I'm not sure how many of you live in Arizona, but we apparently have an idiot sitting in the AZ Game and Fish Department named Darren Julian.  Ok- I realize that it's not nice to call people idiots, but at this point, I'm so incensed that I want nothing more than to see him never step foot in public or make any type of public statement, ever... 

As many of you know, we have a number of "Urban Coyotes" living in the cities of Arizona.  This is not a new problem.  The more that we continue building on the territories of our coyotes (and snakes and reptiles and so on), then the more these animals will be forced to join our civilization. 

I know that many of you will disagree, but I'm past caring.  Yesterday, on ABC15 news, Mr. Julian states that in order to discourage coyotes from moving into neighborhoods, we should "...be very cruel to them; throw rocks, kick them, throw things at them..."

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!?

Now - as many of you know, we live in a land of animal abuse.  Mr. Julian essentially just gave the permission of the AZ Game and Fish Dept to be cruel to our native animals. 

I hope that he didn't really mean what he said and that he is just not good at public speaking. I can only pray that he's not involved in the AZ Game and Fish Dept's education department.  And I can only hope that people will not take this guy seriously. But there are many who will.  Keep in mind how many animal abusers are now happily plotting the best means of cruelty, and with the AZ Game and Fish Dept's apparent "approval" on doing so.  Think I'm a pessimist?  Get just two of the emails that I get dozens of weekly.  Spend a day at the local animal shelter.  Then tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. 

Now, I'm not asking for this guy's resignation, but I do believe he, AND the AZ Fish and Game Dept., should make a clarifying statement on the incredibly stupid statement that Mr. Julian issued.  Think about it - do you really want to walk out of your home and see an animal (of any kind) that has been tortured to death?  This is what will end up happening.  This guy needs to do some serious backtracking on this statement, clarify that what he meant was that we should not feed these wild animals, should not call them towards us, should instead treat them like the wild animals they are and leave them alone.  Mr. Julian has just abused his right to speak to the public, as far as I'm concerned.  Go back to your desk job, or whatever it is that you do, and I can only hope it doesn't include "education". 

Folks, the more we build on land in the Southwest Deserts, the fewer places these animals have to live...  If you don't want to live with the wild, go back to where you came from.  If you can't have respect for the wild, live in an inner-city apartment.  But, do not harm the wildlife.  Do not treat them with any less respect than you would want to be treated with, and for God's sake, don't start throwing rocks at them, or be "Cruel" to them.  Just ignore them or call someone in a position of authority who can help you out by trapping and relocating the animal.  I'm not even sure if the AZ Game and Fish Dept is up for that little challenge given what I just witnessed on T.V., so I'm not sure I would even call them.  

We need to be a little less selfish during our time on earth, and this will begin with admiring and accepting that we share the earth with things other than humans.  All creatures ahve a purpose, all of them have a reason to be here, and to think otherwise is just arroance. 

If you don't want your cat or small dog to be carried off by a hungry coyote, please keep them indoors.  I realize that many pets are lost to coyotes, but think how many more are lost to abusive people. You may just get some perspective.  If you don't want coyotes in your yard, there are a number of humane products that you can use to stop them from coming into your yard.  Contech has a fantastic line of products designed to help keep 'critters' of all kinds away from areas in your home.

Please do not listen to the idiot remarks made by Mr. Julian. It is my most sincere hope that people will learn how to live with nature and begin sharing the resources that WE have stolen from THEM...