Readers should know that the majority of material for this blog is gathered from various media then offered up for discussion. This author makes every attempt to cite sources as well in some cases, embed the original document in the blog. Carrying on with this year’s focus on rural Coyotes it seems there are fewer instances of interaction with humans involved in agriculture being reported. No, it is not that there are fewer occurrences. Remember that the agriculture industry looses livestock to predators almost on a daily basis. Therefore, the industry has to allocate resources to either eliminate or diminish those losses to a negligible level. Agricultural loss control mechanisms do not rise to the level of neighborhood pets being taken by predators. Instead, those in the agriculture industry consider the Coyote just another daily chore to be dealt with and entered as an expense item in their financial planning. The media is not interested in those mundane agricultural chores but does rely on the old adage – “if it bleeds it leads.”
A recent “Idaho State Journal” news article describes a young man loosing his dog and suffering an injury due to cyanide gas exposure from an M44 predator control mechanism. Only the local television station in Idaho Falls carried the story in conjunction with the “Journal.” No other regional or national news media made mention of the story as of the date of this posting. It seems that if any regional or national coverage of predator control comes about is when a certain segment of society deems it so. What does this say about the news media?
After a few months of watching the evening news this viewer notes that the major networks offer news of the day ending with a warm / feel good story. Intriguing how some ninety percent of network evening news is followed by ten percent or less of feel good stories. An Emu being chased by several good Samaritans or a young bear swimming in some one’s back yard pool – Not that those articles aren’t interesting but who determines what feel good story is to be offered? Several teams must spend some time in selecting the subjects but what are their guidelines to providing a positive end to their daily presentations? There are policies which provide guidance to these folks that put together the daily news in its entirety but who wrote the original policies? Are those policies ever reviewed to ensure they are in conformity with today’s wants or needs?
Coyotes in agriculture or Coyotes in the neighborhood? One thing for sure the Coyote is not wanted in either environment. How does either of those stories end? For the Coyote the story will always be stealth and adaptation to elude its stalkers. For the humans living in the rural countryside the Coyote’s fate is sealed. For the Coyotes in the city / urban / suburban neighborhoods their fate is determined by how aggressive they become. What does this say then? Depending on city ordinances Coyotes are better off living in town then on the farm! Will the Coyote be the lead story on the evening news or will it be that feel good ending to your day?
Stay tuned – there is more to come on the Coyote Cam
Coyote Cam 