Coyote fairy tales

Dear Editor,

I am so sick of the animal activists/biologists/environmentalists publishing fairy tales about how the "poor" coyote is so maligned and that all they eat is carrion, grasshoppers and berries.

In college, I once majored in wildlife biology, before I realized that there weren't enough jobs to go around. So, I have studied animals both in school and from my own personal observation, and I've also got vivid photos that can attest to the fact that coyotes do kill anything they can get hold of.

Recently, the area has been overrun with coyotes attacking baby calves, meaning that they must be darn hungry especially since our winter hasn't been that harsh yet. Several times I have had coyotes within 25 yards of me that have virtually showed no fear. The other evening shortly before dusk, coyotes were howling east of our house, apparently very close, and as I like to walk at night my husband suggested that I take the rifle. Our youngest daughter, the dog and I barely were half mile from the house when a pack of five coyotes descended across the wheat stubble apparently assuming they were to have quick "carry off" dog for supper. As I'm trying to sight in a coyote, under pressure, at close range with my daughter crying " Oh Mom! Oh Mom!" behind me and not wanting to wound the dog, I missed everything, but the coyotes did make quick tracks away from us. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had declined to lug that heavy gun on our walk. I'm sure our 9-year-old won't soon forget the experience.

For all you folks like myself who have never been afraid of coyotes, I believe I'll re-evaluate the belief that coyotes are afraid of humans and will think twice about leaving kids without any protection from unwanted animal intrusion in our yard.

Sincerely,

Denise McConville

Indianola

P.S. Skyler thinks our dog "Butch" is the next thing to "Old Yeller" and that he was trying to protect us from the coyotes. I think he was too.