Year: 2022

Fwd: EPISODE 602 SO YOU WANT A PET COYOTE…NOT A GOOD IDEA

Begin forwarded message:

From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>

Subject: EPISODE 602 bark! BARK! Bark! There is s big coyote down there….look!

Date: September 30, 2022 at 5:36:28 PM EDT

To: John Wardle <jwardle@rogers.com>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>, Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>

EPISODE 602 bark! BARK! Bark! There is s big coyote down there….look!

alan skeoh

Sept 30, 2-022

“Her camouflage is also perfect…her smell is not!“

“Alan, the dog is going crazy…must be coyotes.”

At first we could see nothing. Then a large coyotes stepped from behind a bush into

the open spot. It stopped, took its time to check us out and continued to tease

Woody who is very brave when behind a chain line fence.

COYOTES AS PETS…YES, IT IS POSSIBLE BUT NOT DESIRABLE

There are people who have pet coyotes but I think taming a coyote

is bad idea for several reasons. Breeders sell them for around $400

each. Cheap $50 coyotes should be avoided…problems there with

health of the animals likely.

KEEPING a coyote may be illegal in the first place. So read no further.

If you are determined to get a coyote consider these problems. First is space.

A tame coyote needs about 1.5 acres minimum space. Not many people have

city lots that size. Then it must be fenced about 10 feet high with an extra two feet

buried…12 inches down, then folded back another 12 inches so the coyote cannot

dig itself out. Fencing a larger space, say 10 acres, won’t work because the coyote

may feel it is in the wild…i.e. not tame. Fencing the real rate of a male coyote is out of

the questions as in the quote below.

“It is not possible to have a pet coyote if you do not own a large plot of land. And we mean large! You can’t keep a coyote in an apartment or a suburban housing plant.

It’s not fair to the coyote to live in such small quarters and can end up causing behavioral problems.

According to the Virginia DWR, coyotes have a home range of about 6 miles in diameter. Male coyotes can range even further, especially if they are looking for a female or trying to start their pack.”

Your tame coyote may like you as long as you show it you are the alpha parent…the

indisputable boss. Possible to do. But be careful bringing friends around. The coyote

might see them as competition for affection and for food. Bite them. Same a applies in

spades for pets. GRRRR!

What will you feed it? Squirrels?, rabbits?, cats? rats? Just about anything it seems but be sure and feed it often

otherwise your coyote will start looking at other livings things like your pet cat.

And do not think you can take a tame coyote for a walk on a leash. If other leashed dogs are passing by the

coyote could go berserk trying to get them and lots of biting will happen to all in the coyote’s way including

you I imagine.

Who is inside the fence? The coyote? Or us? The answer is obvious.

There is no coyote in this picture above. Could be though. The picture below is our backyard, unfenced part, and there is a

coyote present…almost invisible. Coyotes have decided that urban life is OK and now seeing a coyote on your street is

common. When i was a kid, decades ago, coyotes were almost fictional creatures skulking around the American west where

they originated. Not so today.

HERE is a coyote story from Kent snd Jan Farrow

KENT FARROW…COYOTE STORY FROM WASAGA BEACH

Hi Allan…..love your backyard and farm and creatures that are lured to them. We do not have coyotes at the cottage but we do have our passive fox(if there is such a thing at! We are back to Wasaga after a 4 month stay at the cottage . In Wasaga we have many coyotes that roam about feeding on rabbits and stray cats. THREE winters ago we lost a yearling deer , who despite being protected by 5 other adults, was surrounded and consumed on the golf course fairway behind us. All that was left were the two hind legs. They take no prisoners when hungry especially when the snow is deep. We are home for a few more days to let impending hurricane Ian pass and then back to ‘Hodge Podge Lodge ‘ to close up. Stay safe!<image0.jpeg>

This would have been 3 winters ago when there was close to 18-20” of snow on the ground. There was a small herd of dear wintering on the golf course….3 adults and two young ones. We also had 2 coyotes trailing them . I have them on my trail cam. We heard the celebratory yipping noises and in the morning my son found the two hind legs. We see them trotting across the farmer’s fields at times. Any ways that is natures food chain I suppose. After all, Wasaga is a Provincial Park.

Kent Farrow

Sent from my iPhone

Kent Farrow

October 3, 2022
EPISODE 601 THE DAY WE SAID GOOD BYE TO JOHN RICKER, SEPT. 24, 2022

NOTE: Those who did not know John Ricker might remember the movie Goodbye Mr. Chips which

was a farewell to a beloved teacher. This is the same thing.

Alan Skeoch

Sept. 24, 2022

EPISODE 601 THE DAY WE SAID FAREWELL TO JOHN RICKER….SEPTEMBER 24, 2022

Marvi Ricker with guests at memorial to John Ricker

Time line for John Ricker

1923 born

1933 10 years old

1943 20 years old ..RCAF, tail gunner, bomber command

1953 30 years old …history teacher, Parkdale C.I.

