Educational Outreach to prevent urban New Yorkers from fearing Coyoyes...............Bounties established in Nova Scotia to attempt to reduce coyote populations

As almost all of you know who subscribe to this blog, human persecution of coyotes only results in larger coyote populations. Coyotes have a strong ability to increase their litter size in response to family unit disruption caused by human bounty killings, trappings, etc. A family unit that formerly occupied a locale is limited in size(typically 1 coyote per square mile) by the food and water resources of that region. Once we come in and kill off that family unit and create temporary unfilled habitat…………………lone coyotes come in and typically will create two or more family units on what had been a solo coyote family region. The prospecting coyotes divide the territory, connect with a mate and both groups produce larger families of pups than had the previous 1 family occupiers of that habitat. You have to kill off 50 to 75% of the coyotes in a given large region to have any real dampening effect on coyote populations…………..something that even we human predators have been unable to do since occupying North America in 1500. As we all know, coyotes are the ultimate “adapt and overcome” animals, using the above stated response to fill virtually every locale in the USA(save Long Island……………and soon that will be filled with coyotes as new York City stragglers decide to take the Queens Midtown Tunnel onto the Island). WE NEED TO EDUCATE FOLKS ON WHAT TO DO TO CO-EXIST SUCCESSFULLY WITH ALL OF OUR NATIVE CARNIVEROUS ANIMALS AND THE PREVIOUSLY POSTED AUGORA HILLS, CALIFORNIA STATEMENT TO THAT REGARD IS A GOOD FOUNDATION PHILOSOPHY WITH WHICH THAT OBJECTIVE CAN BE REALIZED! In response to public backlash against coyotes here in the States, the Wild Dog Foundation has launched a major public education campaign within the New York City area. Especially here on Long Island , the only land mass left where coyotes are not verified present. Educating the public ahead of time  even if they do not officially exist is our goal to foster coexistence and portray them positively . Already State agencies are recommending more killing of coyotes in the belief that this will create a fear of humans. This does not work. We are working closely with Project Coyote and it's many network members here in the east from upstate New York (Foxwoods Wildlife Center)to Connecticut and Florida and Indiana (Indiana Coyote Rescue). We are also promoting  the work of Dr. Jon Way and a wolf reintroduction group (Northeast Ecological Recovery Society) is combating indiscriminant killing of wild canids .An Urban wildlife study group is also looking into coyotes here in New York City called Wild Metro. We are all trying to stem hysteria and paranoia, any vocal support  from Canid Specialist Group for our efforts would be greatly appreciated. sincerely, Frank Vincenti Wild Dog Foundation > Hi all, > It is with great sadness that I share this information with you: Today > (Thursday), a bounty was announced on coyotes here in  Other decent measures were announced (some > that Harrington and I suggested last week) including public education, > outreach, and "surgical" interventions with specific cases. > I want to thank all that helped with information and moral support via > emails and frequent chats. You may soon hear from me and Camilla Fox in an > attempt to gather an "official", written opposition from the scientific > community for the record.> > Regards, > > Simon Gadbois > > Y. Simon Gadbois, Ph.D. > Life Sciences Centre • 1355 Oxford Street • Dalhousie University • Halifax, > Nova Scotia • B3H 4J1 • Canada > http://web.me.com/ysg/ Nova Scotia. This > follows the fatal attack in Cape Breton Highlands National Park last October > and the many aggressive encounters reported since. > Since October, I have been having media interviews on a regular basis, most > recently to suggest alternatives to bounties and some general perspective on > the situation (i.e., bounties don't work, including a bounty initiated here > in Nova Scotia in the early 80's that was stopped 4 years later and resulted > in an increase in the coyote population). > Last Friday, Fred Harrington and myself met with the Minister of Natural > Resources in a last attempt to change the government's decision. I talked to > the minister last night as well. We did not succeed. > The bounty was actually labelled a "trapping incentive" that will be applied > only during the regular trapping/hunting season, i.e. from October to March. > The incentive is of $20 a pelt.

FW: PROJECT COYOTE ~ Your Help Needed NOW!

 


WILL COYOTES SUFFER IN FLORIDA AND INDIANA? Dear Project Coyote Fans & Supporters:Three weeks decides their fate. Here's how you can help.
Because of your overwhelming comments, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission (INRC) voted unanimously in March to advance with formal rulemaking to ban the practice and in February, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) temporarily suspended penning statewide after receiving hundreds of comments in support of a ban.  “Penning” involves the live trapping of wild coyotes and foxes that are then sold to facilities that operate fenced-in facilities for the purpose of allowing packs of hounds to pursue and often kill the captive animals –  domesticated canines pitted against their wild cousins.However, the battle to end this brutal practice is far from over. Both the INRC and the FWC have begun formal rulemaking procedures to address this controversial practice. Project Coyote, in partnership with other national and local organizations, is working towards a permanent ban on penning in both states and we need your assistance! If you live in Florida, please attend one of the upcoming hearings on this issue and write to the FWC in support of a ban. See our action alert updates on our website for more information: http://www.projectcoyote.org/action/actionflorida4.htmlIf you live in Indiana, please attend the INRC Commission hearing on May 18th. More information here: http://www.projectcoyote.org/action/actionindiana3.html <http://www.projectcoyote.org/action/actionindiana3.html>
Your letters have made a difference! We need to have a good showing at these hearings and letters from state residents is critical to maintain the pressure for a permanent ban! Thank you for taking action on behalf of America's wild "song dog."
We need your help <https://www.earthislandprojects.org/projectCoyote/donate.html> to keep doing this important work. We can do it with your help! If you are not yet a member of Project Coyote, please consider joining our growing team today. To make a secure online donation now, visit Project Coyote’s website <https://www.earthislandprojects.org/projectCoyote/donate.html> .


