One of the most joyous moments I’ve seen was a pair of coyotes in full-out run across the “back 40” of my property by the Napa River. They are fast! They were hopelessly chased by a couple of pooches from the property up-river. The coyotes knew the dogs had no chance of catching them and it looked all like great fun. It was thrilling. The polar opposite from the feeling of seeing one stilled, as in your photo. Coyotes are clever, beautiful and, sure they’ll get a hen if you’re not careful, but life is richer having them around.
No words my friend... there are lawless trigger happy numbskulls everywhere. I have run-ins with them every year on my hill—usually concerning badgers—it's that time of year again, hunting season opened two weeks ago... 😓
Ughhhh. That need to dominate and kill. Imagine if the laws said that you must eat what you kill. Bet badger hunting would drop off noticeably. 😳 Sending hugs in solidarity…
What a sad scene, and brutal legacy of some pathetic individual (human being ??) getting its ‘kicks for the day’. What is the mindset? Brings to mind the old but wisdom-filled tale of a little boy about to squash a bug….until his father steps in and says ‘when you are capable of creating that bug you can kill it, but not until then’.
Thing is, the arrogant assumption that their judgement is righteous and justified, that this kind execution is ethical by their twisted logic, is but a short step from applying similar standards and judgement to the other human beings that they may encounter and find wanting by those standards...
David, thank you for this post and for sharing your thoughts. Your comments are right on point. It is sad that some consider this as “sport” or the necessary elimination of one of our valuable predators. Coyotes serve as the cleanup crew for us so much of the time. I remember during my years in AK, wandering the back trail-less edges of one of our city park lakes. One summer I found a canada goose, and a common loon, both dead on their nests, shot in the head. Probably a misguided youth with a .22. Still an extreme lack of respect for life, laws and common sense.
I have already seen a dead Black Bear on the side of the highway two days ago, motorcycle and Bear collided, the human was ok. And we were about 5 minutes behind, in traffic. I still see that Bear.
But this, was not that.
A wildlife refuge!!!
“What the serious hell is wrong with some people?”
Is there even a beginning or ending, in trying to answer that question ?
We lived for a while in a beautiful rural area, just down the road from a gravel pit where a**holes tracked and shot coyotes. The loud gunshots were traumatizing and the beauty being destroyed contributed to us not living there anymore. And that wasn’t even in a refuge. In fact the regs in much of rural Washington are definitely written in favor of the shooters not the animals. As much as I’m not as excited by the city landscape, at least here in Bellingham, deer and coyotes are more entitled to their lives.
One of the most joyous moments I’ve seen was a pair of coyotes in full-out run across the “back 40” of my property by the Napa River. They are fast! They were hopelessly chased by a couple of pooches from the property up-river. The coyotes knew the dogs had no chance of catching them and it looked all like great fun. It was thrilling. The polar opposite from the feeling of seeing one stilled, as in your photo. Coyotes are clever, beautiful and, sure they’ll get a hen if you’re not careful, but life is richer having them around.
"The coyotes knew the dogs had no chance of catching them and it looked all like great fun. It was thrilling. "
And I am now utterly enchanted by the image you've shared... Thank you.
No words my friend... there are lawless trigger happy numbskulls everywhere. I have run-ins with them every year on my hill—usually concerning badgers—it's that time of year again, hunting season opened two weeks ago... 😓
Ughhhh. That need to dominate and kill. Imagine if the laws said that you must eat what you kill. Bet badger hunting would drop off noticeably. 😳 Sending hugs in solidarity…
And fox, pine marten and squirrel ! If only…
Your anger is justified. Sharing it this way is good - but what else to do with this anger (which resonates with me)?
😔
What a sad scene, and brutal legacy of some pathetic individual (human being ??) getting its ‘kicks for the day’. What is the mindset? Brings to mind the old but wisdom-filled tale of a little boy about to squash a bug….until his father steps in and says ‘when you are capable of creating that bug you can kill it, but not until then’.
sad
Bastards , anyone who finds it a right to kill another creature and a defenceless protected one at that.
I just read this from Pamela Leavey this morning David. I thought you may enjoy it. ❤️https://pamelaleavey.substack.com/p/the-eastern-coyote-across-the-field
Lovely. Thank you, Jo.
This one brought tears. We used to say, “people are mediocre.” Now we just say they suck. Except ppl like you, David.
What the serious hell indeed, David 😢😡
Thing is, the arrogant assumption that their judgement is righteous and justified, that this kind execution is ethical by their twisted logic, is but a short step from applying similar standards and judgement to the other human beings that they may encounter and find wanting by those standards...
David, thank you for this post and for sharing your thoughts. Your comments are right on point. It is sad that some consider this as “sport” or the necessary elimination of one of our valuable predators. Coyotes serve as the cleanup crew for us so much of the time. I remember during my years in AK, wandering the back trail-less edges of one of our city park lakes. One summer I found a canada goose, and a common loon, both dead on their nests, shot in the head. Probably a misguided youth with a .22. Still an extreme lack of respect for life, laws and common sense.
Oh, jeez…
I have already seen a dead Black Bear on the side of the highway two days ago, motorcycle and Bear collided, the human was ok. And we were about 5 minutes behind, in traffic. I still see that Bear.
But this, was not that.
A wildlife refuge!!!
“What the serious hell is wrong with some people?”
Is there even a beginning or ending, in trying to answer that question ?
😭😭😭😭
We lived for a while in a beautiful rural area, just down the road from a gravel pit where a**holes tracked and shot coyotes. The loud gunshots were traumatizing and the beauty being destroyed contributed to us not living there anymore. And that wasn’t even in a refuge. In fact the regs in much of rural Washington are definitely written in favor of the shooters not the animals. As much as I’m not as excited by the city landscape, at least here in Bellingham, deer and coyotes are more entitled to their lives.
“What the serious hell is wrong with some people?” is my new mantra. David, thank you for bearing witness, for trusting your heart to us.