UPTON – Metacomet Land Trust, a conservation nonprofit, will host a free program on how humans can learn to coexist with coyotes now present in the region. Mass Wildlife biologist Meghan Crawford will offer her perspective as a “Community Engagement Biologist” who has watched and learned from wild animals who might live in and around the back yards of suburban Massachusetts. 

The program is part of the Land Trust’s annual meeting on Thursday, June 13, at the Upton Community Center, 130 Milford St., Rte. 140, in Upton. The public is invited. The general meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by the program.

In a recent issue of MassWildlife magazine, Crawford not only describes in detail the life and habits of our Eastern Coyotes, now prevalent around the Commonwealth, but she also tackles the issues which arise when coyotes arrive in residential areas. Her talk will include the reasons coyotes can frequent backyards and local parks, as well as offer some suggestions on “hazing” individual animals so they learn to avoid people.

Crawford says that she hears at least weekly from residents around the state asking for advice about coyotes near their homes, family and pets. “While every coyote conversation (with a resident) has unique circumstances, many can be boiled down to a single question: How am I supposed to live with coyotes?” Crawford writes.

In addition to her background in wildlife management, Crawford has over 10 years of experience increasing the public’s understanding of the natural world as a science educator in museums, zoos, and environmental education centers.

Lisa Mosczynski, president of the nonprofit conservation organization, said “We invite the public to bring friends and family to this program. Metacomet is hoping the presentation will give us a unique perspective on our environment and one that will also help us better understand our role in it.”

Formed in 1988 by open space advocates, the land trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of open space and natural resources in the communities of South Central Massachusetts. Metacomet Land Trust works in the communities of Norfolk, Franklin, Wrentham and Bellingham in Norfolk County, and in the Worcester County towns of Blackstone, Douglas, Hopedale, Millbury, Millville, Mendon, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge and Webster.