With sincere thanks


Camilla H. Fox
Founding Director

****************************************

<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ProjectCoyote/69ccd6b8c0/TEST/29142d1e94> Project Coyote <http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ProjectCoyote/69ccd6b8c0/TEST/a8c0b02363> is a non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that promotes educated coexistence between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of coyotes and other native carnivores. We depend on our members and supporters to help us continue our work on behalf of America’s native “song dog.” Please join us today! All donations are tax-deductible. Visit us at www.ProjectCoyote.org <http://www.ProjectCoyote.org/> .




Project CoyoteP.O. Box 5007
Larkspur, CA 94977
415-945-3232
Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST, PLSEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO http://www.blogger.com/info@projectcoyote.org with “UNSUBSCRIBE” IN THE SUBJECT LINE

________________________Project CoyoteP.O. Box 5007
Larkspur, CA  94977
http://www.blogger.com/info@projectcoyote.org415.945.3232 (o)
Fostering educated coexistence between humans and coyotesA project of Earth Island Institute
Visit us online:  www.ProjectCoyote.orgmake a tax deductible donation:
https://www.earthislandprojects.org/projectcoyote/donate.html

How us human animals can coexist peacefully with coyotes(and all of our trophic and charismatic large fellow Predators

With rising anxiety in parts of Canada and in New York City and environs due to coyotes becoming humans new neighbors, thought that my neighboring towns sensible, humane and workable policy on Coyotes was worth posting.

AUGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA-POLICY TO ALL RESIDENTS ON HOW TO PEACEFULLY COEXIST WITH COYOTES


Recognize that the coyote is indigenous to Agoura Hills. We built our city in the coyote's backyard and the coyote has adapted to this environment. We should adapt to the presence of the coyote.



Coyote (Canis Latrans)

The coyote weighs 20 to 30 pounds and stands 23 to 26 inches at the shoulder. In appearance, the coyote looks similar to a tan colored shepherd type dog with long pointed muzzle, large ears and long legs. The coyote is an extremely intelligent predator that has adapted to living in close proximity to humans. Coyotes, whose natural habitat is the Los Angeles basin, have adjusted to the shrinking habitat by living closer to humans, sometimes in residential areas, parks, and on the landscaped areas of the freeway system. Coyotes use the flood control channels, freeways, hillside erosion gutters, city streets, and sidewalks as convenient means of travel. They find an abundant source of water from swimming pools, gutters, leaking hose faucets, and sprinkler heads, bird baths and pet water dishes in residential areas.



Although the coyote is an excellent hunter, feeding primarily on rats, mice, ground squirrels, rabbits, insects, carrion and fruit, it will not hesitate to kill cats, small dogs, poultry, sheep or goats, given the opportunity. They learn that domestic animals are easier to catch than wild prey and will prowl neighborhoods in search of unattended domestic animals.



What You Can Do to Protect Your Family, Pets, Poultry and Livestock

Coyotes are capable of scaling fences up to six feet high. They will also dig under fences. They can be deterred by increasing the height of fencing and facing it outward at a 45 degree angle. Bury the bottom of the fence at least six to twelve inches underground to prevent the coyote from digging underneath. A covered enclosure set up with a pet door will permit your pet to go safely outdoors. Coyotes are wild animals and should be treated as such. No attempt should be made to pet or otherwise make contact with them.



Chicken, rabbits, and other small animals often kept outside should be kept in well-protected areas and in sturdy cages at night. Cages made of chicken wire will not keep desperate coyotes or other predators from entering. Stronger gauge wiring is a necessity in protecting these small animals. City residents are advised to give special attention to the following do's and don'ts:



DO'S

Keep your cat or dog indoors at night or any other time when a coyote is known to be in the area

Accompany your small dog in a well lighted area at night for comfort walks

Walk your dog on a leash whenever you take it off of your property

Confine poultry and rabbits in covered enclosures constructed with heavy mesh wire. Coyotes can break through ordinary chicken wire

Keep all outdoor trash can lids securely fastened to trash containers

Pick backyard fruit as soon as it ripens and keep rotten fruit off the ground



DON'TS
Don't feed wild animals. It is illegal to feed predatory wild animals in the City of Agoura Hills

Don't leave pet food or bones outside, particularly at night

Don't allow pets to roam from home--especially at night.

Don't leave water bowls for pets outdoors

Don't leave garbage containers open

Don't leave water in birdbaths or bird seed outdoors for songbirds





Remember, as with many wild animals, the coyote, when left alone, will regulate its own numbers. If coyotes in a certain area are killed, die, or are relocated, the remaining members will fill the vacancies, either with larger litters or by allowing outsiders to move into the area. Flashing lights, tape recorded human noises, scattered moth balls, and ammonia-soaked rags strategically placed may deter coyotes from entering your property. Coyotes and all other predatory mammals are considered "opportunistic" hunters. It is your responsibility to afford fundamental protection for all of your domestic and companion animals.

