in less cute local wildlife news, the coyote pack that had the apartment complex as part of their territory isn't around any more--I have no idea why; they might have just moved away--and we are currently without a regular coyote presence. there's been a couple around, but not nearly as frequently. and I can tell in part because of the number of rat sightings I've had in the last couple of weeks has tripled.
I really hope we get another pack moving into this territory soon. people don't realize that the *base* of coyote diets is rats, and they're pretty much the only ground predators in this climate that are capable of keeping the rat numbers down--and without them, this place will be *swarming* with rats. :|
they freak out when they see coyotes, "ooh coyotes spread disease, ooh coyotes are dangerous to pets and children," and don't realize that RATS ARE FAR WORSE ON EVERY POINT. I want to go door-to-door with a flyer and forcibly educate people. WE NEED THE COYOTES. CHERISH THE COYOTES.
@mawr also, it's actually really rare that coyotes will go after full-grown, healthy adult cats. sick cats, or kittens, yes; they can prey on feral cat colonies. it's raccoons that are likely to mess up and kill cats--they're territorial, and cats can't escape a raccoon as easily as they can a coyote. or feral dogs, which are acclimatized to humans & other domesticated animal. plus PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP THEIR CATS INDOORS ANYWAY, especially if they think there's coyotes around!
@mawr ~I might have some ~opinions~
@green I do tooo.
I don't like to voice this opinion 'cause I have a few friends that keep them, but I'm against outdoor cats in general. An invasive predatory species that kills for fun is not something we should be willfully inflicting on our local wildlife.
@mawr @kara_dreamer@witches.town *nod* my household used to have indoor/outdoor cats, until we lost two in half a year to cars. I put my claw down then, and our cats have been *indoors only* ever since. :|
@green The common reason I see for people to want Coyotes gone from populated areas is that they like to nibble on cats. My thoughts on this:
Coyotes > Cats.
Also, they were there first, damnit. :3