I was watching a nature show that was concentrating on wildlife here in So. Calif. It was interesting and I thought I'd share what they said. The vet on the show was saying that now people are being bitten more by rattle snakes that don't rattle. That is because the snakes that rattled the most, have been killed most often by humans. They hear the snake and shoot it. So the snakes that fail to rattle, have been breeding more, and now there is a bunch of snakes evolving that still have rattles, but don't use them. The other day I saw a big huge coyote in my front yard. He was bigger than the lazy dog laying there watching him get in the trash cans, and she weighs 50 lbs. He didn't make a peep. We haven't heard any coyotes singing outside our window for several years. A few of the neighbors had taken it upon themselves to shoot every coyote they heard. Especially the ones that ate persian cats and poodles. I lost a couple cats too, but that is the price for living here I guess. Keep '
em inside now. Anyway....the neighbors didn't see the coyotes unless they were out singing. Then the neighbors would grab their guns, run outside, and "bam". Now we have had an explosion of rats, gophers, moles, rabbits, ground squirrels. We have one quiet big fat coyote. But maybe there are just as many coyotes and snakes out there on the trail, they are just silent. I guess it would be careful to watch for them when we are riding, because now they are the vicious silent variety, and they still bite if you step on them!
Condolences to Nina on the loss of her Gitano. Very sorry to hear about that encounter, and the tragic outcome.
Beth (who wishes the big coyote would eat some of the critters instead of hamburger wrappers)
