Interesting

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Police criticized for killing two coyotes in town
The Associated Press


IOWA CITY -- Animal rescue officials are disagreeing with a decision by police to kill two coyotes, including one that showed up at a football game tailgate party, but police said they were protecting people and at least one dog.

University Heights Police Chief Ron Fort said one coyote showed up during the Iowa-Minnesota football game and stole food from coolers. He said he tried to chase the coyote away, but when that didn't work he shot it.

Fort said another coyote was shot when it attacked a dog.

He said police aren't trying to root out coyotes, but will take action if necessary.

"If it reaches the point where people or pets are in danger, we'll destroy the coyote," Fort said.

Misha Goodman, director of the Iowa City/Coralville Animal Care and Adoption Center, said coyotes aren't a problem. She said the center is trying to track the animals to keep them from being shot.

"There has been no issue with coyotes ... in the 14 years I've been here," she said.

She said coyotes aren't aggressive, but have been known to go after dogs or cats if no food source is available.

"I don't think that's going to be a problem because they have a food source," said Goodman, referring to rabbits and small rodents found in the city.

Joe Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said coyotes adapt well to humans.

"Much like raccoons and opossums, they will slip into town here and there," he said

 

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Some history:
November 10, 2004

Police chief to hunt big cat

By Gigi Wood, Iowa City Press-Citizen

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS -- The City Council considers a recent report of a mountain lion sighting credible and plans to hunt it down.

"I plan to go into the timber, I'm not saying when, and take a camera with me to see if (tracks match) the report to see if there is one lingering," University Heights Police Chief Ron Fort said. "If I run across it, my plan is to destroy it."

Councilors agreed with the plan without taking formal action at their monthly meeting Tuesday. Resident Jim Ebert wrote a letter to the council claiming he and his wife, Margie Ebert, encountered a mountain lion Oct. 30 while walking their dog near Finkbine Golf Course. The Eberts did not attend Tuesday's meeting.

"I found Mr. Ebert's letter to be very interesting and credible," Mayor Gloria Jacobson said. "He was in charge of the University of Iowa Mountaineers for many years and has escorted people (on safaris) throughout the world. If anyone was going to identify an animal not native to Iowa, he would be the one to do it."

In his letter, Ebert stated he was able to get as close as 200 feet to the mountain lion. When he reported it the next day to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, he was told to look on his own for tracks and take pictures to prove it had been there. He then asked the University Heights and Iowa City councils to take action.

"They've been seen in Solon, Hills and five near Downing," Fort said about the sightings. "I've been reading in outdoor magazines about urban cougars moving in more often. Their first target is deer, then any other wildlife they can find, like opossums. Then they move on to dogs and cats and young children."

Fort said wildlife experts on the West Coast have told him of instances where lions stay in one area for an extended period of time.

Councilor David Giese said mountain lions are known to move up to 70 miles a day, and he doubted it would be seen again.

The Iowa DNR has no confirmed sightings in Johnson County, Giese said. To confirm a sighting, a photograph of the lion or its tracks needs to be presented to the DNR. He said DNR agents are checking with wildlife breeders to see if a mountain lion escaped without being reported.