SOME YIPPING

Dear Editor,

I read "Wiley Neighbor" by Chris Hardman recently (CW, Winter 2001), and wanted to relay some of our own experiences with coyotes.

About a month ago, my husband found a coyote sleeping in a ball in our back yard in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He went out to get a picture, while Harley, our yellow lab, barked continuously inside the house. The coyote lazily got up and began to walk away through the back of our yard and into our neighbor's four-acre partially wooded yard.

Just last night at around 10 p.m., my husband heard some yipping and didn't know what it was. Harley was outside at the time — but my husband knew it wasn't our dog. He went to the back door and saw Harley in the middle of six coyotes. They were circling him while he was barking and constantly turning to keep an eye on all of them as best he could. My husband said he counted six, but there may have been more; they were just moving too fast for him to be sure. He went out with a flashlight to scare them off and to bring Harley inside. The strange part was that our dog did not want to come in. My husband had to really pull him — Harley's about 80 pounds.

Jackie Goetz
Crystal Lake, Illinois

CIVIL RIGHTS-OF-WAY

Dear Editor,

I feel strongly that "changing the culture" is what [conservation is] all about. I'm glad that you feel and express this idea.

There seems to be little regard in our culture for the intrinsic value of natural land. I drive to work and see "empty lots" that are continually mowed so that only the smallest creatures survive.

Why must ComEd lands that are host to electrical towers be mowed into oblivion? It seems to me that these spots would be good places to let the vegetation grow back into indigenous prairie. Then I could see prairie on my way to work instead of grass clippings rotting in the sun.

I see this over much of the metropolitan area, now even by railroad tracks.

Why is there so much mowing? Municipal ordinances? If so, then for what reasons? Perhaps you might write an article that explores this subject.

I am deeply grateful for your efforts. Thank you.

Mitch Levin
Skokie, Illinois