The Sky is Falling!

In a story on the coyote that attacked a 76 year-old man and his grandson in Massachusetts, the Associated Press reports that coyotes are an "increasingly common presence in the suburbs."

That's kind of alarming isn't it? But before you go out and purchase a shotgun to protect yourself, think about this: did you know that you are 100's of times more likely to be killed by the neighbor's dog, then by a coyote? And far more likely to catch rabies from a pet than from a coyote? In fact, you are far more likely to contract rabies from your cat than from a coyote. In the past 12 years of lab testing in Massachusetts, 110 cats tested positive for rabies compared to 6 coyotes and 6 dogs.

What is it with news stories these days? It's as if the newspapers and news programs are in the business of trying to scare us to death.

Let's get some perspective!

I first noticed this phenomenon shortly after the 9/11 attacks. Like many people, I became fearful. I felt unsafe. I worried about a terrorist attack. How could I prepare? Should I have bottled water in my apartment? Should I purchase duct-tape for the windows in case of a chemical attack?

Then I was reminded by a very level-headed friend, that if I wanted to give myself the best possible chance of a long and happy life, I should channel my energy elsewhere. Since I had a much better chance of prematurely dying in a car accident or of a disease than I did in a terrorist attack, the best way to increase my chances of long life was to wear my seatbelt, look both ways before I crossed the street, eat right, and exercise.

Sounds like a plan.

photo by SuperDaveNM