Coyote Awareness Day at Muscoot Farm

Due to the passionate positive and negative responses that coyotes inspire in people, the Wolf Conservation Center and Muscoot Farm, a Westchester County Park, extended an educational family event to the community on June 4 - Coyote Awareness Day.

No wild animal in our community inspires such a wide range of human emotions as the Eastern coyote, organizers said. Feared, cursed and admired too, coyotes have become Westchester County's most controversial wildlife. 

Dan Bogan, Ph.D. of Sienna College is a member of the New York suburban coyote study. He presented to a packed house his research on coyote behavior and ecology in suburban landscapes, and offered information on how to best coexist with these fascinating and resilient creatures. 

An attendee from Somers shared “People should know the benefits of having coyotes here - this is the first year my garden is safe from the deer because there’s a coyote family nearby.”

Activities for children and adults included information and crafts.  Participants learned how to make their own hazing instruments, explored the different management tools, and picked up takeaways with the information and resources to aid coexistence. 

The day ended with a puppet show, “Westchester Coyote Finds His Niche,” produced by dedicated youth wildlife advocates who founded Wolf Conservation Center P.A.C.K. Fellowship.

“We think it’s really cool that coyotes are here,” explained one of the children, “they have an important role in the ecosystem!”

No doubt feelings about coyotes will remain contentious and undecided, but with continued education, also full of promise, organizers said. 

The Wolf Conservation Center is an environmental education organization committed to conserving wolf populations in North America through science-based education programming and participation in the federal Species Survival Plans for the critically endangered Mexican gray wolf and red wolf. Through wolves the WCC teaches the broader message of conservation, ecological balance, and personal responsibility for improved human stewardship of our World.

For more information, visit www.nywolf.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PHOTOS/ contributed. Eastern coyote/ Dan Bogan, Ph.D.