Yeah I agree that it is not the fault of coyotes for doing coyote things. That's why I said there is nothing innately wrong with them. I know they have to eat but all the same I wish their dinner were not my cats. I bought a humane live trap thinking I would catch coyotes and get the bounty. Even bought an audio lure but I just didn't have it in my heart to kill them so it sits unused. A couple of years ago my neighbor's horse hurt my Aust cattle dog's leg and initially it seemed to heal but then got infected and the dog was old so I took him to the vet to have him euthanized. The vet said we could try antibiotics but I said no because he had started lying in one place on the porch and no longer got up to greet my car when I came home. I was afraid coyotes would kill him and he absolutely would not come in my house. I tried but I think if I had insisted he would have bit me. I didn't want him to die a horrid death. Sorry if it seems I am a coyote hater - I am not. I just wish they would stay in the woodland but they don't understand that concept.

I know some farmers have problems with coyote killing calves and foals and have heard that putting a mule or donkey in with them is a good idea because they will trample the coytoes. I was going to get a donkey but just don't have time for an extra critter at this time.

About raccoons - in summer of 2009 we started seeing a couple of raccoons and a really fat oppossum on the porch eating dog/cat food at night. My son asked me if we should shoot them. I stood on the porch with them just three or four feet away from me and they were not aggressive toward me or my animals. My collie just laid there and ignored them as they ate. I watched to see if they were going to hurt the kittens but there was no conflict. So I just let them be and started putting the food dishes inside at night to discourage their visits. In Nov I talked to a DNR agent about another problem and I mentioned my critter problems. He said that a raccoon could really tear up a cat. If I had seen one acting aggressive I would have shot it but they weren't.

After my encounter with the doe I developed a new respect for animal mothers. Once me and my son and BF were walking in the back field and we encountered a dozen turkey chicks. About six inches tall, fluffy and cute as could be. My son and BF were interacting with the flock and I was spinning in circles looking for a raging turkey hen ready to come kick my butt. Don't mess with mothers!

Oh and while I have diverted this thread for the moment what do you think of Sarah Palin's aerial killing of wolves? I saw some video of the wolves dying and it didn't look humane to me. I think she even got Congress to take wolves off the protected species list. Am I right?

Now returning to Kaika's topic in progress