I'm ready for spring weather and to heck with what that Groundhog has to say. Here's a
short article on winter in rural northwestern Pennsylvania. Course, we aren't alone, the entire east coast has had a tough time the last several weeks. If you like the outdoors in the winter, click
here , for some winter events in the northwest region.
The coyote pictured above was taken in late November during rifle deer season. It weighed 45 pounds and was a female.
Coyote s have intrigued North American peoples for a long time. For the first peoples, the Coyote was an important and integral part of stories, legends and myths. They were used in many creation myths, similar to this one about
how the stars came to be ; the Coyote was also the trickster, good and bad.
But are the ancient coyotes the same animals we live with today? The answer is an elusive, yes and no. Most research indicates, the Eastern Coyote is a cross between
western coyotes and wolves , although there are some which have canine DNA present and are seen as a separate branch.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), the first documented coyotes in Pennsylvania began in the
1930's and 1940' s. The animals then spread rapidly throughout the state and are now found in all 67 counties. Some historians and biologists lean towards a more earlier presence; they believe the animals the early colonists saw when they arrived and called wolves, were actually Eastern Coyotes.
While it is difficult or next to impossible to estimate the number of coyotes in the sate, it is widely accepted the population in Pennsylvania is about 55,000 and similar figures are quoted for nearby New York State.
Here is the link to the
PGC and their take on coyotes today.
Coyotes are generally nocturnal and secretive; they tend in general to avoid human contact. They are scavengers and opportunists. They will eat berries and nuts and small animals such as groundhogs, mice and rabbits. Yes, they will even eat road kill deer, and even take down unhealthy deer. They will, given the opportunity eat a fawn. However, most wildlife biologists do not believe the coyote population
poses a threat to the deer herds of Pennsylvania.
Could the coyotes become
more aggressive towards humans in the future? The answer is elusive and unknown. According to the PGC,
attacks against humans in the state are uncommon, however, there have been an increase in western coyote attacks in California. Coyotes will attack small household pets, dogs and cats. Precautions should be taken if coyotes are present in your area. Click, here. It would be expected, as more people settle in rural locations, there will be an increase in the number of encounters.
Coyotes are adaptable free roaming and can travel hundreds of miles. In one case, a
Pennsylvania trapper discovered a coyote tagged as part of a research study conducted in upstate New York. A collar on a coyote does not mean someone stock the animal; more likely it is a research animal and the proper wildlife officials should be notified. Coyotes are now seen in urban and suburban areas where they have learned to adapt.
The winter months, particularly January and February are
popular times for hunters to take coyotes and there are and have been several local hunts. Many hunters use trained dogs.
Dogs, donkeys and even llamas are used in some western states to protect livestock herds, such as goats and sheep, from coyote attacks.
There are many coyote unknows and the future is not quite clear. More wildlife research needs to be concluded, facutal research will provide the clues and answers, not rumors.
Veguary
This is sort of
interesting and a good idea . Veguary means during the second month of the year, after the holidays, to focus on eating healthier and eating less red meats. Veguary should and could also be a mid-winter reminder about a home vegetable garden which can provide pesticide free, nutritious and flavor veggies. Properly planned, a home vegetable garden can also be a big money saver. Gasoline prices have soared and trips to the grocery store are more expensive than ever.
Poaching
A
new poaching law went into effect in Pennsylvania in September. It is a more strict law than the previous one on the books. Poachers, actually greed hunters, can now spend time in jail or under house arrest and face significant fines, plus the loss of hunting privileges. The fines and jail time vary with the offense, to learn more, here.
This year, Pennsylvania is expected to approve the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact. Under this legislation, if convicted of wildlife crimes, a PA resident will not be able to drive to the next border state and enjoy hunting.
Mistakes happen to legal hunters all the time; the new law is designed to convict and prosecute serial poachers; those folks who take large number of deer, turkey, elk and beer, sometimes at night with spotlights. It is not fair to legal, ethical hunters.
Marcellus
There can be no doubt that the Marcellus Gas deposit in Pennsylvania are an economic boom for many rural communities. However, there have been
problems with water pollution, both in public waterways and private wells. Roads and public forests have been damaged.
Pennsylvania does not get any tax from the well drillers, although the politicians get plenty of money from the industry. Pennsylvania is the only state which does not impose some form of a tax structure; thanks in large part to feuding between Republicans and Democrats and lobbyists for the industry.
The gas deposits are estimated in the billions of dollars.
Now the industry is on the attack against an
Oscar nominee, Josh Fox , who produced a documentary on the fracking process and environmental problems caused by the industry. Here is the link for additional information.
Whose land is this? And doesn't the Pennsylvania Constitution claim the citizens have a right to clean and healthy environment?
Something is way wrong here.
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