Three fantastic new books that I highly recommend that you invest in.....................John and Mary Theberge's
THE PTARMIGAN'S DILEMMA which focuses on how life is constantly adapting and taking on new forms................with some very revealing information on Epigenetics--how environmental influences can permanently alter genes...............and perhaps why the Eastern Wolf might be both Western Wolf(C.lupus) as well as it's own species(C.lycaon)............Fascinating reading indeed!

Veteran and distinguished Field Biologists John Terborgh and James Estes mine into Predator and Prey dynamics in their TROPHIC CASCADES................ how top down influences on the environment combine with bottom up influences to shape ecosytems and the suite of living creatures that occupy them..................

Cristina Eisenberg who has been working fervently in Colorado on a working ranch documenting what very well might be the first wolf pack in The Centennial State in over a 100 years provides us with another perspective on keystone predators and their dramatic influence on regulating ecosystems in her teriffic new book, THE WOLF'S TOOTH.

These three volumes are indeed illuminating, riveting and expansive in their revelation on the web of life on our planet. I am happy to have Cristina and John and Mary Theberge as new friends and hope to interact with John Terborgh and James Estes on this blog in the near future.................ALL THREE VOLUMES AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE ONLINE....................ENJOY THEM AS I HAVE!!!!!!

THE CASE FOR WILDERNESS

DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS(U.S. Congress Wilderness Act of 1964)

 A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

Wilderness is America's Legacy
Wilderness is an indispensable part of the American story. Native Americans depended on the bounty of wilderness for survival and held Earth and its wild places sacred. As Europeans arrived and settled the continent, they viewed the vast wilderness as places to be conquered. Lewis and Clark were inspired by the untamed beauty and foresaw how then-wild country would contribute to a burgeoning nation's wealth. Over time, wild lands were developed at an alarming rate to meet the demands of an exploding population. The essential wildness of America was tamed and transformed and, in some cases, lost. As Americans realized that the long-term health and welfare of the nation was at risk, a vision for conservation emerged.
President Lyndon Johnson signs the Wilderness Act of 1964. In 1964, our nation's leaders formally acknowledged the immediate and lasting benefits of wild places to the human spirit and fabric of our nation. That year, in a nearly-unanimous vote, Congress enacted landmark legislation that permanently protected some of the most natural and undisturbed places in America. The Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System to "…secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness." These areas are sources of clean water and air and protect habitats for wildlife. One who visits wilderness finds exceptional scenic beauty, natural sounds, and opportunities for challenging recreation, inspiration, rejuvenation and solitude. For many Americans, just knowing wilderness is there inspires pride and a sense of responsibility. Wilderness indeed forged the American ethic of self-reliance, personal responsibility, individual freedom, hard work, faith and the belief that anything is possible. As highlighted in the above paragraph, in 1964, our Congress nearly voted unanimously(99 Yea/1 No) in celebratory bi-partisan fashion to pass this truly American act of foresight and renewal. Why has our current generation of Republican Conservatives abandoned what should be their birthright core principle? With the root word of CONSERVATION being "CONSERVE"................Why have the leaders and rank & file of the Republican Party become known as the Party of "DRILL BABY DRILL"? David Jenkins, the Government Affairs Director of REP AMERICA, an organization focused on resurrecting the Republican Party's great conervation tradition states that it comes down to the fact that "material wealth" has clouded what once was a strong environmental ethic of mid 20th Century Conservatives. For whatever good Ronald Reagan did during his time in power, the Republican President and his business allies decided to paint those who supported open space, clean air and water and biological diversity as enemies of economic prosperity. How sad that half of our Governmental leaders are mired down in this falsehood.................You cannot despoil your nest and expect to raise healthy offspring over the long term. Every species knows this intrinsically except us human animals. Just like the kids in Vermont in my previous Post who are planting trees...........one tree at a time..........and persevering in their efforts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Us Adults must stay the course, educate our "doughting thomas" friends and neighbors that one is not a "sissy"..............one is not unmanly..............one is not anti-business when one favors and supports restoring and optimizing our"nest" so that we and our descendants and all of our fellow-species persist and thrive in the millenia ahead! If we are truly for family values and protecting our Country from all enemies, then we have to be for protecting our open spaces and wildlife. I call on all fiscal conservatives to conserve our Biodiversity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! click below link for David jenkins views on this topic http://www.scribd.com/full/29685878?access_key=key-1k5j3pqx34umrikiq986

                                               

                                            

I

HARVARD FOREST'S WILDLANDS AND WOODLANDS RE-WILDING PLAN

David Foster and his colleagues vision for keeping 50% of Massachusetts

forested(a mixture of both wild reserves and working forest acreage) is a paradigm that

is getting traction in both the Bay State and across New England ..............Perhaps a vision that will ultimately be recognized and embraced by Federal, State and Local Governements as well as private citizens across the USA

REFORESTING 1 TREE AT A TIME...........................

Like in all of lifes endeavors, the goals that we set up for ourselves are only accomplished if we put one foot in front of the other, day after day after day.