1963 40 years old…professor, Faculty ofEducation, U. of , when I first met John

1978 Marvi and John’s marriage

2011 87 years old….created the Castlefield Institute…John’s last class,

then on Auust 7, 2023,

John Ricker died…99 years old, his last class was over but not forgotten

We Said farewell to John Ricker on September 24, 2022, at the Faclultu Club of the University of Toronto. It was a wonderful farewell with

John’s family injecting a lot of energy into this final goodbye including a half dozen or more of children aged 10 or less. No tears. Just

a feeling of admiration of John’s life orchestrated by his wife Marvi .

John Rickers’ three daughters with Alan Skeoch at the Faulty Club

For a month I edited my speech for that occasion. How could I put John’s life into a five minute time slot? There were many

people who wanted to do the same thing and I was the ‘closer’ like Romano of the Bluejays. So here are the pants I wanted to express.

1) Bismarck once said that “You can do anything with children if you just play with them.” John Ricker did this with humour , respect, intelligence and boundless

energy. Those he taught were groomed as lifelong teachers. John was succinct . He would throw out an opening comment…often as a question…and then join the fray

of ‘Civil discussion’ which was John’s term for good teaching. Today, were John still alive, he might open a class by saying “Democracy is in mortal danger

it seems. Can democracy survive?”

2) I noted in my previous episode that John commanded respect. Good teaching only occurs when the teacher is respected. Without respect little

learning happens.

Here we see some of the joy John Ricker injected into our lives

3) John Wardle and John Ricker created the Castlefield Institute ten years ago. This was John Ricker’s last class, a decade long classroom. We met

at his house once a month, Who were we? A cross section of people. A judge, a publisher, a politician, three professors, a half dozen teachers,

four winners of the Order of Canada, one winner of the Governor Genersl’s award.

a bunch of friends, Marvi on occasion…and one little with dog called Montesqjuieu. The dog was allowed to dominate. Actually Monty was a pain

in the ass. He barked every time one of us spoke forcing us to tailor our comments. Monty was silent when John spoke. Monty made sure no one

got garrulous.

John justified Monty’s presence by saying he had more respect for ‘four legged creatures than he had for most of the two legged kind’.

That remark was typical. Ricker could be very funny. Also truthful. I think he thought that little white dog had a higher intelligence than the rest of us.

Monty, by the way, also stole our sandwiches when he could. John saw nothing when that happened. Just grinned. John was capable of

spoiling children…or was it forgiving indiscretions.

“I respect four legged creature more than the two legged kind.” (John Ricker)

We were all aware that the Castlefield Institute would be John’s last class. A fact that became more and more apparent as the years passed

by. But meetings were very cheerful.. Silly at times. Thoughtful occasionally. Stupid occasionally like the time

I asked what the group thought about the possible election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. “That will never happen…the

people of the United States are not that stupid.” Well, it did happen as you know and the consequences of that election came the subject

of a lot of our discussions. “Democracy is a troubled spirit whose dream presents only visions of hell” In short we discussed populism and

government by the lowest common denominator. How arrogant of us. But remember we were all friends freely expressing our ideas with no expectations

that anyone gave a damn other than our little circle and one little white dog. We laughed a lot. Laughter is a kind of therapy.

“What I really like about the group is that not one of them has anything to prove or any particular brief to be argued or pursued. They are all just good people who like to talk about anything that interests them or, indeed, anyone else. And no one is worried about fall-out or similar meaningless nonsense” (John Ricker).

4) John was a voracious and thoughtful reader of non fiction up until he died. A skilled reader. Back when I did short stories on CBC Radio, my Producer Doug Coupar

cornered me after my first few broadcasts. “Alan, those stories were good,” (What was his next word?) “BUT, the radio audience has a one minute attention span… get

your big idea out fast.” How does this connect to John Ricker, you ask? John could read a 300 page book and winnow it down to a one sentence comment for us to

consider. Fitted our one minute attention spans.

We had so much fun at those meetings even though the end was approaching.

5) Then Covid 19 crippled the world in 2020. And public meetings ceased for a time. But we kept going as best we could. Masked. Then we turned to ZOOM which

was a terrible alternative to meeting face to face. John hated Zoom. He wanted our laughter, our outrageous comments…our flesh and blood presence…the classroom.

Those poor kids who now rely on Zoom for their education. Push the ‘off air’ button for gog’s sake, Thankfully we had John’s backyard and could yell at each other there.

6) John Ricker, like most gifted people, did not boost himself. I never remember him saying anything about his job as a highly placed administrater except that it was

a ‘poor substitute for teaching.’ Not necessarily true. But the comment made me feel good and changed my career path.

