Sunday, February 23, 2014

The daily coyote

We've been having a fairly regular visitor lately. He wanders through his territory 
in the early morning, passing through and doing no harm ... so far.



 Whether she's in her yard or in the house, Smooch lets me know our visitor has arrived.



 I assume he's a he. I really have no idea. But I do know it's the same coyote day after day.
Part of me knows he's a menacing predator, but the other part of me knows he's a magnificent animal.
The fence that separates him and his brethren from me and Smooch and the chickens and Wynonna
has allowed us to co-exist all these years, and I choose to believe that it will continue to do so.


George and Alan have always had our backs when it comes to coyotes. 



They chase off the coyotes when it's obvious that they're hunting and leave them alone when they're not.



After a brief consultation, George and Alan chose to leave this coyote alone.



I issued a stiff warning that it was time for him to be on his way, and he left. 
Then I went to the barn to take attendance.



 All the chickens were present and accounted for, as was Johnny.



Johnny: You worry too much. Give me a little credit for being a very wise cat.



26 comments:

  1. Gorgeous post, pictures, narrative, the whole shebang! Love you Carson,
    Els

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  2. He is truly magnificent!
    BA SP

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  3. That's a gorgeous animal! Speaking of "The Daily Coyote" are you familiar with that very popular website: http://www.dailycoyote.net/? Another gorgeous boy!

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  4. That is a very well fed, fluffy coyote. I would take attendance, too. Ours are wolf crosses. Their footprints in the snow bear out the weight of a VERY big animal. We have seen them. They have seen us. Hmmm...

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  5. The first photo of the coyote is great! We who do not have to live with them are fascinated by them.

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  6. That is a very healthy Coyote eh!! I had 3 of his cousins at my back fence about 10 years ago here in the middle of the city. Me and my garden hose as then to leave pronto.

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  7. Yes, that coat makes me think he might be a 'coy wolf' - my friend in the mountains of Southern California has seen one hanging around her property lately.

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  8. Please tell Johnny to be more than wary! My brother in Arizona, who cannot make himself confine the cats who find him, has lost so many to the coyotes over the years. "Your" coyote is gorgeous, but I don't trust him.

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  9. He's beautiful. Glad everyone there knows how to take care of themselves. We have quite a few around here too. They make quite a racket at night with their howling. I don't mind though.

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  10. Coyotes, we have them, too! I have never seen them on our property in the subdivision, but our neighbors have called to tell us they see them using our sidewalk as a pass through to the open field and woods behind. We have two cats and a dog who are always in before sunset, the local coyotes don't seem to be active in the neighborhood during daylight hours.

    Laurie

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  11. that is a handsome coyote indeed. hope he has enough to eat in his area and does not come out of hunger. and YES keeping my fingers crossed for Johnny who, a regard to the coyote, would really be the most endangered of your critter.

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  12. Carol in N. Colorado2/23/14, 7:45 AM

    Beautiful coyote! I love to listen to the mournful cries at night but where I live in the city, I get the barking dogs instead. George, Alan and Lucy will keep the coyotes on the move. Taking attendance is a good idea.

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  13. He's a beauty! And judging from how healthy he looks, I believe he just stops by the 7MSN for a hello. I think he is getting plenty of food elsewhere. I love your attitude of co-existence (given everyone's safety). If more people would take that attitude with each other, it would be a wonderful world.

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  14. Very healthy looking coyote. They do kind of freak me out. More concerned where my sister lives than in the wide open of 7MSN. It appears that the habitat nearby well supports the wild one. Smooch and JCC take their lookout duties with appropriate seriousness. Love that George and Alan have proved to be little bad asses in support of the family .

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  15. I was going to send you the same link as Taryn. Charlie Coyote is worth a daily read and I have been a long time follower. I am so happy you have figured out a way to co-exist with that gorgeous "Mr. Coyote."

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  16. As always, your photography is so compelling. I can almost feel as though I am there seeing that "wiley" coyote. Saw a family of coyote in Algodones last week. Mom, Dad and 2 pups right in the corn field across from the vets office. They were eating something. But I had never seen small ones before. It was a shocker. Glad everyone was in attendance and accounted for. Helped MBF chase one away on a visit. The coyote had just attacked the neighbors turkey, now that was exciting. But you are right. They are magnificent animals even though they are predators.

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  17. btw, when I read the title of your blog to the grands.....GK thought it was going to be a newspaper "esk" posting. It would be a great Newspaper Title.......The Daily Coyote.............

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  18. I do enjoy watching coyotes also but mostly in Tucson where I don't have sheep to worry about. They will take a cat but it's unlikely your bigger animals have anything to worry about since the chickens are behind a fence. They'll hurt dogs too if they can, kill small ones. I mean they are predators and have to live.

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  19. The coyote looks well fed, I suspect on the rabbit and rodent population. But of course, Johnny is also prey for a coyote. I lost my dear "Bandit" a few year ago when she decided to stay out all night. It was most probably a coyote but it also could have been an owl. She was a very savvy cat who had survived many years in coyote country but alas , she had some bright white markings on her that may have led to her demise.

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  20. The coyote sure is beautiful! A little to close to the house for my comfort, but as long as he isn't doing anything I would just let him be.

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  21. I don't trust them at all. We have them in our woods. Most cats in this area are indoor only now. I actually did lose a feral cat to them. I also have very big raccoons.

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  22. Watch out Johnny boy, i couldn't handle another Deets. Be wise, my friend.
    P.s. Are coyotes a threat to Wynona?????? Really ?

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  23. you rpix n° 5 is so funny! did you see the coyote has been flatened: all flat!

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  24. The coyote sees you as "Big Game Hunter" because of the MANY bones displayed all over the place (coyote doesn't know they are all of cows who have met natural ends)...so YOU are to be avoided!! I also saw that you've put together a bone-sculpture chicken...really just can see the rear end and tail feathers...looks like a piece of modern art!!

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  25. My Gosh, that is no coyote...that thing looks like a wolf. Maybe they breed them larger in New Mexico....ours look like they are on their last legs out here in California...so skinny, not at all like yours.

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  26. Indeed, that is a well-fed coyote! Ours are skinny...not much water to support the rabbit population, so they are struggling.
    Cheryl Ann

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