Persistance, resolve and the ability to shake off the occasional disappointments are the characteristics of a dominant closing relief pitcher like Mariano Rivera of the NY Yankees and 16 year old Jenny Koch of Killington, Vermont who has spearheaded the re-foresting efforts of "CHANGE THE WORLD KIDS", a volunteer organization founded12 years ago by a couple of grade-school kids................

1 tree at a time..........1 new bird using new habitat............that is how we will accomplsh re-wilding across the USA and beyond.

FW: Press Release - Jaguar Group Arriving by Bicycle at State Capitol for Earth Day Rally

 

 

Subject: Press Release - Jaguar Group Arriving by Bicycle at State Capitol for Earth Day Rally

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Jaguar Bike-a-Thon Arrives At State Capitol

 

When:   Earth Day, April 22, 11:00 am

Where;  Arizona State Capitol Building, Senate Lawn, Phoenix

Who:      Biologists, Bicyclists, Jaguar Recovery Activists, Government Officials 

Contact:  Tony Povilitis 406-600-4803(cell)

 

Wildlife biologist Dr Anthony Povilitis and bicycling advocates for jaguar recovery in the Southwest will complete an eight day, 350-mile Jaguar Bike-a-Thon at the Arizona State Capitol Thursday. The cyclists will present their 6 point Citizens’ Statement of support for jaguar recovery to the US Fish and Wildlife Service at a rally at the conclusion of their ride, scheduled for 11:00 am. They will also present hundreds of signatures gathered form citizens along their route from Nogales to Phoenix in favor of strong efforts to recover the species. They will be joined by a State Representative for the final miles.

 

“This is a pivotal moment for the jaguar in the United States ” says Dr. Povilitis. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could take a strong approach and adopt a program to recover a population of jaguars in a significant portion of their former U.S. range, or just plan to protect a few jaguars that may occur just north of the border. We favor a strong approach that will work to restore the world's northernmost jaguar population and include safeguards to ensure species survival.”

 

In recent historical times, jaguars inhabited Arizona and New Mexico , as well as parts of southern California and Texas . After the tragic death of Macho B, the last known jaguar in the US , citizens have become concerned about the possible extinction of the great spotted cat in the US . Dr. Povilitis, whose efforts to list the cat in 1992 led to its 1997 designation as endangered, states “we’ve waited patiently for meaningful recovery efforts for nearly 20 years. If we don’t act decisively now, we will  lose the habitat and connectivity between wild lands necessary to recover this fantastic wild cat.”

 

                                                  -30-

 

 

http://jaguarhabitatusa.wordpress.com 

 

 

 

France powers up 75% of their electricity needs with nuclear....wind and solar will destroy our wild habitats....do not fall into 40 year ago delusion that wind and solar are benign and nuclear is evil

nuclear option least footprint on the land...................wind and solar farms blows up far to much open space

FW: Wolverine Night!

-----Original Message-----
From: Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative [mailto:nrcc@nrccooperative.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 12:41 PM
To: Meril, Rick
Subject: Wolverine Night!

Having trouble reading this email? View it on the web.

Join NRCC for Wolverine Night!

Thursday, April 29, 2010
7 PM
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
FREE

Featuring:

• a preview of the PBS Nature film Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom, with producer Gianna Savoie
• highlights of the new book The Wolverine Way with National Geographic writer Doug Chadwick
• a discussion of relationships between wolverine habitat use and climate change by Jeff Copeland of the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
• an overview of wolverine science and conservation by NRCC executive director and field director of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wolverine Project, Jason Wilmot

**Wine & Cheese Reception Following the Presentation**

Reception co-sponsored by: The Wolverine Foundation, American Wildlands, Defenders of Wildlife, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, The Murie Center, & Winter Wildlands Alliance.

About the Presenters

Doug Chadwick is a writer based in Whitefish, Montana. He focuses on conservation and wildlife issues for National Geographic, and has authored several books on natural history, including A Beast the Color of Winter: The Mountain Goat Observed and Growing Up Grizzly: the True Story of Baylee and her Cubs. The Wolverine Way will be released in spring of 2010.

Gianna Savoie is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over a decade of experience in science & natural history filmmaking. Her work has been featured on PBS, Discovery, Animal Planet, and National Geographic. For more information on Gianna's recent work, check out her website.

Jeff Copeland is one of the world’s foremost authorities on wolverines. He is a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana. Jeff conducted seminal research on wolverines in Central Idaho in the mid 90’s and since then has been a principal and advisor for numerous wolverine research projects in North America, including Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, northern Canada, the Northern Cascades, and north-central Idaho. His most recent publication, The bioclimatic envelope of the wolverine (Gulo gulo): do climatic constraints limit its geographic distribution? is an examination of the relationship between wolverine distribution and spring snowpack.

Jason Wilmot spent over 10 years living in the Glacier National Park area, where he worked in various capacities for the National Park Service. He helped develop and initiate the Glacier Wolverine Ecology Project, a partnership between the U.S. Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, and currently serves as the field director for the Absaroka-Beartooth Wolverine Project and executive director of NRCC. For more information on NRCC's current wolverine work, check out NRCC's February 2010 e-news or our website.

You are receiving this newsletter because of your interest in NRCC. Click here if you wish to unsubscribe.

