My wife was walking our borzoi, and spotted n two coyotes crossing the road near our home in Springfield. We live near dense woodlands behind Ft. Belvoir. We heard them howling at night. Their sound is absolutely eerie, especially a few nights ago was full moon.

About 3 years ago, I saw a coyote at dusk as I was walking home from the Pentagon City metro in South Arlington. He was about 20 ft away from me on the sidewalk on S. Lynn St and I was taken by surprise. I stopped in my tracks but did not run away. He looked at me for about 5 seconds, then crossed the street and headed down an wooded embankment. One of my neighbors who routinely took nocturnal walks told me he had twice see a coyote. I was apparent to me that the coyote was probably getting into some open top trash cans in the area because I saw the trash strewn about ground nearby.

another freakin thing to worry about when i take out the trash
no thanks
my family should be safe from this kind of pseudo-eco-nonsense
suburbanites should unite to kill them all - the coyotes
they don't belong here

Hey, maybe they'll help with the deer overpopulation problem! They most certainly will assist with rodent extermination. Welcome coyotes!!

I live in a pretty wooded area and LOVE it. I love feeling like I'm not in the suburbs, though I am. Every encounter is a joy. And, these animals (like all) fulfill a niche.

They -and wildlife in general- were part of the landscape before any of us were here. There are ways to live with the critters with little no problem. . . many people just refuse to do so. For example, keep your trash lids secure on the cans. We do (we have 2) and ditto for our composter. We have not had ONE single problem with the numerous fox, raccon, deer, beavers, etc. that frequent my 'hood.

And as far as safety goes, coyotes are more scared of you than the other way around. Ditto for fox, snakes, raccons, etc. I see (and hear them all the time). Unless you are provoking or harassing them, the likelihood of something happening to you is negligible (not impossible, but negligible).

People like "not buying it" need to get a grip. There are worse things to worry about.

to " I think it's great!"

try a simple google search like "coyote attacks human"

then tell me how great it is

In reply to "Not buying it's" comments above: Try a simple google search on "dog bites in U.S." Or incidents of humans attacking humans. Or incidents of injurious bee attacks on humans. You'll see your knee-jerk "let's kill 'em" reaction is totally out of kilter.

Everyone, please remember that coyotes are only 35 pounds average in the East (and smaller in the West). They LOOK big because they are long-legged and have lots of fur, but they are not remotely a wolf equivalent. Also, they are omnivores, not carnivores. Get some factual information. Mary Battiata's Washington Post Magazine article of April 16th is a good place to start.

And speaking of getting some factual information, if "Not buying it" bothered to look at any, he/she would see that the "let's kill them all" attitude toward coyotes will backfire anyway, due to certain facts about their reproduction.

Dear "Not buying it"

I was unable to find anything when I looked up "coyotes attack humans" - but if we are LUCKY enough, maybe a Coyote will attack YOU! LOL

Welcome Coyotes!!!!!

We have a couple coyotes here in Cherry Run in Burke Virginia. Witnessed a rather large one scale my seven foot fence the other night!! Keep an eye on your small dogs (I have a yorkie) and children at night, even if you have a fenced in yard!!

We've seen one twice this week, looks like the same one running out of the small patch of woods behind our townhouse off New Guinea Rd. in Fairfax. It almost caught our neighbor's cat. We thought it was unusual until I read about all the other folks who have seen coyotes around here...

This morning as I was drinking coffee on my backyard deck, I spotted what appeared to be two half-grown pups playing in the common area (trees/meadow) behind my town home. On closer inspection with binoculars, I realized that the pups were actually coyotes. I had heard that these animals had been sighted in the Virginia suburbs, but was surprised to see them because I always thought that coyotes were nocturnal.

After reading this blog, I have to say that I'm still of the live-and-let-live opinion. Humans should take precautions, of course, but, unless they have proven themselves to be dangerous, animals have the right to live too.

I live in Reston, North Point Village, and my neighbor (a biologist) informed us last week that we have coyotes! We are a town house cluster backing to woods. I'm thrilled that we still have wildlife even after we continue to pillage the land - and I think "live and let live" is a good philosophy.