AR-News: (MA) Warning: Protect your cats

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http://www.townonline.com/belmont/news/local_regional/bch_covbhcoyotes10082003
.htm

Coyotes will not change their behavior patterns on their own. "We will have 
to do it for them," said Health Department Director Donna Moultrup at a seminar 
last Wednesday evening. "We've caused this problem and we will have to solve 
it." 
The coyote population in Belmont has grown dramatically in a very short time, 
according to town officials and some of the approximately 60 residents who 
attended the presentation and slide show held at the high school last week. 
Animal Control Officer John Maguranis said the first coyote sighting in town 
was in September 1998. 
"This year, we've had calls that people are seeing them all over," he said. 
"Just this year, the coyotes found their niche in Belmont." 
As of last week, said Maguranis, a total of 14 cats had fallen victim to 
coyotes this year - 12 of them in the past 10 weeks. 
This Monday, the 15th cat of the year - and the first woodchuck - were found 
in the Grove Street park, "definitely coyote kill," Maguranis said this week. 
Humans have contributed to the coyotes' growth, and humans can play a large 
role in controlling the population, said wildlife biologist Chrissie Henner 
from the state's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, who gave a presentation at 
the seminar. 
Henner explained that coyotes did not appear in Massachusetts until the 1950s 
and, when they came to the western part of the state, they quickly expanded. 
"This eastern coyote is a sub-species of the western coyote and researchers 
are not in agreement about its lineage," she said. "We believe they are a 
mixture of the dog species we had here." 
Prior to the appearance of the eastern coyotes, there were wolves in this 
area but they are not as adaptive as coyotes, said Henner. 
Coyotes are hardy creatures. Some of the virulent viruses which attack other 
fur-bearing species have not affected coyotes, she said. 
"This type of coyote has a variable home range area which is based solely on 
food," Henner said. "They will eat anything and look for the easy meal - 
preferring to eat what humans leave behind rather than expending the energy to kill 
for food." 
That's why the coyote does so well in suburban and urban areas, Henner 
explained: "They are highly adaptive and not that picky about the dens they use." 
So it's not uncommon to find a coyote making its den in a cemetery, a park, 
under a porch or near a brush pile in a suburban yard. 
That's where residents can help, Henner said. It is imperative that compost 
piles be covered and brush areas be cleaned up because the coyotes can use them 
as cover. Most importantly, Henner said, no one should feed a coyote directly 
or indirectly, which is why dumpsters must be closed and trash cans should 
only be put out on garbage collection days and should be tightly secured. 
"You shouldn't feed your own animals outside because coyotes will be 
attracted to the smell, and the area around bird feeders should be kept clean," she 
said. "It's best to have the feeders which do not allow seed to spill over 
because the animals that wait for the seeds are prey for the coyote which will sit 
and wait for them to appear." 
The eastern coyote mates in the spring and raises pups between July and 
August. Ordinarily, Henner said, the size of their litter is approximately four to 
eight. 
"But if the coyote senses there is more food, it is instinctive for them to 
breed more pups," she said. 
The coyote is usually shy and elusive, Henner said. That is why coyotes must 
be reminded that they should fear humans. 
It is not difficult to scare off a coyote just by staring it down or making 
noise, Maguranis said. But he warned that residents should never use such 
behavior with a dog who appears violent because the dog will consider it a 
challenge and may attack. 
A resident in the audience said she never sees coyotes but knows they are in 
the area of her home, despite the fact that no one in the neighborhood leaves 
food out and all garbage is secured. 
Henner said the best thing to do, even if one does not actually see a coyote, 
is to make a lot of noise. 
But residents pointed out the town has noise bylaws which must be followed. 
In that case, Moultrup said, the best tool to use is a garden hose. 
Some residents indicated they would like to see the coyotes killed or 
trapped. 
"Traps were banned here in 1997 so we cannot catch the coyotes to use a 
contraception program - which is quite expensive - or research exactly how many we 
have," Henner explained. "And there are bans on discharging firearms so we 
have limited ourselves with laws." 
Tolerance is key, she said, adding that she believes the coyote problem in 
Belmont can be controlled if people are vigilant about following rules and 
alerting their neighbors to do the same. 
"We must keep the coyote wild and wary," she said. "We are their only 
predator so we must appear hostile to them." 
For additional information or to report a problem with coyotes, call the 
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at 508-263-4347 or e-mail 
www.masswildlife.org. 
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