Found a coyote, I think

[cqaigy2]

Genearlly speaking, nature and the animals that reside in her live in balance. It's also generally something that man does that throws that balance off.

Yes, but we know better so have to "manage" those ignorant animals.

 

[gwstang]

Genearlly speaking, nature and the animals that reside in her live in balance. It's also generally something that man does that throws that balance off.

The only thing that limits the yotes down here is food source. They have no natural enemy, no cougars or wolfs or anything. Lots of people are complaining about the population. I realize we are moving into their territory but we are going to do that anyway. I guess the real problem is that we have removed the apex predators and now we are the only one at the top.

 

[1010]

Nothing like dooming a wild animal to life in a pen, folks can't let nature take it's course.

 

[Raspy]

Nothing like dooming a wild animal to life in a pen, folks can't let nature take it's course.

That is part of the dilema. But in Sandy's case she was abandoned, nearly dead, mouth and nose full of sand, abraisions bleeding and frozen to the point of being stiff and nearly lifeless. Another half hour alone in the wild and this entire story would never have occured. It's a wonder she survived at all and a testament to her strength and resiliancy.

She was not trapped or penned up when with us and was always free to go.

Ditching her somewhere far away in the forest was a certain death sentence. A gruesome or slow, suffereing death. A "pen" was not our first choice, but mandated by laws that prevented us from keeping her or getting her medical attention. It meant she would not be killed by Animal Control.

I agree that it is not in a coyote's nature to be confined. But it is also true that she is happy, healthy and mentally stable.

Given all that, and that she is a marvelous ambassador from the wild, I'd say being confined to a "pen", as you put it, is a good thing. It's good for her, given the alternative, and a good chance for all of us to learn from her and interact with her.

I would never argue that wild animals should be confined to pens, or tamed, but this is a special case where she and all of us are all better off because of it. Since it did occur, let's make the best of it. She is very happy, has a lifetime mate, is healthy and is busy living her life in a low stress environment. Her enclosure is big and interesting inside. She and Shorty have dug a den of their design and were left alone to do it. She has the time to nap, play with Shorty, dig her den, interact with the volunteers, etc. She is not afraid or under any stress. She is healthy and well fed, so she is not in physical distress.

Yes, she is not free to roam, but that can never happen. So what is the alternative beyond what she has now? How might some other alternative be better? The potential good that comes from learning about her and her kind may benefit all coyotes, and people, in the long run. But only if we are interested enough to take advantage of the opportunity.

 

[dragoneggs]

The only thing that limits the yotes down here is food source. They have no natural enemy, no cougars or wolfs or anything. Lots of people are complaining about the population. I realize we are moving into their territory but we are going to do that anyway. I guess the real problem is that we have removed the apex predators and now we are the only one at the top.

Yep, and we blame the animals who are living naturally. Not saying I want to regress to that point though!

 

[Threepoint]

That is part of the dilema. But in Sandy's case she was abandoned, nearly dead, mouth and nose full of sand, abraisions bleeding and frozen to the point of being stiff and nearly lifeless. Another half hour alone in the wild and this entire story would never have occured. It's a wonder she survived at all and a testament to her strength and resiliancy.

She was not trapped or penned up when with us and was always free to go.

Ditching her somewhere far away in the forest was a certain death sentence. A gruesome or slow, suffereing death. A "pen" was not our first choice, but mandated by laws that prevented us from keeping her or getting her medical attention. It meant she would not be killed by Animal Control.

I agree that it is not in a coyote's nature to be confined. But it is also true that she is happy, healthy and mentally stable.

Given all that, and that she is a marvelous ambassador from the wild, I'd say being confined to a "pen", as you put it, is a good thing. It's good for her, given the alternative, and a good chance for all of us to learn from her and interact with her.

I would never argue that wild animals should be confined to pens, or tamed, but this is a special case where she and all of us are all better off because of it. Since it did occur, let's make the best of it. She is very happy, has a lifetime mate, is healthy and is busy living her life in a low stress environment. Her enclosure is big and interesting inside. She and Shorty have dug a den of their design and were left alone to do it. She has the time to nap, play with Shorty, dig her den, interact with the volunteers, etc. She is not afraid or under any stress. She is healthy and well fed, so she is not in physical distress.

Yes, she is not free to roam, but that can never happen. So what is the alternative beyond what she has now? How might some other alternative be better? The potential good that comes from learning about her and her kind may benefit all coyotes, and people, in the long run. But only if we are interested enough to take advantage of the opportunity.

John, you are a class act.

 

[dragoneggs]

John, you are a class act.

ditto that... as least from what I have read!

 

[Raspy]

Thanks guys. I appreciate that.

 

[/pine]

A slightly related story...

Several years ago a very young black bear cub showed up in my neighbor's yard the mother was no where to be found...The wildlife officer that responded said a mother bear with more than one cub will sometime lose one that wanders off...

They took the cub up on the ridge in a open topped box and let it cry all that night...the mother never came back...the bear is now at a zoo up in Knoxville...

 

[1010]

That is part of the dilema. But in Sandy's case she was abandoned, nearly dead, mouth and nose full of sand, abraisions bleeding and frozen to the point of being stiff and nearly lifeless. Another half hour alone in the wild and this entire story would never have occured. It's a wonder she survived at all and a testament to her strength and resiliancy.

She was not trapped or penned up when with us and was always free to go.

Ditching her somewhere far away in the forest was a certain death sentence. A gruesome or slow, suffereing death. A "pen" was not our first choice, but mandated by laws that prevented us from keeping her or getting her medical attention. It meant she would not be killed by Animal Control.

I agree that it is not in a coyote's nature to be confined. But it is also true that she is happy, healthy and mentally stable.

Given all that, and that she is a marvelous ambassador from the wild, I'd say being confined to a "pen", as you put it, is a good thing. It's good for her, given the alternative, and a good chance for all of us to learn from her and interact with her.

I would never argue that wild animals should be confined to pens, or tamed, but this is a special case where she and all of us are all better off because of it. Since it did occur, let's make the best of it. She is very happy, has a lifetime mate, is healthy and is busy living her life in a low stress environment. Her enclosure is big and interesting inside. She and Shorty have dug a den of their design and were left alone to do it. She has the time to nap, play with Shorty, dig her den, interact with the volunteers, etc. She is not afraid or under any stress. She is healthy and well fed, so she is not in physical distress.

Yes, she is not free to roam, but that can never happen. So what is the alternative beyond what she has now? How might some other alternative be better? The potential good that comes from learning about her and her kind may benefit all coyotes, and people, in the long run. But only if we are interested enough to take advantage of the opportunity.

What ever helps you sleep at night,, I stand by what I posted.