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Heres a program from our archives.The TrickstermusicAmbience, coyotes, reelTo Native Americans in the western United States, the coyote symbolized a Trickster, a clever and resourceful animal, but not to be trusted. As the coyote moves east, he's bringing his somewhat dubious reputation with him. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Daniel Harrison is an assistant professor in the department of wildlife at the University of Maine.Harrison: Well, coyotes are controversial, it appears, wherever they go. They interact with people because they occasionally prey on domestic livestock. They prey, here in the northeast fairly extensively on White Tail Deer which are a prize game species. So that puts them in conflict with certain segments of the sporting public. [and] At the same time, they occasionally prey on domestic pets: cats or dogs. [and] Once they're known to be around, it appears that every missing dog and cat starts to be attributed to coyote predation. But you have to put this in perspective. If you look at dog attacks on postmen, there's thousands of them nationally, every year. So if you look at the wide distribution of the coyote, and the number of coyotes and the potential interactions there, it's one of our most inconspicuous and least aggressive animals towards humans."The coyotes adaptability and resourcefulness as a predator has helped it in its eastward migration.Harrison: Coyotes, presented with different ecological conditions, appear to be able to adjust their food habits accordingly. Where you have deer as a primary prey species, you see coyotes doing things that are very different than coyotes in the west, perhaps, that are feeding on very small rodents."Our thanks for Fred and Ginny Trumbull for the coyote recordings. This archival program is part of our thirtieth anniversary celebration. If you want hear more, check out our podcast.