Readers condemn trapping of coyotes in Fallsgrove

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005

I find the lack of sophistication in the trapping and destroying of coyotes in Fallsgrove appalling (‘‘Five more coyotes captured at Fallsgrove,” Oct. 5 story).

The Gazette seems to condone the killing rather than relocation of the animals into the wild. I am also dismayed that the people of Fallsgrove who hired Mike Adcock could not come up with a more humane way to handle what they consider a threat to their well-being.

I am contacting the Montgomery County Humane Society and the National Wildlife Federation about this. Hopefully, more animals won’t be captured before then.

Andrea Ferris, Rockville

I was disappointed that the Fallsgrove community had somehow authorized the killing of several coyotes living in the area. I thought that in this day and age most educated people understood how important the top predators are in keeping wildlife in check.

There are plenty of biological studies that will attest to this fact. Top predators are being reintroduced into national parks because of their importance in keeping wildlife in balance and preventing overpopulation of deer or elk.

The Fallsgrove action seems to have sprung from fears that the coyote is dangerous. To my knowledge, there has never been a coyote attack on a human, and I grew up out West where we had lots of them. Coyotes are not dangerous to humans, but I’m sure they would be glad to make lunch of a cat running loose in the woods.

I hope the public officials responsible for killing these animals make a real effort to educate themselves, and learn why the coyote is important to our environment.

Bob DeGroot, Rockville

The writer is president of the Maryland Alliance for Greenway Improvement and Conservation.

I cannot believe The Gazette ran a picture of a beautiful coyote with her leg caught in a trap. The terror and pain in her eyes are clear, but the only recognition of those feelings is a benign quote from a trapper that ‘‘she’s spent.” Of course she was! Wouldn’t anybody be?

The article glossed over the fact that this poor animal suffered and was ultimately killed — yet her only crime was that her habitat had been taken away. When are people in the county going to realize that the deer, coyotes, raccoons and all the other animals aren’t a nuisance? We are the problem; they were here first, yet we insist on building our million-dollar homes in their habitat, and then when they get in our way, we torture and kill them.

I’m going to have to throw away the coyote’s picture before my three young children find it. My husband and I are trying to teach them that animals feel pain, just like we do.

Laura Penny, Rockville