In the Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve, something special is happening. A wildlife photographer turned nature advocate is doing her best to support an often misunderstood species: the coyote.
Local resident Karin Saucedo has made it her mission to educate others about these special creatures through her work with her organization, Song Dog Watch. Karin’s journey started in 2017 in the Connemara Meadow. “We saw a coyote with mange, and we wanted to see if there was a way that we could help make it better.”
While many people are afraid of coyotes, worried about their pets and young children being injured by these wild neighbors, Karin was more concerned about how to help the hurt coyote. She spent countless hours learning about the behavior and movement of coyotes and coyote families. Now, she uses her knowledge to help others, and currently serves as the Texas State Coordinator for Project Coyote, as a senior volunteer at In-Sync Exotics, and as a partner photographer for Panthera, which focuses exclusively on conserving the world’s 40 wild cat species.
Despite all of her work with these, and more, organizations, Karin still finds time to educate individuals. According to local resident Diana Hardin, “Karin answers calls, Facebook messages, and more from Allen residents with coyote or other wild animal concerns. Whether it is an injured animal, unwarranted fears, or something else, Karin quickly responds in person to educate others and allay their fears.”
According to Song Dog Watch, “As a keystone carnivore, coyotes play a critical role helping to maintain healthy ecosystems and species diversity. Because coyotes occupy an important space in the ecosystem and are everywhere it’s important to understand their behaviors to safely coexist.” Make sure you are aware of our surroundings, that you manage the safety of pets and children, especially at dawn and dusk, and that you never feed wildlife by keeping pet food and water indoors.
To meet Karin and learn more about America’s Song Dogs, visit www.SongDogWatch.org.
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