Coyote Settles the South

Wormsloe Foundation Publications

by John Lane

One night, poet and environmental writer John Lane tuned in to a sound from behind his house that he had never heard before: the nearby eerie and captivating howls of coyotes. Since this was Spartanburg, South Carolina, and not Missoula, Montana, Lane set out to discover all he could about his new and unexpected neighbors.

Coyote Settles the South is the story of his journey through the Southeast, as he visits coyote territories: swamps, nature preserves, old farm fields, suburbs, a tannery, and even city streets. On his travels he meets, interrogates, and observes those who interact with the animals―trappers, wildlife researchers, hunters, rattled pet owners, and even one devoted coyote hugger. Along the way, he encounters sensible, yet sometimes perplexing, insight concerning the migration into the Southeast of the American coyote, an animal that, in the end, surprises him with its intelligence, resilience, and amazing adaptability.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Natural History, Science

200 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

John Lane (1954–) is emeritus professor at Wofford College, where he taught creative writing, environmental studies, and directed the Goodall Environmental Studies Center. There, he helped imagine and direct the Thinking Like a River Initiative. Lane was named one of seven regional Culture Pioneers by Blue Ridge Outdoors. He has been honored with the Water Conservationist Award from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, the Clean Water Champion by South Carolina's Upstate Forever, and inducted, in 2014, into the South Carolina Academy of Authors.

His selected poems, Abandoned Quarry, won the Southeastern Independent Booksellers Alliance Poetry Book Award, his nonfiction book, Coyote Settles in the South, was named a finalist and a Nature Book of Uncommon Merit by the John Burroughs Society, and his novel, Fate Moreland's Widow, was named Independent Publisher Silver Medalist.

One of the founders of the Hub City Writers Project, Lane lives near the banks of Lawson's Fork outside of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thoughtful and interesting, this book looks at the plight of the coyote in the South, but also looks at how this predator migrating to this region is effecting other animals, humans, and regional habitats. While the author isn't a scientist, and makes no claim that he is, he seeks out many experts for clear insight and the truth behind the legend of the coyotes.

[Jeff Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first coyote I saw was thirty-some years ago outside of Virginia City, Nevada. Since then, I have seen them in many other parts of the West, but also in areas far beyond their original range. At one point, coyotes only existed in the American West. As their territory changed, the adapted and began to move eastward. In this book, which is kind of a travel narrative, Lane sets out across the South to learn about how coyotes are adapting to their new territories in the southern part of the country. These animals are taking place of the red wolves, who used to roam eastern woods. They are generally hated, in the same category that rattlesnakes are hated, as they are considered a threat to humans and especially to our pets. While there has been human death to coyotes (there was one during his study of the animal), the animal is very problematic for pets, especially small dogs and cats. They help cull the deer population (they prefer to eat fawns), love fruit, but will also eat armadillos (flip ‘em over and eat ‘em on the half shell). As the coyote is well established and able to reside close to humans, it appears there will be no going back. The beast is a hard one to trap, as one famous coyote from West Virginia showed. This animal was even known to relieve himself right next to traps set out for him as if he was playing with his trappers. He was finally trapped using a captive female coyote in heat!

Interestingly, while coyotes generally migrated along the Great Lakes into the Northeast United States, the animals quick conquest of the south probably came from it being brought over the Mississippi in the back of a pickup truck. Fox hunters were known to import the animal to help train their dogs and many got away.

In addition to discussing the coyote, Lane spends time talking about the red wolf, as specie that is in even more danger from the coyote, for the two species have been known to interbred. By the time I got through this book, I find myself having more respect for the coyotes. Lane begins the book describing the first time he heard them at his house in northwest South Carolina. Having been surprised to hear them baying in the woods while out at night skiing in Michigan, I can attest, it’s a beautiful but also hair-raising sound. Pick up this book if you’re interested in nature and in an animal that is a lot cleverer than the cartoon depiction of Wile E. Coyote.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and recommended read - so much to learn about our new omnivorous neighbors who are filling a gap high in the natural food chain.

[Stacey Schmidt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too much hunting, trapping, and killing in this book, very little natural history.

[Richmond Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super important book to me; beautifully written, balancing fieldwork studies with personal addendums to create a compelling narrative while also being incredibly informative. This book has pushed me to read most of Lane’s writing now, and I hold it all to a similarly high standard.

[Kevin Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me want to see a coyote! Interesting and balanced look at the southern invasion of the coyote.

[Chuck McGrady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a Wofford College professor who describes himself as a poet, the book reads like a stream of consciousness--some scientific but much personal. The authors seems very self-aware, and I caught myself remembering similar thoughts that I'd never have thought to write down. The coyote has adopted to man and an expanded territory. Perhaps some disease will take them out, but one doubts man will have much to do with it.