Field Updates             This site will be regularly updated like my old website was from 2002-2005.  Visit http://www2.bc.edu/~wayjo/updatesfromthefield.html  for those old updates. In addition, the most recent posts will be at the top. In other words, scroll down for older updates.              Note: if you regularly visited my old website and looked forward to these updates then please read my book, Suburban Howls, to fill in information from my old webpage (http://www2.bc.edu/~wayjo/updatesfromthefield.html ) to this more current version. Please click on the following links (on the dates) to read about them:      September 27, 2008. Open letter to Governer Patrick regarding coyote/wildlife management.   August 18, 2008.  Updated October 4.  Update from the field: Cape Cod happenings. Two radio-collared coywolves (eastern coyotes) now traveling together! Updated August 22: Revised pup count of Snup's group = 7; Cost information.Updated Sept. 7: additional updates from 8/18/08. Updated Sept. 22: Coyote updates including Walnut located in Hingham (see bottom of page for Walnut)! October 4: New coyote capture "Eben" a 36.7 lb probably pup or yearling of Cake's!   August 24, 2008. New article available in my publications page. It appears in the magazine International Wolf and discusses the eastern coyote's hybrid status as being a coy-wolf.   May 15, 2008. Updated August 12. On-going field update: spring and summer 2008. Update May 18: 2 new captures; possible failed collar (how frustrating). Update May 21: Eb found! Update May 26: Jaws recaptured yet again. Update June 1: Marstons Mills Airport pack probably kills but definitely eats an entire deer in 24 hours! Update June 19: large 43.1 lb adult male coyote "Mill" radio-collared. June 19: additional notes made in text including Eb information and pup updates. Update June 25: Cicadas anyone? Coy-Wolves say yes! Update June 27: New coyote capture "Snup" with pictures added. Update July 3: Repeat capture of Mill. Update Aug. 12: new coyote capture and last update on this link (a new fuller update soon).   July 19, 2008: Eastern Coyote Research Recommends a National Canid Protection Act. Read more...   July 18, 2008: Quote of the day I received from an e-mailer to my website: "As I see no purpose in their being, I associate the coyote with other vermin. The difference being most other vermin are not predators who pose a risk to society. There are certain species where extinction would be a benefit to society. The coyote is at the top of that list."  What a nice way to start the day. You can probably imagine my response. I wonder if he works for the Bush Adminstration?   July 17, 2008: Yet another peer-reviewed publication accepted to a journal. I am repeatedly amazed both by the number of my publications, but more so on how all of this research has done nothing to prevent state fish and game departments from allowing unnecessary slaughters of this species (they call them hunting seasons but if you look at the fine print at their regulations, including Massachusetts', it is effectively a legal slaughter). Click here to see the new publication's reference (note: it is still in press).   July 16, 2008: NEW TALK AVAILABLE: My Yellowstone Experience: A Photographic Journey. This details my numerous visits to the world's first national park.  Please visit my talks/book signings page for more information.   June 13, 2008. Updated July 3. What a shame: Record number of eastern coy-wolves (eastern coyotes) killed in Massachusetts; token Wildlife Watching Areas discussed. Update June 14: Article on "Record Number of Coyotes Killed in MA," with my comments. Update July 3: Outrage: half the population of eastern coywolves killed on Cape Cod 2007-08. Unbelievable.   May 2, 2008. 1) Letter from a citizen for the wildlife watching refuge; 2) Response from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; and 3) My reaction/response   April 29, 2008.  Help make the town of Barnstable a wildlife watching refuge similar to the many national parks out west. I have attached a sample letter and additional addresses, including the department of tourism which could have the most potent impact if you write to them explaining that you would be more likely to visit the area if it were a wildlife watching area.   