A live coyote was spotted wandering the woods of Aquinnah this week, caught on a trail camera off Attaquin Way.
A live coyote was spotted wandering the woods of Aquinnah this week, caught on a trail camera off Attaquin Way. Despite the species’ non-native status, reports of individuals have periodically surfaced in recent years.
“It appears to be true; we do have a coyote in Aquinnah,” said Aquinnah town administrator Jeffrey Madison, who sent the photo to Island naturalist Gus Ben David for identification.
Mr. Ben David was immediately able to identify the species, even though the photo is blurry.
“It definitely is a coyote, there’s no doubt about that,” Mr. Ben David said by phone.
Mr. Ben David, who has long kept track of the movements of Island fauna, said he believes there are five other adult coyotes currently living on the Island, although there is no indication yet that they have begun breeding.
“They get a lot more vocal when they breed,” he said, adding that he has yet to hear reports of any breeding vocalization.
“This is a whole new phenomenon,” Mr. Ben David said of the coyote presence on the Island, explaining that the species began to edge eastward roughly 20 years ago. Large adults occasionally swim ashore from the nearest breeding population, Naushon Island, and find plentiful food on the Vineyard in the form of berries and rabbits.
“They are incredible predators...once they get real established and dig in here, they could be all over the Island,” Mr. Ben David continued, expressing particular concern for the many free-ranging livestock on Island. “Basically, they would be a negative once established.”
Mr. Madison said that Aquinnah townsfolk are staying calm in the face of their new canine neighbor.
“People don’t seem to be concerned,” he said. “We’ve never had one up here before, but people aren’t panicked about it.”
Comments
Time for a Coyote hunt.
mike SomewhereTime for a Coyote hunt.
Hi, I am a very concerned
Gertrude Garvin AquinnahHi, I am a very concerned Native Wampanoag Indian from Aquinnah. I have lived here my whole life and that has been over 50 years. I have never had to worry about my safety or my family and now these animals have been spotted here that was my biggest fear for them to make that swim to the island and yes, I am very afraid of them living here. The island is too small if they multiply to fast and there is no need for them to be here anyway. I feel that they need to be caught and taken back to the mainland they do not belong here they are not native to the island. I know neither is a few other animals, but they are not a danger to us like the skunk, racoon and I don't know what other animal but like I said they aren't as dangerous as the coyote. Now I have to worry now about just walking to my car from the house which isn't very far to walk or even just walking anywhere now and I shouldn't have to worry about that, but it looks like I'm going to have to because some people think or feel like they have a right to be or stay here and they really don't. The coyote shouldn't because they could get to the point where there could be too many of them on the island maybe they may change their mind or if something really bad happens to them or a family member. I don't want to have them here. I want to see these animals caught and taken out of here. and just when I just want it to be like it was here when I was a kid nice and safe for my family and anyone else that lives here as well. This is from a very concerned Native Islander.
You’re going to have to learn
R Scott Patterson EdgartownYou’re going to have to learn to coexist. Coyotes are like rats and cockroaches in the way that you can’t get rid of them regardless of how hard you try. Coyotes have only expanded their range and populations because of humans. It’s just reality.
You are correct, and they are
Jess MVYou are correct, and they are NOT a viscious animal as people like to portray them as. They do not attack people unless they are rabid which ANY animal can become rabid so you can't pick them out for that. If you see one and it walks towards you, it's not going to attack, it's politely escorting you away from their den. MV has so many other species for them they would rather consume than to even attack livestock. Livestock takes effort, they would rather go after skunks or squirrels or turkey etc. They also love to consume fruit. They'll prob take down a couple deer but I can assure you, they're not going to come close to knocking out the population and if anything, it would help control the tick population. For live stock if people are that worried, ranchers out west use what they call, "Livestock Guardian Dogs" which is extremely effective. I live in Westerly and we have a huge population and I live in a neighborhood basically in the woods. The neighborhood has plenty of outdoor cats and plenty of dogs yet we've yet to hear a report of an attack. Years ago there was an attack but they found out it was b/c people in that particular neighborhood were feeding them, that's a number one no no. The best thing to do if you see one is to haze them. There is an information session On Feb 4th from 10-11:30 at AG Hall, I recommend checking it out for some guidance. For anyone who comes back and says, "you don't live here", you're right but i'm there often and the in laws DO live there and agree.