© 2010 Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative
P.O. Box 2705
Jackson, WY 83001
307.733.6856
nrcc@nrccooperative.org

Western Coyote morphing into Coywolf across New England, NY, Penn and NJ

Across New England and down through New York, Pennsylvania and Northern New Jersey, the hybridized Coywolf(c.latrans(x)lycaon) weighs in a good 10 pounds heavier at 30-45 pounds then the Western Coyote C.latrans which is a 20 to 35 pounder................Thought the pics below showing a Western Coyote living in my neighborhood in Los Angeles versus a Coywolf(New England whereabouts unknown) would reinforce the contrast in heft and facial features between the two "cousins"......................

EASTERN COYOTE(COYWOLF)

WESTERN COYOTE

We still have a long way to go for us to co-exist with our fellow meat and plant eaters

My friend Frank Digraci sent this to me this afternoon and the ironic humor of the text did cause me to chuckle.............and then to contemplate the large educational task we continue to have in front of us as it relates to us human animals coming to grips with "natures design" and not feeling that we have to "manage or improve upon it". The suite of native animal and plant species that we found here upon sailing across the Atlantic always has known how to co-exist and perpetuate itself without our help. As stated and questioned in a previous Post published several weeks back, even the "First Americans" likely altered their living environment in such as a way as to induce local animal and plant shortages and extirpations. Their population was a minute fraction of the 300 million of us who currently occupy the USA and yet many of their civilizations fell apart due to adverse exploitation and manipulation of their fellow creatures and plant species.

Regardless of your religion or spirituality, Frank's "God and Lawn Care" spoof below depicts just how off-base so many of us are as it relates to how we see and react to the natural world that we occupy. In my neighborhood in Los Angeles, folks generally feel that their lawn(there should not be lawns here but that is for another Post) should resemble their living room carpet...................cut very short like a gold course ...............Of course this precipitates watering frequently(we have no natural water supply in this Los Angeles and the snow pack has been below normal and the Colorado River is being tapped to the bone) so as to have a green "carpet".

All the "woe is me" aside as it relates to the steep mountain of education needed to get all of us living in harmony with nature, I think we can one day get there................Stay the course everyone................One tree planted at a time, one more wolf pack formed in a vacant territory......................Baby steps lead to Giant steps!............Enjoy Frank's scribe below:

Sent: Sun Apr 18 16:27:54 2010
Subject: Fwd: Fw: God and Lawn Care

GOD:
     Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets,  milkweeds  and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type
of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
     St. FRANCIS:
     It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
     GOD:
     Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
     ST. FRANCIS:
     Apparently
so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
     GOD:
     The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
     ST. FRANCIS:
     Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.
     GOD:
     They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
     ST. FRANCIS:
     Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
     GOD:
     They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
     ST. FRANCIS:
     No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
     GOD:
     Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
     ST. FRANCIS:
     Yes, Sir.
     GOD:
     These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
     ST. FRANCIS:
     You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
     GOD:
     What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a
natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.
     ST. FRANCIS:
     You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
     GOD:
     No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
     ST. FRANCIS:
     After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
     GOD:
     And where do they get this mulch?
     ST. FRANCIS:
     They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
     GOD:
     Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
     ST. CATHERINE:
     'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about....
     GOD:
     Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

One of the 6 or so Mountain Lions calling Los Angeles home

If the Mountains ringing Los Angeles can still support 6 or so Mountain Lions, then so can the Ramapo's and Catskills(by the way named for the Cougars that once called it  home) of the Greater NYC area house F. concolor!

 

 

 

Close up shot below of one of "The City of Angels" Mountain Lions(named P-12)-----circa 2010

 

 

 

Coyotes, Wolves and Cougars Forever is a strong advocate for our native fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects--all things indigenous and part of the "Circle"

My longtime friend, Phil Keller lives in Sisters, Oregon, one of the premiere Fly Fishing locales in the USA. Phil turned me on to the NATIVE FISH SOCIETY whose mission stated below is to:

                                         PROTECT AND RESTORE NATIVE, WILD FISH AND THEIR HABITATS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Mission Statement of the Native Fish Society:

Our Purpose

The Native Fish Society protects and restores native, wild fish and their habitats in the Pacific Northwest. NFS works with public agencies and governments to get native fish conservation policies implemented and to ensure that native fish policies are indeed followed once implemented.

The Native Fish Society is involved in public policy decisions and promotes scientifically-based solutions to fish management problems. We also encourage the involvement at both the administrative and personal levels by the public by educating them about the beauty, mystery and value of native fish and their environment.

Our Mission

• To advocate scientifically sound conservation, protection and recovery actions for native fish and their habitats in the Pacific Northwest
• To monitor and influence public agency management decisions in favor of native fish
• To produce educational materials on native fish conservation through scientific reports, newsletters, action alerts, and the media
• To inventory and monitor the status and health of native fish populations and improve our understanding of native fish ecosystem function

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Us:

Native Fish Society - Molalla Office

Mail:
Native Fish Society
PO Box 568

103 S. Molalla Ave.
Molalla, OR 97038

E-mail:
nativefishsociety@molalla.net

Phone:
(503) 829-6202
Fax:
(503) 829-6204

Native Fish Society - Portland Office

Mail:

Bill Bakke

Executive Director

7830 SW 40th Street, Suite #6

Portland, OR  97219

E-mail:

bmbakke@qwestoffice.net

Phone:

(503) 977-0287

For website corrections or additions contact info@nativefishsociety.org

If you're interested in supporting our organization, please click here.

