This year's looking to be a major problem, coyote-wise.  So far as I can discern listening to them training the adolescent spring litters, at least three full litters survived to reach near-adulthood in close proximity to the village.

During the drought years of the past decade the problem's been there, but not so acute because the drought kept the vermin population down, which caused the young coyotes to roam the streets looking for cats and likely dogs for their fare before they had the cunning to get by with it.

This year involved enough rain and snowmelt to give them food without pushing the envelope too early in life.

Three coyotes can sound like 50, but after careful listening for several days and nights, I believe I'm hearing two adults and three pups on the mesa to the north, one adult and four pups closer in to the east, and one adult with four pups about 150 yards to the south most of the time, but exploring the orchard and woodpiles behind the house.

On the years when the population is low it's a problem, but with so many there'll be a lot of dogs and cats lost before people get worked up enough to reduce the numbers.

Anyone who studies old brother coyote's got to love him.  He loves being what he is, makes no bones about it.  But when he moves into the neighborhoods and ceases to fear humans he can become a nuisance worse than having a crack-house down the street.

Too bad.

Jack