I've lived in Oakton for 28 years and just saw my first Coyote yesterday afternoon. My dogs went bolistic when they saw him, not UPS guy in the driveway crazy, but like no barking I've ever heard from them before. He was just staring at them through the window and just stared until I came into his view and my dogs are big. I'd never seen one, but knew instantly it was not a domesticated dog and certainly not a fox. First animal that came to mind was "Two Socks", the small skinny wolf from "Dances with Wolves", but had a hard time believing wolves were in the area. After googling Coyote images, knew right away it was a Coyote. He was a beautiful animal and hope to see more of him.

Yeah, maybe when you see him again, he'll be lockjawed on to your little pooches neck. Take a look at deeesh!

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/26/16707745-coyote-pack-chasing-pets-smashes-door-of-home-in-chicago-suburb?lite=

Coyotes are opportunistic carnivores, which means they prey on any animals they can find. 90% of their diet is made up of mammals- voles, prairie dogs, eastern cottontails, ground squirrels and mice. Coyotes will also eat small birds, snakes, lizards, deer, javelina, cattle and small insects. Coyotes also eat some fruits and vegetables during autumn and winter months.


•Coyotes hunt in packs. They will spend up to 21 hours catching their prey!
•Coyotes have been seen eating rubbish. They sometimes try and catch domestic pets (such as dogs).
•90,000 coyotes are killed each year by the United States government. This is done to protect cattle and other livestock.
•A coyote’s tail is about 30-40cm (12-16 in) long.
•Coyotes are nocturnal animals- although they are sometimes spotted during the day.
•Cougars and bears sometimes kill coyotes.
•Coyote fur is used in some men’s coats.

I've lived in Oakton since 1976 and started seeing them (one in particular in the woods behind my house) about 7 years ago.

google research Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Coyotes are opportunistic carnivores, which means
> they prey on any animals they can find. 90% of
> their diet is made up of mammals- voles, prairie
> dogs, eastern cottontails, ground squirrels and
> mice. Coyotes will also eat small birds, snakes,
> lizards, deer, javelina, cattle and small insects.
> Coyotes also eat some fruits and vegetables during
> autumn and winter months.
>
>
> •Coyotes hunt in packs. They will spend up to 21
> hours catching their prey!
> •Coyotes have been seen eating rubbish. They
> sometimes try and catch domestic pets (such as
> dogs).
> •90,000 coyotes are killed each year by the
> United States government. This is done to protect
> cattle and other livestock.
> •A coyote’s tail is about 30-40cm (12-16 in)
> long.
> •Coyotes are nocturnal animals- although they
> are sometimes spotted during the day.
> •Cougars and bears sometimes kill coyotes.
> •Coyote fur is used in some men’s coats.

There's debate about whether and under what circumstances they hunt in packs.
Sometimes people see a litter of pups with their mother that haven't been
weined and mistake them for a pack.

Rabies is all over NoVa. Be careful.

My mother was living on our farm in the midwest and a coyote killed 20 chickens,
2 dogs, 4 peacocks, and we don't know how many barn cats because they're feral.
I shot the coyote with what some assholes are now calling an assault rifle and
it's tail now adorns my bookshelf. BTW, coyote fur is used in womens clothing too.

I have spotted a couple around Springfield, in Daventry and along the trail to Lake Accotink

you'll find them at any zoo

never seen one but heard them howl out in the general Dulles vicinity down to Plesant Valley for years now

google research Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Coyotes are opportunistic carnivores, which means
> they prey on any animals they can find. 90% of
> their diet is made up of mammals- voles, prairie
> dogs, eastern cottontails, ground squirrels and
> mice. Coyotes will also eat small birds, snakes,
> lizards, deer, javelina, cattle and small insects.
> Coyotes also eat some fruits and vegetables during
> autumn and winter months.

I prefer Coyotes over nogs.

If only they preyed on liberals and other large rodents!