Editor:
We live in the Wilson Creek area. When we first moved to the Coast some 15 years ago, an abundance of wildlife was visible. Spring to fall, deer wandered through our yard, rabbits were plentiful, we saw the odd bobcat or two, bear came in season and, of course, but only occasionally, a cougar appeared. Within the last six years, appearances of these beautiful animals have reduced considerably, except for an upswing in cougar sightings.
First the rabbits disappeared. Then small household pets, dogs and cats — we lost one of our beloved cats. In the last three years, the number of deer we have seen each season can be numbered on one hand.
On the other hand, the appearance of the coyotes has gone from single early morning/late evening sighting of a solitary animal to daily sightings.
Dog walkers in our neighbourhood have commented on how they are accompanied throughout their woodland walks; the coyotes keep pace and entice and yip for the duration of the walk. Dogs that have previously been allowed to walk free must now be restrained; only the most rigorously trained pets can remain off leash. Nightly pack meetings and hunts occur. We have heard deer running down the road and more than once have heard the howling of coyotes followed by the sound of an animal in distress.
I posit the theory that an increase in the appearance of cougars, often famished, is a result of the loss of one of their food sources, deer. And I further posit that this food source is being decimated by coyotes. I believe that there are too many coyotes now. They have no natural predator in this area, and as a result, their population has increased alarmingly. Perhaps a cull should be considered.
Monica Davis, Wilson Creek
