Coyotes have inhabited Washington D.C. since at least 2004.......The always adaptable Song Dog utilizes the ribbon of Parkland (Rock Creek Park) that winds through the District......... Every nich and cranny is a potenital home for our most adaptable canine----- they are ingenious,,,,, just like another smart predator we all know so well,,,,,,,,the human animal

Coyotes can 'squeak out a living' anywhere

Here's a photo of a coyote in Rock Creek Park. (Courtesy of U.S. Park Service/USPP Officer Bellis)

Kathy Stewart

WASHINGTON - When you think of the D.C. area, you normally don't think of coyotes living here. But think again. Greg Weiler, project leader for the Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, says coyotes thrive in suburban and urban areas most times without being noticed. "It's highly likely that some are running around in the metropolitan area." He adds that the suburban and urban coyotes are mostly nocturnal feasting at local trash bins. But their counter-parts, who live in parks and wildlife refuges, such as the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, are seen during the daylight hours.

There have been coyotes living in Rock Creek Park. The first reported sightings started in May 2004, according to the National Park Service. The park service says most have been reported in the upper section of Rock Creek Park between Military and Wise roads.

Coyotes usually mate in January and February, and give birth to pups between March and May.
The coyote is not native to the eastern part of the U.S., but has been in Virginia and Maryland for decades.
Weiler says the animal's presence is "relatively recent in Northern Virginia, but becoming more abundant through the years." He says they're becoming common around here.

The coyote is an animal of opportunity and is highly adaptable. "They can squeak out a living any place," he says. But why have coyotes expanded and pushed their way into the area? Weiler says there are a variety of factors but currently they don't have any real predators with exception of man. For now Weiler says they are not really a threat to us. If you do happen actually see a coyote, he says, "just see it and know what it is and enjoy it."

Of course, you don't want to do anything to encourage coyotes. Among the suggestions from the National Park Service:

• Keep pet food indoors;
• Don't let your pets run loose;
• Keep your trash in tightly closed cans.

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Wily coyotes looking for love in D.C. region



Michelle Basch



WASHINGTON - Ever hear or see a coyote near your house? They do live around here, and this time of year they're looking for love.

"It increases their movements to some degree during the breeding season. They cover larger distances, particularly the males," says biologist Mike Fies with Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Coyotes usually mate in January and February, and give birth to pups between March and May. The animals have been living in Virginia and Maryland for decades, and the first recorded sighting in Rock Creek Park in D.C. was in 2004.

The coyote population in the region is on the increase, and so are urban coyote problems, Fies says. There has never been a confirmed report of a coyote attack on a human in Virginia, but attacks have happened in other states.

Fies says attacks almost always result from people trying to feed coyotes. He says giving the creatures food can encourage them to hang around homes, and over time they can lose their fear of humans. If that happens, Fies says coyotes can become aggressive and will need to be euthanized and destroyed.

Even if you're not intentionally feeding them, you could be unintentionally attracting coyotes to your yard. Don't leave pet food outside, keep trash cans closed and clean up around birdfeeders. They attract small animals that coyotes eat.

Not sure if you've seen a coyote? They're usually a little bit smaller than a German shepherd. They vary in color, but the most common color is sandy brown with a black stripe down a bushy tail.

Another giveaway is the way they run. Dogs usually run with their tails up. "Coyotes run with their tail down, almost between their legs," Fies says.

Fies says simply seeing a coyote is no cause for alarm. But if you see one that doesn't run away from humans or shows signs of aggression, it should be reported.