The Long Island Trapper

06/10/2026

Right now I'm just sitting back keeping my mouth shut.

Wisconsin man knocked to the ground by three coyotes while walking his dog near elementary school.

A Dane County, Wisconsin man was injured after being knocked to the ground by three coyotes while walking his Tibetan Mastiff near an elementary school. According to reports, the coyotes initially focused on the dog before the man fell during the encounter. He suffered hand injuries and bruises before the animals retreated.

Wisconsin DNR officials believe the coyotes were defending a nearby den. While attacks on people are rare, officials say conflicts with pets have been increasing in urban and suburban neighborhoods as coyotes continue expanding into developed areas.

This happened in a residential area near a school, not remote wilderness. As coyotes become more common around people, encounters like this may become more frequent.

Do you think growing urban coyote populations are becoming a public safety concern?

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

06/10/2026

Let me start by saying in all my years I've never seen a released pet live to a ripe happy old age. They usually die a miserable death because they were born and raised in human captivity depending on humans. They weren't taught any natural defenses like what will kill them, what to stay away from, what to go near, what to eat, what to drink what not to touch. As they struggle out in the open a predator is going to grab them and eat them. Hawks, eagles, red foxes, raccoons, feral cats, even the family dog. Are all opportunist predators on Long Island. The pet that you've had for years that you think you're setting free you just gave a death sentence to. Think before you think you're setting something free.

06/10/2026

Ice soul, summer setting.

06/09/2026

Nice snack for a raccoon.

06/09/2026

Final sale results

06/09/2026

Wildlife Myth: “We’re invading their homes.”

One of the biggest wildlife myths in America is that humans are constantly invading wildlife habitat and pushing animals out. While habitat loss can be a real issue in some places, the bigger picture is far more complicated.

Many wildlife species are actually thriving alongside people. There are more whitetail deer in North America today than when Columbus arrived. Coyotes occupy more territory than at any other time in recorded history. Raccoons have flourished thanks to agriculture and suburban development. Even wild pigs have expanded across much of the country and reached record populations.

Species once pushed to low numbers have also made remarkable recoveries through conservation and habitat management. Pronghorns, elk, alligators, bald eagles, wolves, and grizzly bears all have larger populations today than they did 100 years ago.

That does not mean every species is doing well or that habitat is not important. But the claim that wildlife is universally disappearing because humans exist is simply not true. Across much of North America, conservation efforts, farms, timberlands, wetlands restoration, and even suburban landscapes have created habitat that many species now use successfully.

The reality is that many wildlife populations are not just surviving around people. They are thriving.

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

06/09/2026

Urban Hunting Removes Overpopulated Deer And Helps Feed The Hungry. So Why Do Some People Still Oppose It?

One argument often heard during suburban deer management debates is that deer shouldn't be killed. Yet what many people don't realize is that thousands of deer removed through hunting programs end up feeding families in need.

Across America, hunters donate millions of pounds of venison through programs like Hunters Sharing the Harvest and Hunters for the Hungry. In Pennsylvania alone, hunters donated nearly 284,000 pounds of venison last season, providing more than a million servings of healthy protein to food banks and charitable organizations.

When communities face deer overpopulation, regulated hunting remains the simplest, cheapest, and most proven way to reduce numbers. Unlike many other population control methods, hunting also produces something valuable: food. Every donated deer can provide meals for families who may be struggling to put protein on the table.

Removing excess deer and feeding hungry people seems like a win for wildlife management, taxpayers, and those in need. Yet many communities still oppose urban hunting while supporting alternatives that cost more and provide none of those benefits.

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

06/08/2026

For today's reality check lol

06/08/2026

Teen Attacked by Three Coyotes During Bike Ride

A 14 year old boy in Ontario is recovering after being attacked by three coyotes while riding his bicycle home through a conservation park on June 4.

According to reports, the teen was traveling through Lalande Conservation Park when a coyote suddenly charged him. Two more coyotes quickly joined the attack. One bit his shoe while another bit his leg as he tried to escape.

The teenager fought back by throwing his bicycle and helmet at the animals before running to safety. He eventually reached a nearby school and climbed over a fence to get away. He was later treated at a hospital for bite wounds and received precautionary rabies treatment.

Wildlife officials say there is an active coyote den in the area that had already been under monitoring before the attack. The park has since been closed to public access while authorities investigate.

While coyote attacks on people remain rare, officials believe the animals may have been acting aggressively to defend pups near the den.

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

06/08/2026

Cute now, glowing later (or melting).