In Support of Hank Heeber III

I am appalled at the ignorance and blind sentimentality of those who trash people, in support of varmints and predators. What makes a predator’s life more sacred than that of a lamb, calf, cat or quail?

One of my greatest pleasures in the last 10 years has been jogging through the hills and trails of Hank Heeber’s ranch. I love to see the deer and quail, sheep and cattle, yes and even the coyotes. There were several pheasants that Hank had raised and turned loose, but they were all killed by coyotes.

Imagine jogging over the hill on a beautiful morning and coming upon a young heifer, disabled by the birth pains of having her first calf, now halfway born and already being eaten alive by three coyotes with eyes gleaming and blood running off their chins. I have seen as many as seven coyotes on a morning run. One morning my wife and I were awakened at 4 a.m. by the screams of our neighbor’s cat being killed by a coyote in our own front yard.

An adult coyote will typically kill five or six cats, two or three sheep, 20 to 100 quails and uncountable ground squirrels in one year. If you or I did that, we would be put in jail!

The next time you thrill at the sight of a coyote loping over the hill, take a good look, he may have your cat in his mouth.

Anyone who kills a coyote in Agoura Hills does the community a service and has my blessing.

JERRY STORMO

Calabasas