NEW YORK STATE ABOUT TO RIP UP THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS AND DESTROY THE HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY AND NYC'S DRINKING WATER DRILLING FOR NATURAL GAS

"DRILL BABY DRILL" is about to commence in New York State across the Marcellus Shale region (running from NY and Pennsylvania down through sections of the Appalchians) that allegedly hold significant Natural Gas deposits. Slanted Fractured drilling involves pouring harmful chemicals and millions of gallons of water underground to pump up the Gas..................New York City, the home of the purest drinking water in the world due to the natural filtering that the forest preserve in the Catskills provides is about to be compromised if the State Government permits Gas Companies to begin drilling.

 

Sign the attached petition in our effort to stop a travesty that not only will pollute the water...................but it will despoil the natural landscape and wildlife of the region forever more. I vote for selected nuclear power sites which take up the least open space and do not put a windmill or solar farm on every mountaintop and field. There are now ways to recycle the nuclear waste and as France has discovered, you can power up to 75% or more of your population if you make the nuclear investment...............Remember, that windmills are 300 feet high........................require all forms of electrical lines and other infrastructure to get the killowats to power stations and your home and workplace.............Solar is fine as long as it is on existing rooftops.....................when you take up thousands of acres of open space with reflectors, you are killing off our open space and wild heritage as severely as if you build a coal burning plant................................

 

DRILL BABY DRILL IS MORONIC........................AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS VOTED FOR REPUBLICAN GOVENORS WHITMAN AND PATAKI AS WELL AS REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ALONG THE WAY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,MY QUESTION IS WHERE IS THE REPUBLICAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE 1970'S WHEN THE WILDERNESS BILL, CLEAN AIR AND WATER ACTS WERE ALL VOTED FOR IN A BI-PARTISAN WAY..................C'MON NOW FOLKS................LET US NOT MAKE ANOTHER GRAVE ENERGY ERROR AS WE ATTEMPT TO WEAN OFF CARBON FUELS.

 

 

CLICK ON LINK TO SIGN PETITION

 

Dear Rick Meril,

Thank you for signing the "Tell NYS DEC Commisioner Grannis No Drilling Until the EPA Completes Its Study" petition at iPetitions.com. Your signature is valuable and makes a real difference. Please encourage others to sign the petition as well. Forward the text below to everyone who might be interested:

------- FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS -------

Hi,

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:

"Tell NYS DEC Commisioner Grannis No Drilling Until the EPA Completes Its Study"

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nodrilling/

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.

Thanks!

------------------------------

 

p.s. If you would like to start your own free petition, you can do so at

http://www.ipetitions.com/start-petition

Mark McCollough USFW Eastern Cougar Talk Wednesday Night of this past week, April 14, 2010

Helen McGinnis of The Eastern Cougar Foundation reached out to Mark McCollough today regarding the contents of his Eastern Cougar Status Report this past Wednesday. Mark is still not sure what the final recommendations will be as his assesment is reviewed by higher-ups at Fish & Wildlife. Mark and Helen.....................keep all of us posted please!

 

 

 

From: Mark_McCollough@fws.gov

To: Helen McGinnis

Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 2:21 PM

Subject: Re: Your talk on "eastern cougars" last night

Helen - about 60 people were in attendance, including several who had cougar observations of their own in ME to share. As far as I know, there were no media folks there and I haven't seen any reports.

I will share my last slide, which is really no new information to you. The primary purpose of five-year reviews are to make recommendations concerning the federal listing status - is current listing adequate or does it merit change? Beyond that, there are opportunities in the recommendation section of a 5-year review to elaborate on other recovery needs - new research/surveys, update recovery plan, implement new strategies, etc.

I do not yet what recommendations will be in the final 5-year review. I know that I put considerable thought into recommendations, but I suspect they could be changed as the review goes up the chain.

thanks for your continued interest, Mark

•Delist? Based on taxonomy, extinction?

•Maintain on endangered species list?


Will the cougar return to the East on its own? Does it need protection?
  Biological and socio-political realities?

*****************************************************************
Mark McCollough, Ph.D. Endangered Species Specialist
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Maine Field Office
17 Godfrey Drive, Suite #2
Orono, ME 04473
Phone: (207) 866-3344 x115
Fax: (207) 866-3351
Email: mark_mccollough@fws.gov
*****************************************************************
"Helen McGinnis" <HelenMcGinnis@frontiernet.net>

"Helen McGinnis" <HelenMcGinnis@frontiernet.net> 04/16/2010 09:32 AM

To "Mark McCollough" <mark_mccollough@fws.gov> cc Subject Your talk on "eastern cougars" last night

Hi Mark,
I don't know if any members of the Eastern Cougar Foundation were able to get to Falmouth last night. If any news reports on your talk are printed, I would certainly like to see them.
Helen

Gerri Visten and Camilla Fox of Project Coyote.org.........Voices of Reason versus old school Maine Hunters calling for Coyote Bounties for no good reason

MAINERS: Your Voice Needed!

