by those dogs.  While some look tall and lanky, John explained that coyotes are comparable, at 50 lbs or less, to a medium sized dog. While not generally capable of killing a large dog, a coyote defending his turf can cause injury, so it is best to avoid such situations.  John advised that dogs be kept on leash in coyote territories, especially during these months.  Most certainly, keeping your dog close, with good recall, is important.  As for smaller pets, small dogs and all cats, they are always at risk from coyotes as potential prey, regardless of time of year.  Keeping your pets close, not letting them roam alone outside, is always the safest policy. 

Around October, according to John, the pups are grown and starting to leave the family to explore their surroundings.  This is the time when groups of coyotes may approach people.  While to some it may feel like they are being "surrounded" in a menacing way, John explained that the young coyotes do this because they are curious.  Coyotes, unless rabid, are extremely unlikely to attack humans.  An attack is, of course, a risk with any rabid animal, and John showed data illustrating the low incidence of rabid coyotes as compared, for example, to rabid raccoons.  (I asked John about a report, from several years ago, about a coyote attacking a toddler in Wilmington.  He said that this animal was not caught, but that the witnesses' description was very consistent with its being a grey fox and, also, that the behaviors described suggested that it was rabid.)

While, to me, the young coyotes' curiosity about us is fascinating to contemplate, John explained that, as wildlife, coyotes will be much safer if they fear humans.  Otherwise, they may be shot by those who do not understand that they are not a threat to humans.  Sadly, this is one prevalent cause of coyotes' death, even at the hands of misinformed authorities.  Though, John noted that being hit by cars is the major cause of death for coyotes in our state.  Overall, keeping coyotes afraid of humans is a worthwhile goal, and the practice of "hazing" helps accomplish this.  In "hazing", volunteers go to known coyote habitats and, if coyotes approach, make noises, stand "tall" and even stomp toward them.  This will teach coyotes, especially young ones just learning and feeling curious, to fear and avoid humans.  It should not drive a coyote family from its territory, but should teach them not to approach humans.  

Please report sightings of coyotes in town to our Animal Control Officer to help her keep track of where they are living.  Interested volunteers may also want to help with hazing efforts, in Arlington or elsewhere in MA.

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In photos (provided by Amanda Kennedy) John shows a taxidermic coyote to a rapt audience in the Community Room.  Thank-you to our Animal Control Officer, Amanda Kennedy, for organizing this program!  Amanda informed us that Arlington Whole Foods and Starbucks donated refreshments.

This article is the author's review of the presentation, as an attendee, and any inaccuracies are her own.  Opinions are those of the author, or those of the speaker as recalled by the author, and do not represent official positions of A-DOG.