I remember the days before
Katherine Kunhiraman,(Kakie Siebel) Chappaquiddick, BerkeleyI remember the days before skunks invaded, lying in bed at dusk listening to the sweet sound of whip-or-wills. Where are they now? They say the skunks found them easy prey, being ground-nesters. Now I live in Berkeley, California, near a large park-wilderness. During Covid, while people stayed isolated, coyotes and bobcats came down and took cats, and other small animals. Coyotes are native here, and just a little down the coast, there are mountain lions. Warnings go out from time to time to keep your toddlers and small pets inside. They are actually lions! And they are also native to the area. So, with some degree of control in our island, do we want to let anything in? The deer bring ticks, the skunks eat the ground-nesters. Why do they have to be welcomed? I agree with our Wampanoag friend, who could wish to keep free-roaming domestic animals and small children safe.
I agree with Kakie, NOT Jess.
Philip Tucker Oak BluffsI agree with Kakie, NOT Jess. Where there is room for them to expand, they're fine; we are a small Island, and they have large, frequent litters. They are fairly recent to the Cape, also, and have rapidly spread to the point that they are VERY overcrowded, and becoming a real danger to pets and even small children. If we really need a natural predator to combat the huge number of small animals that have gone out of control since the native foxes were killed off, why not bring THEM back? That makes far more sense than allowing an invasive species to destroy our fragile ecosystem.
Yay! don’t know if they eat
Margot Lane MenemshaYay! don’t know if they eat skunks, but sure hope so.
While an established
R Scott Patterson EdgartownWhile an established population of coyotes would be problematic in many ways it would probably keep the exploding deer population and check, also may help with the ticks. IDK, just a thought.
How can we say a coyote doesn
Quincy DewingHow can we say a coyote doesn’t belong on the island when they likely arrived here the same way humans did, from the mainland? It is quite likely that they are a net benefit to public health and safety on the island. Tick diseases are, by a longshot, the biggest outdoor danger on the island. With the nasty new lonestar and its tens of thousands of aggressive nymphs showing up everywhere, we need all the help we can get. Foxes would be a more ideal tick security guard than the coyotes but in a tick infested ecosystem that has no foxes present, coyotes will mean a net benefit. It’s not just that they eat mice, it’s that their presence changes mouse behavior, making the mice travel less, and pick up or transfer less ticks. Living on the mainland, I have had many close encounters with coyotes and have never had any trouble. Sure, they eat chickens, but so do we. Your fellow humans are more of a danger to your family than a coyote. Keep your cats inside and welcome your new neighbors!
Ah, yes, the cycle of nature,
Lorraine EdgartownAh, yes, the cycle of nature, change is eternal. I am sure all animal loving people and environmentalists will appreciate this cycle of nature. We must be careful not to interfere. Perhaps the exploding deer population can be ameliorated with this newcomer (new comers) arriving?
I agree with Gertrude. Read
Will EdgartownI agree with Gertrude. Read what is going on in Nahant.
Gertrude, i am totally with
annie east falmouthGertrude, i am totally with you. i cannot, for the life of me, understand why some people think having coyotes on the island is a joke or of no concern. everyone googles everything yet it seems no one is looking into eastern coyotes before they comment. i am speaking mostly from experience and some research. years ago, when i realized i could no longer afford to live on the island, i moved "across the pond" to falmouth. i did not realize the extent of the coyote population, much less their habits. then they killed my two cats, who i had for 15 years. of course, i kept my cats indoors, but someone they slipped out! they were used to the free life they lived on the island, coming in and out, climbing trees, never went far from home and always returned. Aside from this, i have seen a coyote attack a small dog who's owner was walking it on a leash! fortunately, another quick thinking neighbor, scooped up the dog and started yelling, throwing rocks at the coyote, which i saw slink away between the houses. this was during the day time. moreover, what we have on the cape are called eastern coyotes or "coywolves". they are larger than western or southern coyotes. they're a mix of coyote and wolf and migrated from canada. they can travel 60 mi. in a day, so they can easily go from aquinnah to down island in a day. for people who think coyotes will cull the deer or skunk population - that's not how it goes. they don't hunt in packs. they are singular hunters and not about to take down a deer. they are also not stupid and not going to attack a skunk unless very desperate. and there is no reason to be desperate on m.v. the island is coyote heaven! they will have a smorgasbord of chickens, rabbits, cats, small dogs. your pets and yard or farm animals will disappear. even small children will not be safe. it is one of my worse nightmares for coyotes to be allowed to live on the island.