April 25, 2008. Jaws is recaptured and has gained 2 lbs; Pictures of Nathan; Field update; Letter of disappointment   April 12, 2008. I have added pictures to sell (7 of them) in my store (after 6 grueling hours of figuring out how to do that). Click here or go to my ECR store link.   March 29, 2008. Outrage: Captive Coyote Permit denied; wild eastern coyote update. Update April 12: Still no permits - the status quo clones have won.   March 17, 2008.  A new member of my pack is here: Nathan, on 15 March, 2008: 7 lb 15.2 oz. Click to see pictures.   March 6, 2008.  News from afar: 1) Wolf in Massachusetts was apparently a wild wolf; 2) Environmental groups try to stop the federal group “Wildlife Services” from killing wildlife. Update March 20: longer, more detailed article in the Boston Globe (with my comments added)   March 2, 2008.  Two new peer-reviewed publications on coyotes added by my research team: 1) Micro-corridor use; and 2) Coyote pack poisoned. Click on the date or go to publications page.   March 2, 2008.  Coyote Hunting for 2007-08 is almost over in Massachusetts. Thank God.   March 1, 2008.  Random news in addition to update below (see Feb. 24): Wolf losing Endangered Species Act protections out west, but what about their smaller cousin, the coyote? Also, captive coyote permit update - please help by submitting a letter of support.   February 24, 2008.  Lots of happenings: Capture of 2 more coyotes (1 on Cape Cod, “Jaws”; 1 in north Boston, “Hood”), Walnut in Hingham, Coak update, Raider is missing, again. Update on Feb. 25: Pictures of Hood added! Update March 1: Still no Raider, but Coak is consistently in Raider's range! Also, coyote Jaws has successful surgery and then we release him on Feb. 28 (additional pictures included).   February 18, 2008.  Battle in the suburbs!!!   January 31, 2008.  New capture: Coyote “Coak” radio-collared in West Barnstable! Update on Feb. 1 and 9.   January 19, 2008.  Raider has been re-collared! She is a phenomenally health 41.2 lb!   January 13, 2008.  Two updates: 1) Permits are here, but this is bittersweet news; and 2) Amazing news: Coyote Walnut is 50 miles away. Update on Walnut on Jan. 15.   December 27, 2007. Click here to go to my publications page to see 2 new articles:             1. A major peer-reviewed paper where my colleagues and I created an Ethogram on Coyotes.             2. An article on my research from Wildlife Conservation magazine (this is non-peer reviewed, not scientific article; rather, it is a popular article on our research) December 11, 2007. What you don’t learn about, you fear December 8, 2007.   Field Update: 1) Sad news: Snale is dead; 2) Raider is likely still alive, with a malfunctioned collar!; 3) Permit update November 28, 2007.   Yellowstone National Park Trip.  More pictures added Dec. 3! November 6, 2007.   Raider is missing. October 28, 2007. BIG UPDATE: Genetic results are in and Eastern Coyotes appear to be genetically distinct; they are not western coyotes nor eastern wolves. They are a hybrid and probably should be classified as a new species. Read on... October 8, 2007.   Please visit my legislative links (or click on 10/8/07) to see updates about my research permit and to support creating a wildlife watching area on Cape Cod! September 15, 2007.   Bitter sweet news. Following the news of the state allowing more coyotes to be shot (solely for recreation purposes so hunters can shoot them at their leisure) I have amazing news from Marstons Mills. Sill, an 8+ year old male, was observed playing with his pups. Plus Sill and his family brought their pups to the Marstons Mills Rendezvous Site. That makes 11 years running!!! Hopefully they won't now be shot.    August 30, 2007.  Read a tribute to Mystic, the coyote, shot by a hunter in December 2006. This was an editorial appearing in the Barnstable Patriot (newspaper). I am re-posting the story here to illustrate the difficulty of studying these animals where people kill them. Also, see July 7 happenings since the publication of my book to learn more about other coyote study subjects shot and killed. August 30, 2007. Read an interview done on my research in the Wildlife Watch Binocular on-line magazine: http://www.wildwatch.org/Binocular/bino9/binocular02.07.pdf  August 3, 2007.  Editorial: Politics wins, science loses in coyote hunting decision August 1, 2007.  Terrible News: Coyote hunting season increased in Mass. (although not surprising)            July 7, 2007.  Happenings since publication of Suburban Howls: The good, the bad, and the uglier.