WHAT:   Maine Outdoors Radio Program  will be hosting a "Conservationist" who will be talking about ways of addressing the "Coyote Problem"  in Northern Maine.
WHERE:  On radio station WVOM 101.3 and 103.9 FM (Bangor 103.9 FM and Augusta 101.3 FM)
WHEN:  Sunday, April 18 at 7:00PM EST
WHAT YOU CAN DO:  This radio station accepts calls from its listeners.  PLEASE CALL on Sunday! Number to call: 1-800-966-1039
POINTS YOU CAN MAKE:  Please use any of the points below from two OpEds printed in the Bangor Daily News and the Portland Press Herald by Project Coyote Founding Director, Camilla Fox, and Project Coyote Maine Representative, Geri Vistein


Culling Coyotes Not the Solution
From the Bangor Daily News


By Camilla H. Fox

Coyotes have become a convenient scapegoat for Maine's "deer problem." After all, it's much easier to point the finger at the big, bad coyote than question current forest management practices that adversely affect the size of the deer herd. Wholesale removal of forest cover by corporate landowners such as Plum Creek, combined with naturally occurring heavy snowstorms, leaves thousands of deer without food and shelter.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists report that many deer have died of starvation. As scavengers, coyotes clean up the remains of road- and winter-killed deer, offering a natural ecological service that keeps the roadsides and woods clean. Unfortunately, coyotes' efficient, natural-born behavior gives extremists a chance to characterize coyotes as bloodthirsty deer killers.

Photo by Trish Carney

Bob Grandchamp, in his Op-Ed "Deer herds the victim of a foreign predator" (BDN, April 9), suggests that the state enact a coyote bounty to "clean out this killer … hellbent on exterminating and consuming our native population of deer." Mr. Grandchamp's emotional, human-centered view of wild animals and their relationship to each other and the natural environment is shortsighted and unscientific. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, the primary coyote-killing agency, admits that coyote bounties don't work and are counterproductive.  

DIF&W doesn't offer a bounty but does allow coyotes to be shot, trapped, baited, and hounded year-round in unlimited numbers. Now the DIF&W-sponsored Deer Task Force is advocating for denning, the killing of coyote pups in their dens, and neck snaring, a method that DIF&W acknowledges is inherently indiscriminate that can cause extreme pain and suffering. Not only are such practices ethically repugnant, they don't work.

Under heavy pressure, coyotes will mate at an earlier age and have larger litters of healthier pups, who will be more likely to survive to breeding age. Beating down the coyote population over the long term would require killing 75 percent of the population every year. Two centuries of persistent persecution has done little to reduce coyote populations or conflicts and has likely selected for a more successful, opportunistic, resilient and adaptable species that some scientists refer to as the supercoyote.

As a top carnivore, coyotes play an undeniably vital role in their ecological communities. They competitively exclude or directly kill foxes, raccoons, skunks and feral cats — smaller predators that affect the number and diversity of ground-nesting birds. They also serve humans by eating rodents in huge numbers and even help keep Canada goose populations down in urban landscapes. Unlike humans, coyotes cull the sick, diseased and weak, thus strengthening the prey gene pool. Human hunters, on the other hand, desire the largest buck with the biggest rack, removing, if at all possible, the strongest and most robust individuals from the gene pool.

Killing coyotes in large numbers can set off ecological chain reactions with profound implications. Yet, even while research continues to highlight the important and complex role coyotes and other top carnivores play in maintaining ecological health and species diversity, many state agencies and extremist sportsmen's groups continue to promote a view of predators that is stuck in the big-bad-wolf era. In fact, coyotes immigrated into Maine as a direct result of the same anti-predator hysteria — coyotes have successfully filled the niche left open when the wolf was systematically eliminated.

Animals living in the wild operate under their own set of rules governed by the cycles of weather and food availability. Populations fluctuate; predators eat their prey. Unlike deer that, unless culled by predators, generally breed until they exhaust resources and starve, coyotes control their own numbers.

Wild animals shouldn't be cared for or protected during bad weather or short food years, like cattle and sheep. Imposing human values and emotions on wild animals leads to irrational and misdirected policies. Coyotes are not bad, and deer are not good. They are what they are, and they play important roles in each others' lives.

We must move beyond the mind-set that views coyotes as evil or unnatural, as Mr. Grandchamp proposes, and recognize that they have much to offer us, not only by keeping ecosystems healthy, but by providing inspiring examples of ingenuity and adaptability in an ever-changing world.

Camilla H. Fox grew up in Maine, holds a master's degree in wildlife ecology, policy and conservation, and is the co-author of "Coyotes in Our Midst: Learning to Live with an Adaptable & Resilient Carnivore."

---

March 12
Portland Press Herald
It's time to start respecting coyotes
By Geri Vistein, Project Coyote

— This commentary is in response to an article written by Bob Humphrey in the Press Herald on Dec. 4: ''Maybe it's time to turn sights on coyotes.''

As a wildlife researcher here in Maine, the focus of my work is carnivores and their relationship to the larger ecosystem of which we are a part.

In my research and outreach projects, I have spoken with many hunters, and I recognize their concern for the acceptance of their sport by the larger community. Likewise, members of the larger community in Maine have shared their interests and concerns regarding our wildlife with me.

Thus I was in disbelief when I first read this article about killing coyotes under the guise of ''hunting.'' Many people in the community can understand respectfully killing an animal for its meat, but that understanding ends when the killing is done for ''fun'' or for some unfounded control tactic.

