A city coyote will survive...

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-coyote11.html

Coyotes in area more wily than rural kin

January 11, 2006

BY GARY WISBY Environment Reporter

If someone were shooting at you and you knew of a place where they couldn't, you'd go there. Coyotes are no different.

That's one reason the animals -- though shy and largely unseen -- are surprisingly abundant in Chicago and most suburbs, where hunting is illegal.

And it's a reason urban coyotes' survival rate is twice that of their country cousins. In addition, city coyotes learn how not to become roadkill.

Seen watching traffic for gaps

"It's very common to see them sitting by a roadside watching traffic go by," Gehrt said. "It's speculation, but we think they're taking notes mentally, looking for gaps and when they occur. And they probably teach it to their pups."

He once watched the oldest coyote in his study, a 7-year-old female in the Schaumburg area, trot across Interstate 290 during the evening commute.

"Eight lanes of traffic and she crossed it," Gehrt said. "We were horrified."

[Boomer]

1. Sound like they may get smarter, too

>> But while a typical coyote in captivity can, like a mid-size dog, make it to age 13, urban coyotes usually live only two or three years.

"Eventually," Gehrt said, "they do make a mistake." <<

Nothing like selective pressure to spur evolution....

[0rganism]

2. They'll need mutation, too

Selective pressure alone won't cut it, but I'd guess there are plenty of mutagens available in the typical urban jungle.

[Boomer]

3. That 7-year-old female sounds like a first step

Lasting that much over the average age means she has some kind of canny advantage over other coyotes. And being female, each additional year means another litter carrying her genes.

At the very least it may skew the incidence of higher IQs within the population. That may not be the giant leap forward provided by a mutation, but it can still push the species toward one end of an existing continuum.

[SteppingRazor]

4. We actually had quite a few coyotes in L.A. County, where I grew up...

We came home one time late at night when I was 11 or 12 years old to find one sleeping on our doorstep.

They used to hideout in the hills, then send one coyote down into the streets. It would get a larger dog to chase it and lead the poor dog up into the hills, where the pack would be waiting...

[havocmom]

5. Did a lot of late night, wee hour of morning walking in Tucson

Got to be accepted by clans of coyotes in two areas I frequented. Got to observe lots of traffic watching while waiting for my daughter to get off work late at a mall on major thoroughfare. Yep, they watch for gaps in traffic, make bee-line for other side when safe and drop down into the urban flood control channels which followed the old natural seasonal stream beds. Those channels are a regular wildlife freeway system!

Was surrounded and walked about 3 miles with a group of strange ones one night during an emergency. Sorta bad 'hood, and major road construction to navigate. They came up and flanked me, I grabbed the nearest big stick which wasn't much, just a survey marker. The critters sensed my tension and moved a bit away, but kept me in their circle. After a bit, I came to the conclusion they were making sure I got where I was going safely. I was not a common visitor in that clan's territory, but they were most gracious. I actually felt much safer with my honor guard. There were some unsavory two legged critters in that area and I was just out of the ER after night from hell waiting my turn for treatment of an injury. Those coyotes were like a team of guardian angels when I really needed protection and comfort.

Pretty sure that was the clan that would allow my sister's elk hound/coyote hybrid run with it from time to time. Could be they caught the dog's scent on me as I was house and dog sitting for my sister that weekend.

Another momma coyote took in a pup somebody dropped off out at the edge of town years later. The pup was not able to fend for itself and was kept alive by the momma coyote. That pup ended up at my sister's just built new house about 2 years after her dog/coyote hybrid died. He is a grand dog, but has some bone and teeth weakness due to malnutrition before he found his good home. He is a faithful and loving pet to my sister, but he still (after 8 years) stares out, waiting and watching when his wild cousins are about.

That dog is oddly fierce about some coyotes in the area, but there is one female he and I encountered in walks that he had a real soft spot for. He would stop, sit and just look as she led her new pups down through the wash near his big new home. I swear that dog got the damnest look in his eye whenever she was near where we would walk.

Coyotes should not be underestimated. They are incredible, and yes, the species is getting smarter. Havocdad is wildlife manager/biologist and he sees it in areas where they are hunted up here in Montana. Only the dumber ones get shot. The species is getting brighter. He chuckles that they are smarter than most people where they have to compete with us.

I did like it in Tucson, where I actually saw them everyday and could walk in proximity. They would wander through the apartment complex I lived at by the river bed. My cats were only allowed out on leash with me! Funny, but I rarely see them here in rural eastern Montana. They have plenty of room and don't come into this little town. I miss their company. Looking to retire where I can see them again.