Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The herd meets the pack...and kicks butt

It was about 9:00 this morning. I went into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. Smooch followed along but took a detour into the bedroom and hopped up on the window seat. The camera was handy so I thought I'd grab a few shots.

What'cha lookin' at, hon?


Swell. Why do I even bother to plant a garden?


What do you see now, Smooch?


Holy crap.


Run, bunny, run! Before it's too late!


Nevermind. It's too late.


Then out of the corner of my eye, who do I see coming 'round the corner? It's Superburro!


And in the nick of time, too, because now there are three coyotes!



Alan makes his move.


And George is right behind him.


I'll take the one on the left.


I've got the one on the right.


Leave the one in the middle for me!


Hey, great job, guys! Way to go! You don't mind if I just hang back here and watch, do you?


The coyotes didn't seem to know if they were coming or going, but the next thing I knew, they were gone.


I had your back.


We totally had 'em...Bunch of girly-men...Preyin' on that poor little bunny...


I missed the shot where they started high-fivin' each other.


Ahhh...that was a good way to start the day. Now let's go to town and grab a beer.


Something tells me by the time they get down to the saloon, the number of coyotes will have doubled and they will have saved the Easter Bunny and all his relatives. Let them bask in their glory. I'm just happy to have witnessed it.

47 comments:

  1. I just love your posts! I haven't commented before but I do read them and they always make me smile.
    Love the commentary! We have coyotes too but haven't seen them yet, only get to hear them.

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  2. I absolutely love this post. Power of the pack! And that's quite the pack!
    Thanks for tipping them off Smooch
    Norwood

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  3. And that's why almost every large horse and cattle ranch in these parts has at least one donkey or burro. Little suckers are fearless.

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  4. This was so cute and made me want to abandon everything that should have been done yesterday and read the rest of your blog :)

    Three coyotes (that you SAW, anyway)??? Yikes.

    Lucy

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  5. Another morning started with a good laugh ... I love your storytelling! How neat that you were able to catch it all in pictures, oh, except for the high-fivin'! LOL

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  6. What a great pictorial sequence!

    It's funny how the equines spoiled all the coyote's fun! I'm going to share this with some friends.

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  7. It constantly amazes me the courage of a burro. I want one!

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  8. Hi, you don't know me, Barndoortagz sent me your blog. She knew I love donkeys and all animals. Sure did enjoy this one today. Alan and George are so cute. Thanks. Fl. Fan.

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  9. Tough gang, I can see why the coyotes didn't want to mess with those killers!

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  10. Thoroughly enjoyed this post this morning! So much, that I called my hubby over to read it, too. He loved it.
    Way to save the bunny guys!

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  11. Just awsome how they were looking out for the little guy! Pretty noble in my book.

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  12. Your story telling is so fun and how awesome you caught all that!

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  13. What a good post; I really had a good laugh, especially the hi-five comment! Dang, girl, how'd you miss that! And Smooch, sitting there like the king in the castle while his (her?) minions proteect the courtyard from the invading mauraders! Love those donkeys, they are so casual! Farmers around here keep donkeys with their cow herds at calving time to keep the coyotes away.

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  14. Yay! Go George and Alan!
    I wonder if the bunny knew what they did for him..?

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  15. your animals are so brave, scaring off the mean old coyotes, I love the narration of the story, your photos are wonderful! That rabbit sure has good luck! must be the rabbits feet lol

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  16. Holy crap is right, that's way too many coyotes. Go Easter Bunny! Go Smooch and his telepathic shout-out to the herd! I'll be thinking of the high fives for the rest of the day.

    Thank you for my morning laugh. Did I say laugh, as in singular? I mean thanks for a little morning hysteria.

    When is the book coming out? I'm loving the burro calendar, but by next Christmas I'll be needing a coffee table book.

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  17. When we had more wilderness wise cows, they used to do this. They would take the coyotes right out of the pasture. The ones today sigh while the coyote goes racing by with me the one having to do the chasing! In my case, chasing because it had been about to have lamb for lunch. I think it's why the animals who have experienced the wild go after them. They recognize the danger they present to their young.

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  18. That was one cute, poster girl bunny munching on your sprouts.

    Your herd definitely kicks butt and they don't even look like they broke a sweat!

