State wildlife departments ordinarily protect the animals in their charge. Georgia’s is giving people an incentive to kill one particularly irksome species.
“Each coyote killed, up to five a month per hunter/trapper, will earn an entry into a monthly drawing for a lifetime license (or equal credit for purchase of hunting/fishing licenses),” the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says on its Georgia Coyote Challenge website.
That’s five dead coyotes per month per hunter, or 30 total, for the March-August contest period. Roadkill isn’t eligible.
“Coyote predation is scientifically shown to negatively impact wildlife populations, kill livestock, kill domestic pets and contribute to undesired human-coyote interactions,” Chief of Game Management John Bowers said in a statement to Channel 2 Action News.
A Roswell man and woman attacked by rabid coyotes in the past year might agree with the “undesired interactions” statement.
Yet some scientists are horrified.
Chris Mowry, a Berry College professor and founder of the Atlanta Coyote Project, cited “the public safety threat the Georgia Coyote Challenge poses to people and pets.”
“Encouraging thousands of Georgians to shoot as many coyotes as they can – sometimes right outside of city limits – is a recipe for disaster,” Mowry said in a news release issued by Project Coyote, a national organization.
The website of the Atlanta Coyote Project called the DNR contest “inhumane” and “unwise” and said it is timed to eliminate coyote parents so newborn pups starve to death. “More than likely, it will lead to an INCREASE in coyote numbers over time as competition is reduced and a resurgence occurs,” the website said.
What do you think? Are state wildlife officials justified encouraging coyote killings, or are they howling at the moon? Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com. They may be published in print and/or online.
AT ISSUE: SHOULD DECATUR BUY CHILDREN’S HOME PROPERTY?
If Decatur were successful in purchasing the venerable United Methodist Children’s Home property it would be one of the city’s most intriguing stories in decades. The UMCH totals 77 acres, the western edge just a stone’s throw beyond one the state’s densest cities (22,000 in 4.2 square miles), which was almost entirely built out by the 1960s.
Nearly two months ago Mayor Patti Garrett announced that Decatur was actively pursuing purchase of the property. Her declaration received an enthusiastic response, particularly when pointing out the city
envisions using it to bolster its lack of green space with fields, a park, a gymnasium and a pool.
But many wonder how much will taxes go up. For now no one can answer that.
We asked readers if the speculated $35 million pricetag make the purchase a good idea or would it be better to let private developers have at it.
Here’s what some readers said:
As a Decatur resident and homeowner, I'd like the city buy [the UMCH] and turn it into a park/green space with public athletic space, ideally with minimal additional housing and/or alternatively a nature preserve to complement mixed-use sustainable development in the area. Its proximity to other commercial developments underway in Decatur near the Sams Street MARTA and the anticipated City of Decatur school extension purchase on Tally Street would be well balanced by a more sustainable and long-term investment that will foster strategic growth as well as maintaining community health and interests. — Tara Davis
United Methodist Children's Home founder Jesse Boring was the son of a Georgia legislator and was a Methodist circuit rider, a physician and a Confederate veteran. He founded the home for children orphaned by the Civil War. His dying wish was to be buried on the grounds of the Children's Home and his grave is near the entrance to the administration building. Jesse Boring was the brother of my great-great-grandfather and it is my hope that his gravesite on the UMCH campus will be preserved. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett and Decatur Commission members have stated support of preserving both the gravesite and the UMCH chapel. I believe that the best chance for the preservation of the gravesite and chapel lies with the City of Decatur and not with developers. — Jay Pryor
As a Decatur resident, I believe that the city should buy the Children's Home property and make it into a green space and rec center for our community. It is a beautiful space that needs to be preserved. — Ann Ussery-Hall
If the city can afford it great, they would be crazy not to purchase it. However, if it means more taxes in a city that probably has the highest tax rate in Georgia, it would likely be looked upon as irresponsible when you consider, whoever buys it will likely want to develop it and the city will likely be in position to acquire whatever they can afford from the developer. Don't misunderstand, Decatur is the greatest place to live in Georgia but many people are having to leave due to the expense of taxes and land. — Jim Brewer
