Spindly-legged, Reddish-Brown Classic Coyote

That’s not what our Boulder visitors looked like. Not at all.

Our Backyard Beast!. Coyote-Wolf-Dog Hybrids Are Out There!     pic Lenny Lensworth Frieling

Taller than a backyard table, and 50 pounds of what? BIG Coyote?

I saw this unusual canid in the backyard, where a fox carcass was decomposing. The carcass was down to bones and a little hair. That’s until it vanished.

Fox In Stu in the Backyard                                pic Lenny Lensworth Frieling

Did our mystery monster make the decomposed carcass of a fox disappear apparently overnight? While coyotes will eat bones, they eat them when they eat the rest. Not much later. Not a year later.

I think our Neighborhood Neanderthal was perhaps a giant coyote. Or, perhaps, a coywolf. Dogs, coyotes, and wolves interbreed. What did I see? Just a large coyote shedding a winter coat selectively?  Or was it something else.

Classic Coyote

Challenges Facing Boulder’s Coyotes

Despite their vital ecological role, coyotes in Boulder face numerous threats, many of which are a direct result of human activities. Urbanization and habitat loss force coyotes to adapt to living in close proximity to human communities, leading to conflicts and negative interactions. Additionally, vehicle collisions pose a significant risk to coyotes as they navigate fragmented habitats and roadways in search of food and mates.

Furthermore, intentional and unintentional feeding by humans can lead to habituation, where coyotes lose their natural wariness of humans and become dependent on unnatural food sources. This, in turn, can result in aggressive behavior and ultimately lead to the removal or euthanization of coyotes, posing a threat to their long-term survival in the area.

Conservation Strategies and Initiatives

To address the challenges facing Boulder’s coyotes, a multi-faceted approach to conservation is essential. This includes public education and outreach programs aimed at fostering coexistence and minimizing human-coyote conflicts. By raising awareness about the importance of responsible pet ownership, proper waste management, and the avoidance of feeding wildlife, these initiatives seek to create a safer environment for both humans and coyotes.

In addition, implementing wildlife corridors and green spaces within urban landscapes can help mitigate the impacts of habitat fragmentation, providing coyotes with safe passage between vital areas. Furthermore, ongoing research and monitoring efforts enable scientists and conservationists to gather crucial data on coyote behavior, population dynamics, and health, informing evidence-based management decisions.

Community Engagement and Collaboration

Engaging the community in conservation efforts is paramount to the long-term success of protecting Boulder’s coyotes. Local organizations, wildlife agencies, and concerned citizens can work together to develop and implement conservation strategies that benefit both humans and wildlife. Citizen science initiatives, such as wildlife monitoring programs and reporting systems for coyote sightings and interactions, allow community members to actively contribute to conservation efforts while fostering a sense of stewardship for the local environment.

Moreover, fostering a culture of respect and understanding toward coyotes and other wildlife is essential in creating a sustainable and harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world. By coming together to support and advocate for the conservation of Boulder’s coyotes, the community can play a pivotal role in safeguarding these backyard giants for generations to come.

As guardians of Boulder‘s backyard giants, it is our collective responsibility to uphold the conservation efforts aimed at protecting the local coyote population. By recognizing the ecological significance of coyotes, addressing the challenges they face, and actively participating in community-based conservation initiatives, we can ensure a future where these magnificent creatures continue to thrive alongside us in Boulder’s natural landscape.

Lenny Lensworth Frieling

Shared Knowledge Is Power!

Leonard Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and syndicated blogger and author.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com