Actual Urban Nature Post

There's been another jailbreak from nature, and this time the culprit is a coyote. Coyotes, once thought to be creatures of the prairie, are American wild dogs that can thrive in almost any kind of terrestrial habitat. One made it all the way to Boston's North End, probably to compare different plates of Meadow Vole Alfredo at various Prince Street Ristorantes. It was scooped up by authorities, who brought it to Tufts Wildlife clinic where it was deemed relatively healthy: not conspicuously rabid or mangy, but possibly hit by a car.

They are going to release it "to the wild" whatever that means. A Coyote found that far into Boston didn't wander there from the Worcester Hills. This guy was a local, and as far as he was concerned, he was in the wild. Nonetheless, the belief that the city is NOT wildlife habitat must be protected at costs, no matter that the wildlife continues to view it as such. He'll be let go someplace woodsy, wondering just what happened.

While it lasts, the article, with a great photograph of the vet students working, is at boston.com:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/01/coyote_captured.html

Thanks to Gribley, for pointing me toward this story!

Noticing the year: 01/15/08

A thick coating of sticky snow makes everything photogenic! I saw many people out with their cameras trying to capture the all too temporary fairy tale like atmosphere of it all. The snow brings out the character of the trees, who are always there, but are otherwise ignored in winter.

( 3 more pictures, including one inordinately large one )