{"id":18403,"date":"2018-12-03T07:48:07","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T12:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbittinger.com\/thoughts\/?p=18403"},"modified":"2025-04-21T01:56:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T05:56:37","slug":"canine-street-gangs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/canine-street-gangs\/","title":{"rendered":"Canine Street Gangs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Yesterday evening I heard what sounded like a small pack of coyotes moving through the area, yapping and cutting up like a canine street gang making their presence known and threatening to hurt anyone who got in their way.<\/p>\n

When I let my dogs out for their bed time potty run I made sure all the floodlights were on and I went out with them carrying a strong flashlight.\u00a0 I hoped that lights and a human presence would be enough deterrent if, indeed, one or more coyotes were in the immediate area.\u00a0 My yard is fenced, but most fences mean little to coyotes.<\/p>\n

Later, as I was sitting in bed reading, I heard a single blast of what sounded like a shot gun.\u00a0 Very near by.\u00a0 Then it\u00a0got real quiet.\u00a0I was cautious again this morning, but it sounded like that pack of punks learned a little respect for humanity.<\/p>\n

Is This Even Possible?<\/h2>\n

Is it possible that coyotes are in our area?\u00a0 We’ve not had them before.<\/p>\n

Oh yes!\u00a0 I know people who have personally told me of their own encounters with coyotes.\u00a0 These people live along O’Neil Road: just to the north west of us, and in Bridgeport: just to the north east of us.\u00a0 My neighbor says he saw one walking up our driveway towards the woods one morning a while back.\u00a0 So, yes: this is a real threat and a grave concern to me.<\/p>\n

Dealing With Coyotes<\/h2>\n

According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency,<\/a> this is how to deal with coyotes:<\/p>\n