Curmudgeon

A dog's thought process: Should I eat it, or roll in it?

Were there rose hips on the ground previously?

I have read several books on the evolution of canines. It is a fascinating subject. The best current thinking is that domestic dogs originated from multiple populations of ancient wolves. According to this wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_the_domestic_dog- these were not gray wolves. Gray wolves were evolving from these early wolf species during the same period. What is really interesting about canids is their morphological plasticity. Look at the variations in domestic dogs. They range from dust mop, handbag dogs to massifs and wolf hounds. They are very easy to manipulate in just several generations. The same is true with other canids. If you aren't familiar with Dimitri Belyaev's work with foxes, you should read up on it. Belyaev was a geneticist that fell out of favor with the Soviets in the 50s. He was assigned to work on a fur farm. Not willing to abandon his discipline, he started doing genetic experiments with foxes. In a test population, he removed any fox that showed fear or aggression and kept any fox that trusted people. In about 10 generations he created a new animal, a domestic fox. It changed color. It's teeth and jaws got smaller. Like domestic dogs, it retained a lot of puppy-like characteristics. I bring this up because it applies directly to this thread. Not only are all canids very flexible genetically, the hybrid in question- eastern coyote - has a greater variety of genetic material to work with than any native species. It will be whatever environmental pressures drive it to become. Hunting them will promote the coyote genes that respond with increased reproduction - as they do when wolves hunt and kill them. If their food is limited to mostly deer, they will become more wolf-like. If they are dependent on small prey, coyote genes will be expressed more. Catch some and breed them and create a domestic animal. The current species is what they call "unintended consequences". People removed the wolves. Since the end of extensive agriculture in the east, we have created a semi-wild environment void of a large predator. Then, we got one.

Love it but I don't think I want one for the granddaughters.

Blond like this? Looks like some golden retriever genes got mixed in there.

Challenges to the Catskill Forests: Understanding Issues, Moving Towards Solutions Our regional trees and forests are being impacted by invasive insect pests, overwhelmed by competing ground vegetation, and eaten by deer! Why should we care? Trees and forests clean our water and air, sequester carbon, support wildlife, provide local energy and valuable wood resources, plus provide places to recreate and relax. Learn about these topics, have discussions on solutions, and discover valuable resources to help deal with these issues by attending this important conference, presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, on Friday November 13. Cornell University Natural Resource professionals presenting include: Mark Whitmore, Cornell University Forest Entomologist who will cover Getting Serious about Two Destructive Invasive Forest Pests, Emerald ash borer and Hemlock wooly adelgid • Dr. Paul Curtis, Cornell University Department of Natural Resources on Impacts of Deer on Forested Landscapes • Dr. Peter Smallidge, Cornell University’s Extension Forester covering Challenges to Successful Forest Regeneration • Dr. Bernd Blossey, Director of the Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants, Cornell University on A New Road to Success: Transforming our Approach of the Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants. This program is for municipal officials, forest landowners, resource managers, foresters, loggers, agencies and organizations working on these topics as well as anyone concerned with these issues. Credits will be available for planning board members, SAF foresters and TLC loggers. It will be held at the Windham Mountain Resort, Windham, NY and runs from 9:30-3:30. The cost is $10 per person with a delicious lunch included. To register go online at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/forestchallenges_210 or call 518-622-9820 x0. The registration deadline is November 6. This event is made possible with funds from the Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection and funds from the Robert H. Wentorf Foundation. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. For more information on CCE Columbia and Greene Counties, visit our website www.ccecolumbiagreene.org or find us on Facebook.

I spoke to my brother this morning. Heritage turkeys go for $5/# and up at the farmers market. BTW - I would have shot it too.

Now the question "Why?" is described as a "raging war". "The unexamined life is not worth living" Socrates

That is a better reason than many could give.

Why? Not why did you miss. Why kill it?

It's been 42 years since a person died of a snake bite in New York. I prefer my chances with snakes to lightning, mosquitoes and ticks. Numbers of people have died from West Nile, and countless more have been made sick by tick borne illnesses. Snakes are only a problem in your mind.

Canis Soupus

Joe - Some of the guys want to do ecosystem management involving only their amygdala and genetic memories in the decision making process. They stand more of a risk from eating their bacon in the morning than they do from rattlesnakes. Bacon reproduces faster too.

It's a heritage turkey breed called Bourbon Red. My brother raises them. Do a google image search. There is another similar breed called Jersey Buff. They are really good to eat. Enjoy.

If the world was suddenly devoid of people it would be a much better place. When was the last time you were bitten by a snake? By a mosquito? The attitudes don't reflect any reality when a genuine risk assessment is done. It is like the argument that coyotes are a danger to people. List the geninue dangers we face every day in NYS in order of risk and see where coyotes and snakes fall on that list.

Some of the attitudes about snakes mirror attitudes about coyotes. Grow up people. Great video, thanks. I haven't seen a rattlesnake in NYS since about 1970. I don't live in the right place. Someone killed all the snakes around the Susquehanna.

Berniez - My camera says Davenport but the photo was taken in northern Otsego County. I had a research site operating in Davenport last winter and failed to change the camera name. Sorry.

Dragging the knife from front to back along the sides just below the jaw penetrating to the vertebrae works on deer and sheep.

I feel for you. I've been through it.

Another problem with law enforcement not shooting in the head is the lead contamination. Many road kills end up being scavenger food - and even bait for those of us who use them for research. As far as using a knife. I've killed 2 with a knife. Both were barely mobile. Grab and ear and cut. A deer that can move about is a different matter.

Someone would have to attend to find out. I won't be there. I just passed along the information.

One was chasing another on the front lawn this morning. I have no idea what that was about.

This event is in Margaretville this weekend. It is about deer impacts - not deer hunting - so I put it in the chit chat section. The Growing Deer Debate October 31 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm$25-Pre-registration $30 -Price at the door A day long conference for Natural Resource Professionals, Foresters, Farmers, Ochardists, Landscapers, Landowners and Nature Lovers to gather and discuss all available solutions to the growing impact the deer population is having on the environment in the Catskills Mountain Region and throughout the eastern United States. Morning sessions will analyse the multi-faceted issue of deer impacts on the environment, while the afternoon will focus on creating solutions and challenging conventional methods in which deer have traditionally been managed. http://catskillforest.org/event/the-growing-deer-debate/

The one I did with the knife bled for a long time before losing consciousness - minutes it seemed. I cut both sides of the neck. It bled a lot. Ugly, yes.

Hammer, knife, lug nut wrench, whatever is handy. Last time, I used my knife.