RISKING PUBLIC SUPPORT

Mr. Humphrey stated: ''Predator hunting can be a lot of fun.'' If hunters want to project themselves as true sportsmen, killing a valuable carnivore for ''fun'' will without a doubt decrease public support of hunting in general.

I would encourage hunters to read the life of Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife biology. Leopold was an avid hunter, and in his younger days as a forester, he saw no value in our native carnivores.

But with the disruption of ecosystems that resulted from federally supported predator control, he came to understand the value of carnivores. He became a voice not only for the preservation of game animals, but also for predators.

He once stated in his Sand County Almanac, ''Harmony with the land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand, and chop off his left. That is to say, you cannot love game and hate predators. The land is one organism.''

Mr. Humphrey initiates his article with the statement that the 2008 deer hunting season was the ''worst deer season in recent memory.'' Using this comment, he proceeds on through his logic for killing coyotes.

He states that coyotes are ''public enemy No. 1 on a deer hunter's list.'' From what scientific source is this attitude based? Or is it based on science at all?

Coyotes are a valuable native carnivore, and carnivores kill other animals in order to survive, and in doing so participate in the great design of nature. Mr. Humphrey's simplistic view of the relationship between predator and prey in no way portrays the vital, complex relationship between coyotes and deer.

Bears also are known to be effective predators of deer. But Mr. Humphrey makes no mention of bear hunting. Why?

As a scientist, I understand how information about the natural world can be manipulated and taken out of context to fit the writer's own belief system or agenda. I find it interesting that Mr. Humphrey makes no mention of the dramatic effect that the forest practices in Maine have on our deer herds, especially those in the north and Down East.

It is well known by hunters that the destruction of deer yards is a serious concern for the protection and survival of deer in winter.

In fact, Gerald Lavigne, in a 1995 study of eastern coyotes and their impact on white-tailed deer in Maine, said this about the deer in northern Maine: ''Major improvements in sustainable deer populations will only occur when, and if, the quantity and quality of wintering habitat increases.''

BE CAREFUL ABOUT RESEARCH

Be careful when research is cited out of context as an excuse to kill our native carnivore:''Results of a 1995 study claimed that coyotes account for up to 30 percent deer mortality here.'' What study? What part of Maine is ''here''? It makes a difference.

How many of these deer would have died from other causes anyway? People do their fellow hunters a great diservice by manipulating information that they count on to be true.

In addition, blithely stating that killing one or two coyotes will help alleviate winter and spring predation is absolutely unfounded by scientific research (for more information, please visit www.projectcoyote.org).

In closing, I would encourage hunters to collaborate with landowners large and small in order to create the necessary habitat for the survival of Maine's deer herds. This will be effort well spent.

But killing coyotes ''for fun'' will accomplish nothing for deer in Maine.

http://www.pressherald.com/archive/its-time-to-start-respecting-coyotes_2009-01-23.html

****************************************
Project Coyote is a non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that promotes educated coexistence between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of coyotes and other native carnivores. We depend on our members and supporters to help us continue our work on behalf of America's native "song dog." Please join us today! All donations are tax-deductible. Visit us at www.ProjectCoyote.org.
________________________
Project Coyote
P.O. Box 5007
Larkspur, CA  94977
info@projectcoyote.org
415.945.3232 (o)

Fostering educated coexistence between humans and coyotes
A project of Earth Island Institute

Visit us online:  www.ProjectCoyote.org
make a tax deductible donation:
https://www.earthislandprojects.org/projectcoyote/donate.html

THANK YOU HELEN MCGINNIS AND THE EASTERN COUGAR FOUNDATION FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND ENDORSEMENT!

Cougar News   HELEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND ENDORSEMENT……………….TERIFFIC!

The blog of the Eastern Cougar Foundation

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« US Fish & Wildlife Service biologist Mark McCollough to speak on eastern cougars in Falmouth, Maine on April 14th

Cougars and bears in Oklahoma? »

New BlogSpot – Coyotes, Wolves, Cougars….forever!

Apr 15th, 2010 by admin

http://coyotes-wolves-cougars.blogspot.com/

Every day you'll find new articles and discussion of these carnivores–and bears, lynx, wolverines and all things wild–and on the major ecological problems in our eastern woods caused by overbrowsing by deer.  Blogger Rick Meril grew up on the East Coast but now lives in the Los Angeles area.  His enthusiasm for big carnivores is boundless.  You can sign up to get emailed notices of the latest posts.

Here's what Rick says in his introduction:

Coyotes-wolves-cougars.blogspot.com is a site that invites research, commentary, point/counterpoint on the suite of native animals (predator and prey) that inhabited the Americas circa 1500-at the initial point of European exploration and subsequent colonization. Landscape ecology, journal accounts of explorers and frontiersmen, genetic evaluations of museum animals, peer reviewed 20th and 21st century research on various aspects of our "Wild America" as well as subjective commentary from expert and layman alike. All of the above being revealed and discussed with the underlying goal of one day seeing our Continent rewilded…..Where big enough swaths of open space exist with connective corridors to other large forest, meadow, mountain, valley, prairie, desert and chaparral wildlands…..Thereby enabling all of our historic fauna, including man, to live in a sustainable and healthy environment.

Posted in Eastern Cougar