Two years ago, I shared a Coyote photo on Facebook to celebrate National Coyote Day. I love Coyotes and wanted to bring awareness to a day that celebrates them. This post came up in my Facebook Memories today and that is why I felt prompted to write about that post.
I shared a photo of a Coyote taken on a snowy day in Utah with “I 
Song Dogs” in white text written on my image.
In addition I included some text on my Facebook post:
I Song Dogs. Today is #NationalCoyoteDay
Coyotes are very often misunderstood. Most of us have been at one time in our lives.
Read more about Coyotes at Project Coyote
#ProjectCoyote #CompassionateCoexistence #CoyoteFriendlyCommunities #Coexistence #Wildlife
Coyote at the Tallgrass Prairie of Oklahoma
I thought my post and image were pretty innocuous and simple, and it was on my own Facebook timeline.
But apparently, my National Coyote Day post and photo struck a nerve with a well-known outdoor writer and photographer based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, whom I’ll refer to by his initials, TC. It must have bothered him a lot because he decided to comment on my Facebook timeline.
Just to be clear, TC friended me—not the other way around. I figured that was worth mentioning upfront.
The Facebook conversation went like this:
TC
Yeah, one bit a toddler in a Scottsdale AZ park yesterday.
Mia McPherson
Sorry to hear that.
TC
Mia McPherson another toddler attacked today in AZ. Coyotes aren’t all warm and cuddly canines. Last week in our housing development one came into a yard and grabbed a dog who was on a leash held by its owner.
Mia McPherson
TC, I never said coyotes are warm and cuddly. Not once in all the years I have been photographing and writing about them. I mention that they are wild animals, that they deserve our respect, and I get furious when people bait or call them in for photos because that gets them used to humans.
But as I mentioned above, “Coyotes are very often misunderstood.”, the reason I do is because I live where they have a bounty on their heads placed there by a government entity that has repeatedly ignored science. They just did that with mountains lions. They have done it with crows.
There are steps that can be taken with problem coyotes and not knowing the facts of any of the cases you have mentioned I would be remiss in stating that any of them could have been taken.
Often times problem coyotes, bears, alligators and large predators are not completely to blame. People leave their dog or cat food out, don’t take care of their garbage like they should. That makes those animals associate humans with food.
In addition to that, some predators will chase anything that runs, like kids or pets. It is their nature.
It is a tragedy both ways when children or pets get hurt. But the coyotes are here and they aren’t going anywhere. 100 plus years of attempted extirpation has not succeeded. We need to learn to coexist with them. That can be done.
TC
Mia McPherson they aren’t misunderstood, they are prey animals that will kill anything and everything they can.
They will never be exterminated, they are to smart. But to post I them only portrays them with a blindness to how the can and are a menace in certain situations to others. Such angelic worship is both blind to the nature of what predators are.
Mia McPherson
TC, you don’t get to tell me what or who I love. I am not blind. You are insulting.
There is nothing “angelic” about me loving them. I love them as wild animals. Flat out because they exist.
You do not determine how I feel about anything. You don’t even know me even if you think you do. Yet you come on my timeline and insult me.
Angelic? What kind of mansplaining crap word is that? Did you use it because I am woman? You don’t have to treat me with kid gloves. I am tempered steel.
Where are your manners? What crawled up your butt to behave this way to me tonight and act so rude?
Again, I am not blind. Far effing from it. Your diatribe says FAR more about you than me. In a huge disrespectful way.
Now if you can’t say you are sorry for being rude and insulting, say goodbye. Because I don’t take this kind of garbage from anyone. Not anyone.
Mia McPherson
And NEVER tell me what to say.
TC
Mia McPherson this says it all. You’re blind to anything other than your angelic link to them. He reposted my Coyote image after this comment and then blocked me on Facebook.
I guess TC wanted the last word.
The thing is? Nah.
Make no mistake—I say what I want, how I want, and as loud or soft as I choose.
No one has the right to take my voice or free will from me, least of all some judgemental, sexist man.
If TC thought I should respect him, he was wrong.
Respect is earned, and you don’t earn it by attacking me in any way, shape, or form.
What you get instead is my contempt.
I’ve had to deal with a lot of sexist crud as a female bird and wildlife photographer, both in and out of the field, in the more than two decades I’ve been doing this. And yes, even on social media.
So that is how my posting a Coyote photo on Facebook for National Coyote Day went two years ago.
No loss as far as TC blocking me. Up until that day I am not sure he had ever commented on any of my posts.
And I am still here, still writing that I Song Dogs.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Coyote photos plus facts and information about this species.
Mia
Your response was great. Does TC feel the same way about Mountain Lions, Wolves and Grizzly Bears and Alligators? Coyotes are beautiful wild animals that deserve respect. I love listening to them at night in the woods. Keep up the great work.
Hi Mia! You should not be attacked for stating what you know & believe. I live in an area where wild animals are in the small city, that being Nelson, BC. I may be a bit frightened of some of the animals but that does not mean they should be killed. Too many Bears are being shot & I will not be responsible for their demise so I haul my garbage to the dump site not leave it in the lane to entice wild creatures to do what they can to exist. Yes, we have Coyotes, Skunks, Raccoons & Cougars….good thing cause we have Roof Rats which I don’t care much for. Good girl Mia!
I’m definitely on your side and agree with everything you’ve said. Coyotes fill an important niche in their ecosystems. We’ve invaded THEIR territories, so we’re the ones that need to adjust our behavior around them. TC comes off as a mansplaining, know-it-all, mysogynistic douchecanoe.
I am totally with you on this. It angers me that new-subdivision-residents complain about coyotes in their yard. Excuse me!!! There were there first & you have probably taken over there territory. I love in the summer when my windows are open & hear them yipping over a kill or howling.
I am totally with you on this. It angers me that new-subdivision-residents complain about coyotes in their yard. Excuse me!!! There were there first & you have probably taken over there territory. I love in the summer when my windows are open & hear them yipping over a kill or howling.
TC was treating you like a fluffy little eight year old that had written about a unicorn. I enjoyed how you knocked him back on his heals.
I live in coyote country and don’t think for a minute I trust them to leave my dog’s food outside; tie up a dog outside; or encourage my dogs to play with them.
However, this past winter I was watching one dive up and nose first into the snow hunt for a vole. It was quite the site, and I look forward to seeing that again.
Some people don’t get that the love we have for wild animals goes with a tremendous amount of respect for their space
Thanks Mia, and Happy coyote day!
I am with you. And TC is no loss.
Mia, I totally understand where you are coming from regarding wild life. It is no different with bears that we deal with in Upstate NY. Humans need to remember the animals were he first, we are encroaching in their territories. We need to respect that and forever be vigilant for the safety of family, human and fur family. They are wild and will do anything to survive. That being said, I too think they are a beautiful wild animal.