Local coyote population skyrocketing (Atlanta)

ATLANTA - Animal experts say the population of coyotes is growing faster than they can keep up with. The latest example comes from Midtown Atlanta, where one resident spotted and photographed a coyote.

"Whenever they do drop down, they rebound really quick. Sixty to 80 percent of the adult female coyotes are going to have pups every year," said Elliot.

Elliot warns don't be fooled by the animal's appearance; coyotes are natural predators and small pets have become prey, so he advises to be careful especially if your pets spend a lot of time outside.

“dogs and coyotes interbreed”

None of the genetic studies show dog genes in wild coyotes however they do show wolf crossbreeding. That’s why eastern coyotes are so much larger than western ones. I wonder if the Georgia ones are eastern coyotes.

Coyotes used to be controlled by a simple use of Compound 1080.

Then someone’s dog got killed and the US Government banned it.
The coyote population then exploded.

There have been coyotes in NYC for years. A while back the front page of the NY POST had pic of one on the West Side Highway. They are incredible adaptable, and smartg.

The NY Times environment blog recently noted their presence in the city, and being the Times, thinks it's a good thing..( until, I guess, one runs off with an infant)

Yep, a trot describes it very well. I’m a “city” girl, and describing animals gaits escapes me. But that’s the perfect word.

We’re very fortunate...we live in the middle of the city, but near a large lake/nature preserve, and a golf course with lots of small lakes (or big water hazards, LOL.)

We have so much wildlife for being in the middle of the city, and the variety of birds: eagles, osprey, roseate spoonbills, woodstorks, egrits, heron, ibis, etc. So when I look out my window, I feel like I’m in the country (if that word can apply to Florida woodlands.)

Coyotes have brought a new excitement...we’ve been living with gators for years that we regularly see on the banks of the water hazards, and occasionally one might crawl into your back yard, so seeing a gator is no big deal...but when the coyotes “came to town” it made nature watching a little more interesting (and we’re early risers so I think that’s why we’ve seen them more than some other folks because we see them returning from a night on the prowl.)

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