More coyote buzz; eagles, openings, closings, Porgy and Bess

Last week’s column focusing on coyotes in the area generated buzz. Most interesting to me was a note from Brad and Laura Ritter, part of a family that has been farming in eastern Sussex County for many generations.

They wrote about recent experiences with, and observations about, coyotes in this area: “The end of September, we actually got a coyote in one of our cornfields off of New Road. It was a female.

“We had noticed that this year, the damage from the deer eating our crops in the New Road area was minimal compared to previous years and were very curious as to why. Upon finding the one coyote, we began to wonder if that was the reason. Reading your story about a pack of them confirms our suspicions.

“We really think that there are a lot more of them around than what most people think. Even near our home out on Beaver Dam we have heard them, and our Livestock Guardian Dog has nights that she is really in a fit because something unusual is around. We suspect there are coyotes here. A neighbor over on Stockley Road had one of her pet dogs killed by what they believe was a coyote.”

I’m wondering whether other farmers in the area are seeing less crop damage from deer, possibly because of a more aggressive coyote population.

Mike Globetti, a spokesman for Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, also weighed in when asked about the deer-killing coyote incident on Pilottown Road in Lewes. “Taking into account various biological and physical reasons including both species’ estimated numbers in the state, DNREC wildlife biologists within the Division of Fish & Wildlife do not consider coyotes a major predatory threat to Delaware’s white-tailed deer herd.”

On Monday morning, I spoke with a gray-bearded man (not in the mirror) in the checkout line at the Weis grocery store. He was decked out in full camouflage. I thought he might be scouting for turkeys, with the spring season coming up in April. “No, I’m hunting coyotes,” he said. “I hear there’s some around here so I’m checking things out. I’ve seen some over near Greenwood but not in these parts.”

Bald eagles missing

The mating bald eagles I wrote about recently – atop a communications tower at Five Points – apparently didn’t like all the attention. I thought they might be taking over an existing osprey nest there for their own purposes, but I haven't seen them for a couple of weeks now. Can’t say I blame them. That’s a busy place.

Openings and closings

The Delaware Botanic Gardens on Piney Neck Road near Dagsboro will be reopening for the 2020 season on March 19. The largely volunteer group has done an amazing job on the 39-acre parcel fronting on Pepper Creek. The site features five major gardens and will be open Thursday through Sunday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Those itching to get outside and get a strong dose of spring in a beautiful natural setting can take advantage of a special preview day on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, same hours.

Find out more at www.delawaregardens.org.

Closing: The point at Cape Henlopen State Park will be closed starting March 1 including areas on the ocean and bay sides. Wildlife officials have closed the point since 1993 to help improve populations of threatened and endangered beach nesters who find the habitat there conducive for raising little ones – as long as they can keep them away from the foxes. The ocean side will reopen Sept. 1 while the bay side will remain closed until Oct. 1.

Porgy and Bess

Folks from the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra stopped by recently to talk a little about their 2020 and 2021 seasons. Under the direction of Maestro Julien Benichou, the orchestra plays concerts all over the Delmarva Peninsula including in Bethany Beach and at Cape Henlopen High School. Next fall, the musicians will be performing Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony on the stage at Cape. In spring 2021, the ensemble will bring a live operatic performance of George and Ira Gershwin’s perennial favorite, “Porgy and Bess.”

Those are just two of the many works being prepared for public presentation in the months ahead. Find more information at www.midatlanticsymphony.org

Once upon a time there was a slow season here at the beach. No more.