Knowing Nature with Denny

Serial killer terrorizes Seattle neighborhood

Magnolia is a quiet Seattle neighborhood that boasts a central village where folks walk their dogs and is home to one of the best parks in Seattle, Discovery Park. Last summer Magnolia had quite a bit of excitement when first a bear and then a cougar paid a visit. (MAP)

For the last few months a notorious villain has stalked the neighborhood in search of prey. As its reputation grows in the fearful minds of residents, its behavior is becoming ever bolder. This perpetrator of stealth and violence is a coyote. This one is becoming habitualized to the neighborhood and has lost its natural fear of humans.

The chatter on the neighborhood BLOG, the Magnolia Voice, has been increasing. It reached new heights yesterday when a small dog named Tina was snatched from the owner, right in front of a bus load of school kids, and dragged into the woods. KIRO TV had a news team nearby who were able to cover the story as it developed.

What is it with these predators who think they can come into our cities and wreak havoc? Perhaps they know all too well that it is an urban jungle out there. As our cities grow outward and the natural habitat of many predators decline, it is only natural that they will turn to the urban ecosystem as a source of refuge.
 

Each day I walk my dogs. It is readily apparent what a rich and bio-diverse hunting ground exists in our neighborhoods. A typical day will have my hounds on the scent of raccoons, rats, cats, squirrels, rabbits and tasty small lap dogs. It’s a regular smorgasborg out there. The prey density in our cities can be greater than the average wilderness setting. If you are a coyote, you can satisfy all your needs within a few square blocks. And yes, we have seen the Magnolia coyote on our walks through the hood.

So what will be the verdict for this urban coyote? Will we eliminate him or her in our desire to sterilize the environment of all predators? Or will we live with an acceptable level of collateral pet damage? What do you think?

Unlike the wolf, the coyote has proven to be almost impossible to eliminate from a food rich location. They do not call him wiley coyote for nothing. We can get rid of this one, but surely another will come along to take his place. Learn more about the coyote. Knowledge is your best defense against such a foe.

I say, it is a jungle out there. Your pet is your responsibility. Most urban pets are completely unaware of the dangers that lurk around every corner. From cars to coyotes, the only thing that protects little Tina is your vigilance and your leash.

Be amazed, Denny

Wolves have a howling good time

Wolves know how to have a good time. They howl during the evening and early dawn when hunting. It’s a myth that they howl at the moon but they do point their snouts toward the moon to howl. Projecting their call upward allows the sound to carry farther. Although we think of wolves howling alone, they frequently do so as a group. These chorus howls involve members of a pack singing in unison at multiple pitches. Together, the chorus may include up to 12 related harmonies. Group howling can protect packs since the combination of harmonies tricks listeners into thinking there are more wolves.

Howling is a form of long-distance communication, conveying a range of information. Although all the functions of howling are not known, one of the main reasons wolves howl is to assemble the pack. Another possible function of howling is to claim territory. Wolves can identify other wolves by their howls. Because of the high pitch and the suspension of notes, the sounds of a wolf howl can carry as far as 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) in the forest and up to 10 miles (16 kilometers) across the treeless tundra. Your average GMRS radio only has a maximum range of 5 miles!

Howls punctuate the air more often during the wintertime breeding season, when wolves seek out mates. Males use their voice to attract females. The howl indicates a wolf's body size and health (with the larger animals exhibiting deeper tones).

Alpha wolves, leaders of the pack, usually display a lower-pitched howl and will sound off more frequently than those with a more subservient social standing. Pups practice howling as they mature, mimicking those of adult wolves. Lone wolves may not howl as much to keep their whereabouts hidden from potential predators, since they don't have the added protection of a pack.

Except for the high-pitched yapping of pups, wolf howls almost never include barking. The howls of coyotes are higher pitched than wolf howls and usually include yapping and barking before, during, and after howling. The howling of large breeds of dogs are sometimes difficult to distinguish from wolves, but dog howls almost always include some barking and are usually associated with human activity.

 

 

Wolf talk also includes whines, growls and barks.. Whines are used often at the den site primarily by the adult female. They are thought to be sounds of affection. Growling conveys aggressiveness and usually comes from dominant wolves posing a threat. Barking signifies alarm and also indicates any kind of excitement.

Communication allows the pack members to coordinate their activities. Cooperation allows wolf packs to bring down larger prey than individual wolves could do on their own, insures the care and feeding of the young and allows wolves to defend their common territory.

The howl of a wolf is most described as deep and mournful. The howl is a continuous sound from about half a second to 11 seconds in length. During the howl the pitch remains constant or varies smoothly.  A howling session by a single wolf lasts an average of 35 seconds, during which the animal howls several times. A howling session by a pack lasts an average of 85 seconds. It is initiated by one wolf, and after its first or second howl one or more others may join in. It is extremely difficult to assess how many wolves are howling if there are more than 3 or 4 wolves singing.

Be amazed, Denny