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Group Offers Assertiveness Training and Sends Noisemaker to Guv
Contact: Wendy Keefover-Ring (505) 988-9126 x1162

Denver, CO-Apr. 28. WildEarth Guardians is sending a plastic whistle to Texas Governor Rick Perry and offering to pay for a class in assertiveness training following his slaying of a song dog. Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that the Governor killed a coyote in February, using “just one shot” to kill it because it was “staring” at him. Referring to the killing, Perry stated: “I did the appropriate thing and sent it to where coyotes go” and “he became mulch.”

“With all due respect to his manhood, 90-pound women in tennis shoes effectively scare 30-pound coyotes away with a sharp shout. We’re sending Governor Perry a plastic whistle so he can leave his gun at home,” stated Wendy Keefover-Ring of WildEarth Guardians.

Coyotes are curious and intelligent animals, averaging about 30 pounds, and are well adapted to human communities. Several researchers have demonstrated that coyotes typically avoid humans, and pets can be protected through common sense measures.

Hazing, which entails shouting, using whistles, and other noises discourages coyotes from approaching;

Keep dogs on leash while recreating; and

Don’t attract coyotes to homes with pet food and bird seed or uncontained garbage.

“We have coordinated over 100 volunteers in employing these methods successfully in the Denver metropolitan area,” added Keefover-Ring.

Biologists have found that killing coyotes can result in a boomerang effect; that is, more coyotes will breed and produce larger litters. Coyotes are important ecosystem actors. They control the populations of smaller carnivores such as skunks and foxes, species that prey on ground-nesting birds. Thus coyotes make systems more ecologically diverse.

“Rick Perry’s fierce attack on little wild dog doesn’t bring to mind the image of a macho gun-slinging Texan on the wild frontier. Sam Houston he is not,” stated Keefover-Ring.

WildEarth Guardians is also sending the Governor a copy of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ song, True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes.