Advocating Coyote Awareness www.nashvillecoyotes.com
This site was created to help educate the communities of Nashville about living with coyotes.Given that there is seemingly little local information out there to access easily or to use as a reference, we wanted to do something proactive for Nashvillians. This is a volunteer, non profit site. It is our attempt to make this a non biased site as well.
The truth of the matter is .. despite our rage at these animals encroaching into our neighborhoods and attacking our pets, we need to approach the matter in a smart and educated way.We also need more resources available on understanding and living with the coyote in our communities.
The coyote is a resourceful and highly skilled animal that has come to live amongst us and will most likely be here long after we are gone.
This site is dedicated to the memory of my boy, Mr. Priggles and to all the other dear ones lost to coyotes like Maggie.. 
and Franz..
His story can be found under the links section of the coyote information page.
Mr. Priggles... also known as '' Piggy''
I've been on a mission of sorts.. on Feb 6th, 2009, my nine year old cat became a victim of a coyote. I started researching the neighborhood emails and found that many coyotes had been spotted around the area in recent months and 2 other cats went missing on the streets running parallel to mine.
It started to kick into place that we had a problem.
I contacted TWRA and a few city officials and the response was the same.. keep your pets inside, your garbage areas clean and make noise if you happen to see a coyote. Okay... but that doesn't seem to keep coyotes from becoming more invasive and potentially aggressive.
Personally, over the course of a year, I've seen around a dozen coyotes around Nashville.Several years ago, I had to fence the back perimeter of my yard because a pack of coyotes and coydogs (hybrid coyote and dog) came yelping into my yard as they were chasing a cat. There were four of them around 5 am and I ended up chasing them off by screaming and yelling.. in my pajamas . I'm sure my neighbors thought I was nuts . In fact, that same day when I tried to warn my neighbors, the response was the same '' Oh, you must have been mistaken.. we don't have coyotes here."
I knew they were here.. I had encounted them first hand. I just thought it was a random thing to have a pack of coyotes foraging for food around my neighborhood. I never in a million years would have thought they would come up on my porch and take my tough tom cat some five years later. Seriously, I live off of Belmont Blvd.,.. I'm right in the city.
Had the coyote population exploded while we weren't paying attention? Yes.
I watched that glorious cat come into the world and this was his only home for nine years. I knew him like the back of my hand. He was fiercely protective of his house. He simply underestimated his competition. He most likely stood his ground like he would have done for an ordinary dog. Unfortunately, this puffy stance probably cost him his life.
I believe the citizens of Nashville should have more resources about this increasing problem within our city.
This site was created to post sightings, news and educational materials about coyotes.
People have a hard time grasping that this is an actual problem in Nashville. Well, it is a problem and we need to start dealing with it. Many cats and dogs are becoming victims of coyotes and we need to start paying attention.
The TWRA research will state that coyotes are compensatory breeders.. in other words, if we trap them and take them out, they will increase their numbers of puppies. Hence, the problem continues.. perhaps escalates.
Hunting coyotes is legal year round but shooting a firearm in the city isn't allowed. Private trappers hired by citizens is an allowable option. But then again, you're dealing with the compensatory breeding issue. That's not to say that a true nuisance coyote shouldn't be eliminated properly and legally.
The level of aggression and human familarity of coyotes is seemingly on the rise. There is no easy resolution to this problem. What we don't need to do is to panic.
What we do need to do is to become proactive.
Hang your bird feeders up high. Stop with the open vegetable mulch pile. Be especially vigilant if you have fruit trees.. seems coyotes love fruit trees like persimmon trees. Apparently, a coyote will eat just about anything.
Talk to your neighbors. Increase awareness of this issue.
I found two neighbors (very close to my house ) feeding stray cats by putting out raw chicken and smelly tuna at night. Nothing like the smell of meat to bring in a coyote or two.. not to mention, other unwanted vectors.
I also printed up posters warning people to be on the lookout and that cats were missing from the area.
This isn't just an issue happening locally..it's happening nationwide. New York, Chicago, Colorado, California, Kansas, Ohio.. who would have guessed it?
I ride both sides of the fence here with this issue. I understand the need for action when circumstances call for such. I also understand that we have to learn to live with coyotes. This also means we have to create more educational awareness and start communicating with our neighbors.
Do I want coyotes following me when I walk my little dog? Absolutely not.
Do I want coyotes eating more neighborhood pets?
Absolutely not.
Do I now walk with mace and a golf club?
You betcha.
Marcia
www.nashvillecoyotes.com
