Our Weeks Endeavors 

Humans to blame

In regards to the letter "Can coyotes play nice?" (March 28): It is humans, not coyotes, who are to blame for encounters with coyotes that have a bad ending. Humans intentionally leave food out for coyotes or do not secure their garbage, leaving a coyote feast. Once coyotes become habituated to having a free meal, there is a far greater possibility that they will approach humans or pets.

There are things that you can do to avoid coyote encounters: Do not feed them; secure your garbage; do not leave pets out unattended at night or in pre-dawn or pre-dusk times if you live in an area where coyotes, or other wild animals, are known to be; if you do encounter a coyote, hazing techniques will easily chase them away. Yell, wave your arms, stomp your feet. The coyote will go running.

Remember, coyotes and other wild animals have as much right to be here as you and your pets. The wild animals were here first. It is we who have encroached on their territory. But we can learn to coexist.

Janet Hoben, Burbank