I am coyote, canis latrans, “The laughing dog.” But I am no ordinary coyote. I am Urban Coyote. I live right here in Tacoma and in cities across the country. People are surprised to see me in the concrete jungle of the city, but I like it here. I am safer, away from big predators; my biggest enemy is the automobile. Food is abundant: rabbits, rats and mice, Canada geese, fruit, insects, and even family pets. Do not forget: we are predators.
You may have glimpsed me late at night dashing across the street in front of your car. You thought I was just a large, skinny dog, but I am no dog. Standing tall on long legs, my coat brownish gray with chestnut highlights, big ears erect, I walk proud. You may have heard me and my fellow coyotes singing and wondered why all those little dogs were yipping and yapping.
You tend to lump us together with wolves, but we are very different. We do not hunt in packs, and we do our best to stay away from you. We will only attack you if we feel cornered, or you get between us and our young. We would much sooner run away than confront you.
We are here to stay. We have expanded our territory all over the northern hemisphere, even into Canada. The question is, can coyotes and humans coexist in peace? We are your neighbors, your wild neighbors. You may find it hard to believe that “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” applies to us and all your other wild neighbors, but please try to love us. Please respect us. Here are ways you can be more neighborly to us: Do not feed the wildlife. Do not leave food outside for your pets. Keep small pets inside. Do not let your cat out at all (the birds will thank you). Keep small dogs on a short leash and do not let them run loose. For our part, we promise to keep a check on all the mice and other small wildlife, so they do not take over. We also promise to serenade you as we sing to the glory of the God who created us all and Who said, “It is good.” Let us all glorify God for the beauty and diverse abundance of this wild world, even in the city. ~John Maxwell
