Editor:
Wilson Creek/Chapman Creek is still abundant with a variety of wildlife species. Cougar, bear, deer and other sightings continue to be reported every year.
Monica Davis (Coast Reporter letters, March 6) feels that coyotes (alone) have decimated the deer and rabbit population. I suggest other possibilities: vehicles, people (habitat/corridor loss), other species (raptors/owls), domestic predators, and off-leash dogs.
A coyote is an opportunistic omnivore. As scavengers they will be attracted to garbage, fruit, berries, carrion, fish, eggs, birdseed and feed. We need scavengers. As hunters, their diet consists largely of rodents (mice, rats, voles) and rabbits.
If you are walking your dog in the woodlands, you should respect the fact that this is “home” to woodland creatures. I keep my dog leashed and close by when out. Monica wrote that coyotes “keep pace and yip” at walkers. This behaviour might be attributed to curiosity, a perceived threat, den protection or season (courtship and breeding occurs between January and April and pup rearing continues from May to August).
As for the “nightly pack meetings and hunts” — it’s called survival. Coyotes do not (and should not) get regular feeding times from a bowl. They are often referred to as “song dogs” because of their excellent vocalization skills. One or two coyotes can actually sound like four or five. They need to communicate and keep track of each other.
A cull may only be effective if the entire family is destroyed; the alpha pair should be removed at the beginning of breeding season. Any remaining younger/less dominant members may mate, resulting in more litters and a decrease in the genetic pool. This may also open new hunting territory to another clan.
I do not agree with “culls” as I liken them to the removal of a jigsaw puzzle piece; all play a role, otherwise it is not complete.
Kim Drescher, Gibsons
