Have you heard a coyote’s call in your neighborhood? [today's O article]

Folks in St Johns say they have.

Lecture on Urban ‘cay-yotes’ coming next Tuesday, April 27th

Where’s the Roadrunner when you need him?
Many of know about or have seen “urban” coyotes in or around Portland International Airport. At about 6am, I once saw one scampering through the high grass in the vacant lots off Airport Way. The little fellar pictured here, hoped on the Airport MAX back in 2009. It was almost like he did it in obedience to the song Light-Rail Coyote by Portland’s own Sleater-Kinney, released the year before. (see video below).?“They’ve been seen on occasion along Baltimore Woods and heard! There is also coyote scat in Pier Park on the trail on the east side of the Park all the time. Apparently they come over from Chimney Park to hunt at night,” wrote Barbara Quin, of the Friends of Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association in an email today. “One of our FOBW members saw one trotting down Decatur in daylight and the neighbors at the deadend of Edison have lots of stories.”

Cathy Park resident Wilfred Thompson claims he hears them all the time.
How do they get to St Johns? Do they head west from the airport and come down through the slough on their way to happy hunting grounds at Smith & Bybee Lakes?
Or are they Westside pooches bar hopping in St Johns for the night? They’ve got lots of deer and elk over in Linnton and Forest Park Neighborhoods. Maybe there’s coyotes there too.
But that’s got to be a tough swim...unless you’ve seen them on the #17 bus on their way over the bridge...

There’s a lecture on urban coyotes Tuesday, April 27th, at 7pm, at the Oregon Zoo. See below for details.

Urban Coyotes! Stanley Gehrt, Ph.D, Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Ohio State University. Cost: $8 for members of Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, students, and seniors; $10 for all other. Location: Oregon Zoo. For more information: www.oregonzoo.org/Education/adults/adults_lecture.htm
The howl of coyotes echoing across our urban landscape had become an increasingly common occurrence in recent years. In fact coyotes can be found even in the most urbanized areas of our city. Come learn about the animal that Navajo sheep herders once called "God's Dog." Dr. Stanley Gehrt recently completed a study of urban coyotes in Chicago that has been described as “The most ambitious work of its kind in the country.” Dr. Gehrt tracked 220 radio collared coyotes in Chicago over  the course of his six year study. His work is fascinating and will provide valuable insights for wildlife lovers, wildlife professionals and neighborhoods interested in learning about urban coyotes.