New Event at the library: Life of Kai’s “Kind is Cool” initiative is our cornerstone humane education program designed to foster compassion, respect, and empathy in children towards all living beings, including animals, whether pets or wildlife. When it comes to animals, domestic or wild, the lessons are particularly poignant, as these creatures often directly interact with human environments, necessitating a harmonious coexistence. We seize the opportunity to support the work of Debbie Cooper, our local naturalist to highlight co-existence with our coyotes with our Lending Library between March 7-27.

We are fortunte to share Davis with several coyotes allowing us to learn about them and foster harmonious relationship with our wildlife that share our daily spaces. A core component of humane education is encouraging co-existence as a pathway to kindness.

We want to dispel myths and address fears about coyotes, highlighting their vital role in maintaining ecological balance and the challenges they encounter. Key lessons on practical coexistence - like securing trash to prevent scavenging, keeping pets safe during coyote active hours such as dawn and dusk, and maintaining a respectful distance - aim not only at safeguarding our community but also at teaching both children and adults about our shared responsibility to live respectfully alongside other species.

We hope to shift perceptions of coyotes from being seen as threats to valued members of the ecosystem with their own needs and rights. We want our humane education benefits the animals and enriches everyone’s lives by fostering a sense of stewardship and connection to the natural world.

These wonderful photographs by Debbie Cooper, our local naturalist, captured the beauty of this small and very friendly neighborhood coyote.

Here is our list of books for children:

1. Coyote’s Wild Home by Lily and Barbara Kingsolver

2. Coyote by Tyler Grady (non-fiction about coyotes to teach kids)

3. At the Edge of the Forest by Jonathan London

4. Coyote - A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest by Gerald McDermott

5. Coyote Autumn by Bill Wallace

6. Hungry Coyote by Cheryl Blackford and Amparo Ortiz

7. Claire’s Coyote Friends by Christy Burbridge

Here are the books for adults:

1. Coyote America by Dan Flores

2. Coyote Conversations by Mark Surls

3. The Voice of the Coyote by J.Frank Dobie

4. Coyotes Among Us by Standley D. Gehrt

5. God’s Dog by Hope Ryden

Coyote Awareness Coloring Book

Click “Coyote Awareness Coloring Book” to access