Friday, Oct. 5. Skittered in circles today, mostly at home. Fine weather. Heard from a reader named Donna Barstow Cartoons who was concerned for the future of Slacker Coyote. Got me worried, too. A coyote without a pack is like a man/woman without a home. ... It's been a good year for Shiraz grapes in Echo Park, I heard from Heather D'Augustine (Madeleine and I were on our way home from Costco, gas tank low). Perfect sugar and Ph (for the grapes). But Heather and Joe lost half their Kite Hill crop to coyotes, who ate about 100 lbs of low-lying fruit, almost half what they expected to harvest. Coyote enjoys grapes at about 4 in the morning, magic hour for Shiraz. Heather emailed me some details.

First, Donna:

I've been observing coyotes in Silver Lake, Los Feliz & Griffith Park for many years, and I feel sorry for that fellow [Slacker Coyote]. He probably won't be able to find a coyote family after so long alone, and when he has to leave the renovated house he won't be able to hunt as well all by himself. Not to mention all the joy they get from communal activities - they are so pack-ish.