I am a resident of the city of Decatur and I strongly believe that the city should purchase the United Methodist Children's Home. We desperately need more green space and recreational space in our city and this historic property needs to be preserved and developed for the good of the community; not by private developers who will just add more high-priced housing, traffic and residents to our already overcrowded city and school system. I urge the governor to establish a public facilities authority which would allow Decatur to seek bond funding in buying the property. — Jenn Ballentine
As a resident of Decatur, the "Mayberry in the Metropolis," I wholeheartedly support the city's leadership in ensuring that the United Methodist Children's Home property remains a jewel for its citizens, the residents of neighboring Avondale Estates and DeKalb County. This land in the middle of metro-Atlanta area provides habitat for turkey, barred owl, kingfishers and more. It is used as farm land by refugees who have transplanted to the city. Active and passive recreation opportunities abound on the property. Any increase in city taxes are a small price to pay for preserving this oasis, rather than allowing a mega-development, and boosting the quality of life for the residents and region. — Tom Q. Gehl
Suppose the renown Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY came to our community and said, “We want to build a branch of our museum in your town. We will endow it with a world-class collection of art by Picasso, Degas, Bearden and other luminaries. The museum and its collection will be an enduring gift for your residents and will draw visitors from all over the world. This museum will really put you on the map as an enlightened destination. All you need to do is raise $35 million. But if you turn down our offer, we will sell the paintings to private collectors who will hoard them away from public view. And your town will be reviled as too cheap and too short-sighted to embrace the chance to become a mecca for lovers of art.”
[Decatur purchasing the UMCH is a] no brainer. It's a chance to preserve for residents and visitors a priceless gift that otherwise will be paved over and strewn with hundreds of apartment units. When those apartment units make the Decatur traffic even more unbearable than it already is, it will be too late to save the natural legacy now being offered to us. Purchase the park and develop it wisely (that is, minimally), and Decatur will seal its reputation as a jewel of the South that puts quality of life first. — Don Rubin
The city of Decatur cannot afford NOT to purchase the UMCH. What an opportunity to save a piece of beautiful green space for everyone for years to come. Sure, I know a developer could put $700k+ houses there and make a fortune. But, what could otherwise be is priceless. — Karen Lockridge
The UMCH property offers great potential for the city of Decatur to offset purchase cost: Just a few suggestions: lease infirmary or other building for urgent care facility; establish membership fees for recreational facilities (add tennis courts/track/soccer fields), use Bell Cottage for senior community center; lease 1906 chapel for weddings, memorials and special events; convert administration bldg. to a school for gifted students with tuition fees/scholarships; lease small plots for community gardens; convert Joseph Whitehead Cottage to a fine arts center (up until 1951 it served as elementary school with auditorium/stage); build and sell small cluster homes/condos/townhomes; build a city park around the lake with picnic tables/walking path; re-stock lake and charge daily fishing fees; convert barn to lease out horse stables- establish trails. In other words, the sky is the limit. — Sara Crews
As a home owner living very near the UMCH property, I was very pleased to see some follow up information in the AJC. We would love to see this beautiful property remain mostly green space. The old growth trees are beautiful, the lake is delightful, and it is all an incredible habitat for birds and animals. Over the years, we have had opossum, rabbits, wild turkeys, (a mom and three chicks!), and even a deer come and visit our fenced in backyard. Hawks fly overhead, red-tailed and cooper's, and a large number of songbird species feed here. It is like living in the country with all the conveniences of city life. What we would HATE is tearing down all the buildings on the property, particularly the older, historic ones, and building literally hundreds of new houses. I cannot imagine the traffic snarls on Columbia Drive or Katie Kerr that would impact entire neighborhoods negatively. — Martin Ripley
Bill Banks for the AJC
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