Halifax bomber

Lancaster bomber tail gunner turret

7) John Ricker said very little about his RCAF experience. Just a few fragments over the years. His father was shocked when John volunteered

as a tail gunner on a bomber. His father was a pacifist and wanted John to fall into line. John, however, said, “I could not stand idly by when all my friends were joining

the war effort.” :After 1945 John said little about those war years. He did tell me two things.

“I don’t like to talk about the war because I survived where many of my high school friends did not.” (John Ricker)

His second comment I will never forget. I had written a story about my cousin George Freeman’s death as a mid upper gunner

on a Halifax bomber in 1944. (HX 313) . John sent me a note, It is a definition of FEAR. I will always picture

John scrunched up in that plastic glass bubble at the back of a bomber with machine guns that were almost useless just waiting for

a German night fighter to open up on him.

“Alan, my stomach was a ball bearing and a bead of sweat at my neck became a river down my backside.” (John Ricker)

8) John Ricker died on August 7, 2022. He was 99 years old. He was content. He was not alone.

How many of you know Bill Withers? I would like

to conclude my remarks using Bill Withers. And I expect you to join me…to repeat after me. Loud and clear and heartfelt. Are you ready?

“Ain’t no sunshine.”

“AIN’T NO SUNSHINE,” (Faculty Club audience, Sept. 24, 2022)

“Now John’s gone.”

“NOW JOHN’S GONE.”

Marvi tells me that John was a grammarian. So let me change the words a bit.

“THERE IS NO LONGER SUNSHINE NOW JOHN RICKER IS GONE”

Alpha and Omega

(Alan Skeoch, speech at John Ricker memorial, Sept. 24, 2022)

September 30, 2022
EPISODE 650 COYOTE HUNTING WITH CAMERA AND CAP GUN

EPISODE 650 COYOTE HUNTING WITH CAMERA AND CAP GUN

alan skeoch

Sept. 27, 2022

COYOTE HUNTRESS…EVERY DAY SUCCESS

Marjorie is a hunter. She hides behind a maple tree in our backyard and waits for the coyotes to

slip silently across our urban lot. And they come. We have a pack living in a wilderness park

that abuts our property. Lots of space for our local coyotes husband and wife to procreate. Exactly

where they have hidden their den I am not sure.

Coyotes are not endangered. Nor are most of the pets who coexist with the coyotes. Coyotes density

varies to as high as 2.3 coyotes per square kilometre in Canada. We live in a coyote dense area.

Probably because some neighbours feed them while other neighbours fear them.

Marjorie got this picture as our dog Woody confronted one small coyote who comes to see him every day…occasionally the whole pack appear

but their camouflage is so good that I rarely see them. They can stand as still and immovable as a gravestone. I am glad they are present…glad

they have learned to coexist with humans. You may not feel that way because a pack of coyotes may have silently appeared as you walk

your little dog. According to authorities on coyotes you have little to fear. They will attack dogs only because the coyotes feel dogs are a

threat to their normal food source of rabbits, squirrels, insects, rodents in general. I hear you screaming that I am wrong. Authorities seem

to agree with me however.

SOLUTION TO COYOTE FEAR

Marjorie bought me a hand gun just in case a coyote attacked Woody. Cost was $2 with ammunition. Nice looking hand gun that we got

at the Dollar Store and I packed under my belt one dark evening just in case we were attacked. Sure as God made little green apples

an attack occurred. An adult coyote slid from behind a tree and danced across our path. I made a quick draw with the gun and managed

to fire three quick shots. Bang! Bang! Bang! I think I got the coyote. He or she disappeared. Wounded?

Where was Woody? He broke free from Marjorie and took off dragging his leash. Was he in hot pursuit of the cap gun wounded

coyote. Not in the least. He ran to a neighbours open doorway. Then slunk back to us. Was he a coward? Maybe. Marjorie thinks

one of our coyotes gave him a slap in the ass when he got too close to the pack. Woody is not s fighter. He does raise proper hell

however every time a coyote comes up to our back fence. Protecting us? Possibly. But more likely telling Marjorie, hidden behind

the maple tree, that a coyote wants its picture taken.

alan skeoch

Sept. 27, 2022

Our lot is large….400 feet deep, part of what was once the last

patch of land owned by the Mississauga people before they were

hustled off to the New Credit reserve near Brantford.

This coyote looks friendly, right?

This coyotes does not look friendly, right?

IS MY PET SAFE? HOW CAN I PROTECT THEM?

Coyote Watch Canada labels coyotes as opportunistic omnivores, meaning their diet usually consists of smaller species like rodents and rabbits, as well as berries and insects. The wildlife organization says that while coyotes might not be able to distinguish a cat between one of their usual preys, dogs are not a common food source. Caution should still be taken however as coyotes often see dogs as a threat to their family or as potential competition for food.