    Nature is surely bittersweet though...because now those poor skinny coyotes have gone without breakfast...hard to know which side to root for. Almost.

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  19. Holy cow, that was awesome!! Your herd rocks!! I loved watching that, George and Alan are all over it. Big wild applause for them!!

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  20. That does it! I'm getting burros. I'd heard they were fearless against coyotes, and now I know.

    Now what could they do with our Mountain Lion?

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  21. Yay boys! Great job... Sissy Lyle, what a chicken. ;) LOL

    I sure HATE coyotes... This coming from a sheep farmer though so I guess I'm a bit bias. They do have their place in life and I sure wouldn't want them to be wiped off the face of the planet (though that'd be impossible) but I don't get along with the suckers at all. That's why I've got my girl Abby, she keeps them away.

    I love your burritos. ;)

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  22. What a great photo story - those guys of your are the best!

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  23. Oh my that would make a good wildlife film. Just like the A Team!

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  24. Great story you captured on your camera, there! I have some coyote questions for you, excuse my naievity! :) Do burros typically defer coyotes, in other words, will coyotes not mess with them? Also, since there were 3 coyotes, was there any fear that they would actually lure the burros away then attack one? I only ask that because I have heard they do that with dogs. Anyway, I would freak if I saw a coyote in my horse's pasture! Nothing against coyotes, I just worry about my horse! :)

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  25. I have been MIA for a bit, and this was the perfect post for me to come back too!!! Your camera rocks!! Mine would never have captured those coyotes. You just never know what you will find over at the 7MSN, do you??? LOL!!!

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  26. What a fascinating storyboard you put together.

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  27. What a great story! I'm so glad you were there to take the photos.

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  28. OMG! HIGH crime on the open desert...and "most" of the four-leggeds came to the rescue. Hell, yes, someone has to stay behind so they can call the cavalry (or the local rancher with his Ruger ranch rifle) to put a stop to the bunny massacre that might happen.

    Terrific job Linda!

    Sandy

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  29. Timing is everything!!! How do you do it?!?! Great post...Smooch gets a double treat for being such a good watch dog too!

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  30. Oh tears! Your writing, your imagination and your animals save me every day! I love this!
    Next round of beer is on me!

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  31. Another comment: I showed this post to my husband, who is totally a non-computer, non-blogger, no-electronics kinda guy. He said:
    "She should make a children's book out of this story."
    Hmmmmm. Just a thought!

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  32. I can't believe you managed to capture the play out of this with your camera and share it with us! Loved it!

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  33. Thanks, everybody, for telling me how much you enjoyed this post. I feel so lucky to share what happens out here with you.

    Some of you asked how I manage to be in the right place at the right time. Luck sure has alot to do with it, but I know these animals so well that I usually know what they're going to do before they do it. I gotta tell you though, when this was all happening yesterday, my heart was pounding in disbelief. I was panicked that the pictures would look crappy because the window I was shooting through was filthy.

    Ponygirl, I think coyotes know better than to mess with burros - they wouldn't stand a chance against a well-placed kick.

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  34. OH that is so funny! Talk about a good capture! Wait I may have said that before!

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  35. one of your very best! Go burros!

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  36. Lucky bunny! How wonderful that you caught all of that. The coyotes around here are heard more often than seen. Wow. Great shots.

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  37. Absolutely love this story! What a place you have here.
    Burros are my very favorite... I've had 3.
    Three cheers for the bunny and his helpers..
    B.

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  38. Wow, those burrows don't take crap from anybody.

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  39. What a great photo story!
    I'm glad the bunny got spared, for one more day, anyway.

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  40. Great story ! I love it !
    Have a wonderful weekend.

    Cheyenne

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  41. I love the shot of Alan heading out to take care of those coyotes - and the one of Hank standing back egging everyone one else on!

    Great series - and that shot of Alan doing donkey yoga after it all ended is just so perfect!!

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  42. god that didnt half make me laugh! your pictures are excellent i have to say
    'xo

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  43. Amazing story! Loved the pictures...thanks for a peek at an awesome wildlife stand-off!

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  44. Just great photos and amazing reportage! You live in a beautiful place indeed! What a privilege seeing coyotes all around...

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  45. Holy Cow, I wish that I could have been in your shoes watching all those movements! Your beautiful shots are truly awesome! Glad to know that the bunny escaped from harm...

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