After eastern timber wolves were wiped out hereabouts in the early 20th century, coyotes began migrating south from Canada. The wild dogs first appeared in New York state in the 1920s, but for decades they remained relegated to sparsely populated areas such as the Adirondacks.
Now they have boldly invaded the suburbs.
A few days ago, Liverpool-based artist/educator Mario Romano emailed a word of warning.
“Coyotes have been seen on Hickory and Second streets in the village,” he wrote. “My aunt has heard them at night howling, and I saw one in the backyard yesterday morning [Monday, Oct. 24]. I worry about all the little dogs out there!”
Suburbs invaded
Mario’s concerns are not unfounded. In October 2015, city of Syracuse animal-control officials set several non-lethal “foot-hold” traps to capture coyotes on the south side following a fatal attack on a pet dog.
Ten years ago, coyotes reportedly attacked small animals in Radisson, in the nearby town of Lysander. As many as eight coyotes including a full-grown male as big as a German shepherd were spotted in the Van Wie/River Road section of Radisson. Cat carcasses were discovered in the housing complex.
Coyotes have also been spotted along the shore of Onondaga Lake, in the fields next to John Glenn Boulevard and in North Syracuse.
Hefty coywolves
Eastern coyotes (also known as coywolves) are significantly larger than western coyotes, with adults weighing between 35 to 45 pounds, and up to 60 pounds for large males. Coywolves are believed to be the product of successful interbreeding between coyotes, grey wolves and domestic dogs during the past century or so.
As a result coywolves have larger jaws, more muscle and faster legs. Individual coywolves can take down a small deer. A pack of them can even kill a moose.
As they acclimate to the suburban environment, coywolves have become ever more daring. While coyotes have historically ruled the night with their high-pitched howling, the coywolves been seen during the middle of the day in Radisson’s heavily wooded environs and elsewhere in CNY.
Families of coyotes typically share a home territory, which they protect against other coyotes.
The animals will eat roadkill and scavenge food, such as eating out of bird-feeders or dog bowls carelessly left outside. When necessary, they will hunt mice, voles, squirrels, rabbits and sometimes house cats or small dogs.
Obsessively territorial
Coyotes are obsessively territorial, and that often explains their attacks on pets. They kill dogs and cats more to maintain territory than for nourishment.
Attacks on humans are rare, but since 1998 three people have been bitten in Western Massachusetts, where the suburban coyote problem is rapidly escalating. Over the first weekend in October this year, Wayne County deputies investigated two coyote attacks on two women and a dog in separate incidents in Wolcott.
In 1981, a child was killed in her family’s driveway in Glendale, California. In 2009, a 19-year-old woman died after being overcome by a pack of coyotes in Nova Scotia’s Breton Highlands National Park.
Coyotes defy death
Some local residents, especially those with vulnerable children or pets, want the coyotes killed or captured, but wildlife experts say neither approach will work.
“The more mortality you inflict on them, the more they adapt by having larger litter sizes, or females start to reproduce at younger ages,” said Charles Brown, a wildlife biologist with Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management.
In other words, you can kill the brazen beasts, but if you do they’ll just bounce back bigger, badder and more numerous.
The best you can do if confronted by coyotes is to make loud noises and throw rocks at the animals. Act as though you’re a major threat by yelling, stomping and throwing things until the critters completely leave the area. Then cross your fingers.
Free dentistry for vets
On Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 a.m. Dr. Joan Laura, who previously practiced on Route 57 in Clay, will offer free dental care to any veteran who walks through her doors at 2326 James St. in Eastwood.
This will be Dr. Laura’s fifth year helping vets. “My parents instilled a strong sense of patriotism in each of their kids,” she said. Her father, the late Dr. John Laura, served in the Korean war and her grandfather, Anthony Ross, fought in World War I.
Each vet can choose either a cleaning, a filling or an extraction. They simply need to bring proof of their military status. No eligible patient will be turned away, and Dr. Laura hopes to exceed the 60-plus patients she cared for last year; 438-3333; eastwooddentaloffice.com.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
