What a coyote might say to its neighbors

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Coyotes are common throughout Arizona, even in urban environments. For more information on what attracts them to an area, what to do if you encounter them and how to protect yourself and your pets, visit Arizona Game & Fish’s website at azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/living-with-coyotes. If you’re attacked by a coyote, call 911 immediately, seek medical attention and report the incident to Game & Fish.

OPINION — If a coyote could have a cordial conversation with its neighbors in The Grand, I imagine that this is what it might say:

My name is Wyly, and I would like you to know that I have as much right to be here as any of you, perhaps more.  My greatest pleasure, as I stroll through the streets and backyards of the Grand neighborhoods in search of food for me and my family, is to find a rodent, rabbit, pigeon or anything else that will sustain us until our next meal.

There are times when I, or one of my friends, may be confronted by one of you humans, but my position is not to be in your business as long as you stay out of mine.

Just as many of you, if confronted by what may be considered threatening, I may respond in kind. On the other hand, in most circumstances, I'll probably run the other way.

After all, when you’re on your morning stroll and you’re approached and threatened by someone else, what would your reaction be? 

Answer that, and you might understand my position. I may not have the same level of intelligence as you, but my instincts are to protect myself from any threat, just as you might.

If you feel you can get close enough to me to see my scars, you’re too close. So maybe back off and just realize that we can coexist without conflict.  

This writer is using a pen name. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.