The howling coyotes described in "Coyotes Surround Sleepy Hollow House" by Krista Madsen (Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow Patch, Jan. 29, 2013) may have been parents summoning their offspring.
In all likelihood, the howling coyotes cited in Krista's article had misinterpreted the scent of strange coyote urine on their turf as an incursion by an unwelcome member of their breed.
Coyotes like penguins, swans and turtle doves mate for life. Coyote litters can be as large as nine pups and often a pack of coyotes consists solely of close relatives such as mom, dad, and their younger children.
Coyotes tend to be territorial but as male children grow up they often stray from home and establish territories in new domains.
Coyotes can be tick carriers
A comment was made by a reader of Krista's article that the use of coyote urine is "one way to get rid of deer ticks." If the writer is suggesting that homeowners try to attract coyotes to scare away deer, that's questionable advice. Coyotes are not just dangerous. They can be a host for ticks and they can carry rabies and many other serious diseases.
A recent advance in the battle against ticks is worthy of note. Wipes have been developed that permit fast and easy removal of ticks from dogs.
The wipes are inexpensive and available for sale from amazon.com at www.amazon.com/Tick-SR-Box10-10-Pack-Tick-Remover/dp/B009WNHFCW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1359900020&sr=8-7&keywords=Tick-SR
This product induces a tick to withdraw from a dog by both impeding the tick's food supply and dissolving the bond that adheres it to the host. It can also be purchased at amazon.com in bottles. More details about the product which is called Tick-SR (SR stands for safe release) can be found at www.tick-sr.com
