Coyotes Walking Our Streets

They're here.....

They are a cousin to the Wolf, really don't have any natural predators except Man,  prey on small animals and are roaming our streets. Coyotes.

We live in a wonderful neighbourhood in our City.  We are surrounded by green space which provides us with great parks for our children and pets to play. 

Unfortunately, there's a pack of Coyotes that have also settled into this area as well.

Since November 2011, there have been sightings of an injured Coyote seen in our area.  Most concerning is that this particular Coyote was seen in our local school yard which edges along a forest. 
In the past week, our neighbours have counted as many as 8 animals in the pack and have heard the Coyotes howling and yelping every evening during a "take down" of a small animal.

Several days ago, my close neighbour spotted a Coyote running down our street and cutting through a nearby park and walkway around 8:00 p.m.
While I was out walking yesterday (which is also Garbage Pick-Up Day), I had to navigate past the remnants of a small animal laying on the sidewalk a few doors down from where we live.  This isn't the first time I have had to do this over the past week.

Males can weigh in around 40 lbs, females slightly less.  Our Golden Retriever is 85 pounds - but hardly a match for a hungry Coyote, so we keep a close eye on him when he goes outdoors.

Although they are mostly nocturnal, they are becoming more brazen and have been seen during the daytime hours.  Litters are born in Spring and Fall and can be anywhere from 1 to 19 pups.  Average litter is about 6 pups.  There will obviously be quite a few more in our neighbourhood over the coming months unless they are removed. 

I have read that increases in the Coyote Population run in 10 year cycles.  Looks like this year is destined to be the "Year of the Coyote".  Great...