I did not take these close up picture of coyotes. They are too smart for that.

They fear my cap gun.

Part of our lot is fenced to keep Woody from wandering. The other

half of the lot is not fenced so that coyotes can coexist with us.

Sent from my iPhone

September 27, 2022
EPISODE 649 THE DAY I MET JOHN RICKER, SEPTMEBER 1963

EPISODE 649 THE DAY I MET JOHN RICKER, SEPTEMBER 1963

alan skeoch

Sept. 24, 2022

THE DAY I FIRST MET JOHN RICKER…SEPTEMBER 1953

John Ricker was 40 years old when we first met. That was 1963 and I Was 25 yeas old and about to become a high

school history teacher. Our classroom was jammed with potential teachers most of whom seemed to know a lot

more about history than I did. All recent U. of T. graduates. Perhaps a little arrogant. Young men and women who felt

they were on top of their game. Sure of themselves.

John Ricker was an air force veteran of World War II bomber command. A tail gunner. He had survived the war which

is more than a lot of his friends had done. He was a top student with a searching mind and an obsessive interest in

discussion of world issues. Born in 1923… a ten year old Depression kid in 1933, a 20 year old tail gunner in 1943, a master

teacher of high school history in 1953, a professor at the Faculty education in 1963 when we first met.

Our class was noisy when he entered the room. Explosive. Packed room. Not all.seated. John threaded his way to the front.

One hand held a cup of coffee, a lit cigarette in the other hand. He said nothing

but looked at us, Then he took a long sip of the coffee. Said nothing but began making eye

contact with us. Then he took a long slow drag on the cigarette. Exhaled. still said noting. The room became

dead quiet. John Ricker’s eyes darted from student to student. Still he said nothing but took another

slow sip of coffee. Absolute silence. Another drag on the cigarette..long drag, slow exhale. Dead silence.

Then he spoke. That I remember. Not the words but the deep resonant sound. What he said I do not remember. Might have been something like

“Why are you here today?” or “So, you want to be history teachers.” or “A B52, fully armed nuclear bomber flew

of over Toronto today as it does every day — Why?” The year was 1963 and the threat of nuclear incineration was in the

back of all minds on earth. Could we, as teachers of history, do anything to promote world peace?

John presented big questions. Few words. Words that invited discussion.

He got immediate respect. John Ricker had charisma. He ws a leader … dominant. And achieved this by silence.

There was another facet of his personality revealed as we looked at him. A light urging up of his upper lip, maybe… Or was it a twinkle in the

eye. Not sure what it was he did but there was humour in his facial expression. He was a funny man at times.

I was not afraid of him but I knew he expected me to delve deeply into my mind that day. Could I do it? Could I measure up? Could I shoulder the

challenge of shaping young minds? John Ricker threw out a challenge that day and he did it by the force of his own personality

He was a teacher par excellence. In the silence of that room, that day, was the one key element of teaching success. Respect. When respect

is present all things are possible. Without respect not much is possible. John Ricker got respect coupled with humour. A cup of coffee and

a cigarette. Later in his life when he married Marvi, he gave up smoking. But not coffee.

Alan Skeoch

Sept. 24, 2022

THE DAY I SAID FAREWELL TO JOHN RICKER….SEPTEMBER 24, 2022

(next episode)

September 26, 2022
EPISODE 643 JUST FOR OLD CAR BUFFS:

EPISODE 643 JUST FOR OLD CAR BUFFS: FIND RUSS VANSTONE’S OLD CHEVROLET (A LOOK ALIKE)

alan skeoch

ept. 17, 2022

Niw Herę is a surprise . A celebration . Marjorie too me down to Marie Curtis Park to check out

te change of a swim in Lake Ontario at thousand beach. Lots of people down there, a few

swimming but there had been a drowning the day before that put a downer on the duking idea.

NO matter there was all kinds of entertainment provided by the Centennial Street Rodders celebrating

their 55th anniversary with their collection of old cars.

I think one of those cars…a Chevrolet… model that once belonged to Russ Vanstone when we

we had a party at the farm long ago and Russ was hit by another car as we crossed the

railway bridge in Georgetown. At least I think that is what happened a long time ago.

Russ will correct me. We were all on verge of marriage but did not know it.

See if you can find the Chev. He tried to keep it…put it up o blocks in his garage where it

slowly fell apart. Old cars need care..

Before we got to the old cars we met this guy. He was on his way to

Vancouver but ran out of money I guess. Anyway I gave him two bucks which would

buy a litre of gas and get him to Oakville maybe. Or get him a bag of dog food for his dog

and himself.

“There he goes Alan “

“What is all that stuff on his roof?”

“His mobile campground”

P.S. I thought this story would be a break for those of you sick

of Ireland. More of Ireland to come .

September 17, 2022