| Dads out Hunting for Pets |
- Dad's out shopping. With spring on Cape Cod comes the annual arrival of the next generation of Eastern coyotes, in litters ranging from three to six pups. And they are hungry. So is their mother, who is nursing her young. That leaves dad to do the food shopping. That's why people may be seeing lots of coyotes around, especially during the morning and noontime hours, said Cape coyote expert Peter Trull. It's not that there are actually more coyotes, said Trull, the education director at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies. It's just that to feed his family, the male coyote has to do a lot more hunting, so he and other males are more out in the open. Later in May, once the young pups mature enough to eat meat, the demand on pop's hunting skills will increase even more. And once the little coyotes start venturing outside their dens, some Cape Codders may be in for a surprise, not knowing there is a den nearby. The reason is that the pups will be crying out for food, and they are not shy about letting their parents know they are hungry. "Within the next month, the pups' food-begging cries suddenly will become very evident," he said. Trull said coyotes became well-established on the Cape in the mid-1980s, at first on the Lower and Outer Cape, where sightings were most common. These days, the wily predators live throughout the Cape. "Coyotes are everywhere. I like to say they are within a mile of any conversation about them," Trull said. They do not live in "packs," like wolves, but rather as family units, Trull said. In the late fall and early winter, people might see five, six or seven coyotes running together. "All it is is a family - mom, dad and the kids," said Trull. Once the next breeding season arrives, the family unit breaks up and the young are out on their own. Small animals - mice, rabbits and other rodents - are the common fare for coyotes. But they are opportunistic hunters, which means they will take whatever game they can find, catch and kill. That includes cats and small livestock such as chickens, ducks, geese and sheep. Farmers should take precautions to protect their herds from coyote predation, and pet owners should take steps to protect their small furry friends, cats in particular, Trull said. Just about the worst thing a homeowner can do is feed a coyote, Trull said. "Once a coyote behaves in a way that is not acceptable, it becomes a nuisance and the call goes out to have it removed. If you feed it a hot dog, and it accidentally nips your hand, suddenly it's a coyote attack," Trull said, noting that there are fewer than 10 recorded cases of coyotes attacking people in the United States. "They live in a different world than we do. It's a matter of adjusting to their presence. If you see them in your yard, take a picture, don't feed it." Eastern coyotes are about 20 percent larger than their western relatives, with the average male weighing about 35 pounds, Trull said. A large male can be 40 to 45 pounds, but a coyote that size is unusual, he said. In prime condition, coyotes have unmistakably long bushy tails, pointed ears, a pointed snout and a thick coat. Their long spindly legs make them appear larger than they are, he said. Besides being great runners, coyotes are also excellent swimmers. As with other fur-bearing mammals, coyotes are susceptible to mange and distemper. They are also susceptible to rabies. But so far the state's rabies prevention program, which involves setting out bait with rabies vaccination along both sides of the Cape Cod Canal, has prevented the East Coast epidemic of rabies from reaching Cape Cod. Trull would like to hear from Cape Codders who know or suspect they know the location of coyote den sites. He can be reached at 487-3622, Ext. 15.