Yutes

My homeland is a changing. Most noticeably, at least this year, is the fact that eastern Newfoundland has had descent weather since mid June.  Three and a half months of fairly nice weather, whereas in a typical year, three and a half weeks would be the norm.

The animals that inhabit the north eastern part of this province have also changed since the days of my youth.  It is not uncommon to see squirrels busily squirrelling away food for the winter.  Where the heck did they come from?  Also, once rare as hens teeth, foxes are now as common as cats used to be in my rural neighbourhood, which may explain the cat shortage.  My neighbour actually befriended a little black fox and they enjoyed sharing early mornings together on his deck that overlooks beautiful Outer Cove.  That was until someone left the poor little guy dead in the middle of the road after hitting him with their car.  The fox was youthful, so perhaps he was not wise to the dangers of man's progress.

A more recent addition to the landscape is the wily coyote.  I have yet to actually see one, but word of their presence abounds and provides excellent fodder for the local newspaper and radio call in shows.  On my favourite Saturday morning cartoon as a kid, the Roadrunner didn't seem to fear Wile E.  So why is it that the mere mention that the coyote now inhabits our province causes native Newfoundlanders to lock up their children and to bear arms against the unwelcome intruder.  It's almost as if the coyote was a CFA (a Come From Away or person not born in Newfoundland).  In a sense I guess it is.

Now it seems we have a new and even more dangerous species to worry about.  It's something called a "yute".  I first heard of them in a movie called My Cousin Vinny.  That was a few years ago and in those days they seemed to travel in pairs.  I vividly recall the actor, Joe Pesci, telling the judge of the notorious behaviour of "two yutes".  It now seems that they sometimes travel in packs.

Like the wolf, I have yet to see any actual yutes either, but I understand they are masters of disguise and deception so that's not all too surprising.  Yutes can appear to be harmless and can blend so well into the landscape that you hardly notice them.  Stumbling upon one yute is not supposed to be so bad, as they seem to only be dangerous when in larger numbers.  Apparently they are right here amongst us.  There was a report on the radio this morning that five were captured in St. John's over the weekend.  From the sound of things, these yutes are more predatory than just about anything else we have here on the island.  This particular gaggle of yutes is alleged to have lured a 24 year old, physically disabled man to a wooded area in the city's west end, where they proceeded to deprive him of his valuables and his dignity.  As this seemingly nocuous species is prone to do, they pummelled, pounded and "laid the boots" to their prey.  Perhaps the beating was necessary so the yutes could soften up their victim.

What these yutes are purported to have done reminds me of something I witnessed when I was a much younger man.  I attended bull fights in Spain and was surprised to see that the matador finished off the bulls only after a legion of less heralded taunters had turned them into ground beef and the once mighty animals were barely able to move.  Thirteen bulls were killed during that afternoon's spectacle.  Not all at once, as even a bull, upon observing the goings on, would understand the fate that awaited and would surely attempt to survive.  A stampede of thirteen bulls would have certainly evened the odds somewhat.  To ensure victory, the bulls were singled out.  Once separated from the herd, the youthful gang of wannabe matador's tortured and maimed their victims.  A single weakened bull was easy prey.

The way I see it, yutes are the matadors.  The 24 year old, on his way to a movie, walking alone in the parking lot, just happened to be the lonely bull.  I think it's time we took responsible and tamed the yutes so they can live amongst us in peace and harmony.  If we don't, then the next time it could be you that becomes their prey and that's no bull.