BEETLES & COYOTES IN THE NEWS

The most recent coyote article in the news is in today's Kitchener-Waterloo Record; the front page headline no less: "Coyote sightings alarm residents". The pine shoot beetle on the other hand has only been in the K-W Record a couple of times and only in the Local Section, most recently on January 6, 2012. This beetle may very well be thriving due to the milder winters we've been having. This is one more result of global warming and human intervention. Apparently Conestoga Lake had issues with these beetles in the 1990's as Laurel Creek Conservation in Waterloo currently is. As per its' name , the beetle is very destructive to pine trees and at Laurel Creek Conservation the authorities are removing dead and dying trees. Furthermore they are"...thinning and replanting with more diverse species.".

Regarding coyotes it seems that it's become more than the odd individual coyote spotted as a pack of about eight animals has been seen a couple of times. Indeed a pack this size potentially could be much more of a concern than the odd individual coyote. Southern Ontario is ideal for coyotes with the combination of rural areas and bush as well as urban areas with parkland for hiding. Also their natural enemys, wolves are farther north. Coyotes can and do coexist in the same areas as wolves but are sometimes targetted by the wolves who see them as competition for prey. Currently the Bechtel Park area in Waterloo, near the intersection of University and Bridge St. is home to this pack although they have been seen further afield. Some of the common sense warnings are similar to those in bear country namely don't be leaving food outside either loose or in plastic bags.