Raves, Rants & Roses

RANT: We've all heard about the country coyotes in Smith County. Well now they have moved uptown.

We recently lost out beloved cat, Ringo, and thought someone came in our yard and absconded with the precious pet, but now our thinking has changed. He probably became a full course meal for our new "neighbors," the uptown coyotes. Hard to believe, but visible evidence substantiates the idea.

My "across the street" neighbor related this chilling report he personally witnessed at 5:30 a.m. last week. While sitting in his garage, with the door up, he saw a "momma" coyote followed by three small pups, parading down the middle of Barbara Street, just two blocks from Troup Highway at the corner of Cameron.

They were either looking for their next meal, or were on the way back to their den for a daytime snooze. Scary, if you have any "outdoor" pets, which wouldn't have a prayer of a chance against a grown coyote.

Is there any animal-control action to trap, catch, or eliminate these new city dwellers? I've heard of them "running rampart" in portions of Los Angeles, but never thought it would be a problem here in Tyler.

If Los Angeles has had any luck with eliminating this problem, it would be wise for our own County "coyote catchers" to see what can be done before this coyote's litter has their own litter, and has another litter, and are overloaded with coyote critters.

Buster Barlow
Tyler