Actual Urban Nature Post

[urbpan]

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!

Comments

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

i think that's the one they were talking about in LJ b0ston recently? mmm.

it's cool they'll let it go. in theory.

perhaps it was hunting the kendall-sq/mit turkey? :)

#

[mperrotti76.livejournal.com]

Yeah. My one freind did mention it (or another) was recently spotted in Kendall, as well

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

Wow, it looks quite like a small wolf, which is what it is I suppose. I thought they'd be smaller.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

New England coyotes are on the large side, usually around 30 pounds or so. Wolves are 2-4 times more massive. And then foxes are about a third of the size of a coyote.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

Darn wildlife: can't they read the "city limits" signs! ;)

[stephanietberry.livejournal.com]

Just last night I was reading to my kids a coyote article in National Geographic Kids, which reported that coyotes were found in every major city in the United States. That coyote will probably look around at all the trees and wonder where in hell he's been placed!

I find the "disoriented by snowstorm" reasoning in the article to be nothing short of hilarious. I can see it now. Every snowstorm that hits Mass has coyotes running around in circles, confused and bewildered.

[mperrotti76.livejournal.com]

Knowing the North End, it was prolly catching rats. Rats. Voles. Same difference.

[mozzer131.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanticle. I saw one last year wandering down the sidewalk on Moody St. in Waltham. It had shot out in front of the car going the opposite way past us, and we had to severely swerve to avoid it. We doubled back, and saw the coyote walking down the sidewalk. After his/her near miss with two cars, I guess it thought the sidewalk was a better bet!

[mozzer131.livejournal.com]

Err, I meant "Wow, thanks for the article."

Yea, next time I'll finish digging the dog fur out from under the backspace key before posting.

[bellelvsbeast.livejournal.com]

We get so many calls about coyotes killing cats and whatnot, it's ridiculous...mainly because we can't DO anything to them....:P
Aw HBC! Poor thing. I have to deal with so many HBC dogs, it's sad...I'm glad he survived though...
woo