When's the Last Time You Saw (or Heard) a Coyote in Arlington?

The Arlington Land Trust’s annual meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, is all about coexisting with coyotes (see below), which got us thinking:

When’s the last time you saw (or heard) a coyote in Arlington? And where was it? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Event details

Arlington Land Trust Annual Meeting

Free, 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, Arlington Senior Center

John Maguranis, Belmont's animal control officer, will talk about coyote behavior and how we can learn to coexist with these intriguing animals.

The following is from the Arlington Land Trust.

Arlington Land Trust Meeting Explores Coexisting with Coyotes

Coyotes, or sometimes just their tracks, have been spotted throughout our region, including on Elizabeth Island when Spy Pond is frozen over.

At the Arlington Land Trust (ALT) Annual Meeting on Tuesday, January 29, guest speaker John Maguranis, the animal control officer of Belmont, will share his expertise about coyote behavior and how we can learn to coexist with these intriguing animals. ALT members and other guests are welcome to attend this free lecture at 7:00 pm at the Senior Center, 27 Maple Street, Arlington.

Maguranis is also the Massachusetts representative to Project Coyote (www.projectcoyote.org), a national organization that promotes educated coexistence between people and coyotes. Its goals include championing progressive management policies that reduce human-coyote conflict, supporting innovative scientific research, and fostering respect for and understanding of America's native wild "song dog."

John Maguranis served as a U.S.Army veterinary technician for more than 20 years, caring for a wide range of animals from bald eagles to bison. Upon retiring from the Army, he put his veterinary skills to work for wildlife in Massachusetts. He quickly recognized the unfair press regarding coyotes and started a campaign to educate the community about why coyotes matter ecologically and why they deserve respect and appreciation.

He has made hundreds of presentations about living with coyotes, empowering communities, nonprofit organizations, and other local animal control officers with the tools, information, and resources they need to coexist. He has worked collaboratively with many organizations and researchers throughout New England on policy-related issues and field research while advocating for better treatment of coyotes and all wildlife.

If you are interested in open space and land conservation issues, please join the Land Trust to learn more about efforts to protect and maintain our natural resources in Arlington and the surrounding region. Land Trust president Clarissa Rowe and other members of the board of directors will report on the group’s activities over the past year and its goals for the future.

For more information, contact the Arlington Land Trust at info@arlingtonlandtrust.org.