p.s. you all do know that
annie east falmouthp.s. you all do know that coyotes carry ticks as well
The tell tale sign of a
Greg GburyThe tell tale sign of a coyote will be the package from ACME showing up. Keep an eye out for it.
Don't kid yourselves like the
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownDon't kid yourselves like the Vineyard is exempt from coyotes,I've seen them at nite all over the island and on Chappaquiddick in the summer and the winter.
Coyotes are a relatively
Niki Patton West TisburyCoyotes are a relatively recent addition to the VY; until 4 years ago there were no consistent and ongoing ID's, except for a live one reported but never seen again. Other than that there were only dead ones found on the beach. Gus Ben D. then confirmed the live one in 2019. Please check articles about this is local papers to confirm if you doubt it. So are they a natural addition if we didn't have any until 4 years ago? The problem is once established they can create serious issues both for pets and livestock. As someone else said google 'Nahant' and 'coyote' for the story about their current coyote issue. Like us, they are an Island which is both hard to reach and leave. After aggressive coyote behavior that threatened humans Nahant called in Federal authorities in December 2022. What I'm asking is are we will to ignore a potential problem until it's too late?
I captured a trail camera
Alex Friedman EdgartownI captured a trail camera photo of a coyote at 3am on Christmas Eve near Oyster Pond, and know of several bowhunters who watched a large coyote approaching a group of deer in West Tisbury until being run off by a small buck. I’ve some across their tracks in the snow in the State Forest and have been told of at least two dens. They are here, probably enough to establish breeding, and the ecological consequences will be devastating. When I worked on Penikese Island, coyotes swam over one winter, and within two months had wiped out every single rabbit and wreaked havoc on nesting terns. They literally killed everything and then left.
The window for controlling this potential disaster for MV is very rapidly closing, if not already gone.
People on here acting like
George West TisburyPeople on here acting like people aren't shooting them when they see them in their yards. I highly doubt there’s still 5 alive on the island.
I hate to tell you. They are
Michael Hege Maryland/Vineyard.I hate to tell you. They are cool and beautiful. But they are killers!!!!! period. I am a coyote hunter in Maryland and spend the summers on the island. I bought 30 thousand worth of thermal equipment. In two years we went from 8 farms to over a 100 clients. Control the havoc! Keep small dogs and cats inside especially from January thru may. Say bye bye to the turkeys and the plovers. Those poor, poor plovers. These Yotes are going to love the island. One good thing is they won't reproduce so so much because of island size. they will not inbreed. I may open up an ACME store and sell rockets. lmao. Sorry to hear of this. Seriously. I heard they eat Albie snacks. If you want to know how many family groups. Take fire truck down state road and sound the siren then shut off the siren quickly and listen. you will hear them. YIP YIP YIPppppppp
I’ve been reading Dan Flores
Dr. B. OBI’ve been reading Dan Flores’s “Coyote America,” which describes the nearly two centuries of our failed efforts to contain the coyote. There should be a copy in every island library and some in the bookstores. I’ve lived in the Eastern part of the state, and on the Vineyard. I saw many coyotes in the Boston suburbs, and I’m not surprised they made it to the Vineyard: after all they came East, biologists tell us, by swimming the Mississippi. If it’s any comfort, coyotes actually seem to self-manage their populations, having small litters when a location’s carrying capacity is low, and large when there’s plenty of space.
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