As one of those that spoke to the Game and Fish about a mangy coyote have watched for months go down hill, am disturbed that the G/F found it necessary to ask folks not to contact them. This coyote now has no hair, is very thin, and walks like an animal in a great deal of pain.
Government agencies often kill healthy coyotes for various reasons yet this coyote's painful slow death and others like it are being ignored because it is no danger to humans. Government agencies may think this is an acceptable way to control coyote populations as mange can be transmitted among a pack even though an infected coyote is often eventually driven out of the pack.
It appears agencies do what they can for species they intend to hunt but for those species that help keep nature in balance by being in the human predatory spot they seem to have no sympathy.
Valiant Baker
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
