Thoughts on coyotes

Just a little musing on wildlife here, and appreciation:

   At dusk the other day I was returning from a bike ride in the Santa Cruz mountains, rolling down a little valley lined with a few homes here and there. I saw a really healthy looking coyote cross the road in front of me, and move effortlessly up the slope, passing through a wire fence and into a little orchard. I was struck by what a beautiful animal it was, with the golden and red colors in its coat, its light footed gait, the alert and graceful posture.

   It got me thinking about how we malign the coyote, based on seeing them as common, and based on all the disdain heaped on them by ranchers and pet owners, who just consider them a threat. I'm not looking to debate about the damage done by coyotes, just reflecting on our tendency to be so human centered in our thinking that we think simplistically about the worth of an animal, and can only see it in those terms. But I've seen them in the wild, in the middle of winter high up in the Sierra, and in the deserts in Southern Cal, scraping out an existence in rough country. And in that urban/rural interface, close to home, living that stealthy life. They are such a tough, adaptable, resourceful animal that will exploit any little niche and find a way to survive.

   So look, this is not a comment on those of you who hunt them. I am not throwing stones, and I don't want to go there.
I'm just sharing my admiration for the "lowly" coyote, and thinking about how we look at them.

   I think they're pretty cool.

I agree. I think they are beautiful animals. But I still don't let my cat outside.

I agree. I think they are beautiful animals. But I still don't let my cat outside.

+1 

I can agree with you. But if you look at any of Gods creatures you will find something fantastic about them. You just have to take the time and interest it them.

My dog looks a lot like a coyote, so I'm biased already
She looks so much like one, that a fluffy male even played with her one morning when she was a 2yr pup, you know how dogs lower their heads and run around all excited to play? That's what this coyote did. I think he liked her. However I will say that when I realized it wasn't a dog I spit out my coffee and raced out to call the dog in. I was afraid a pack was waiting to jump her.
I dig coyotes, and since my outdoor cat is now probably 10 years old I guess she figured out how to avoid them.
I've seen a few very healthy 'yote specimens trotting across my commute road this year.

Hey Paul, the last time I rode my M-bike over at SC, I came across a bob cat. I actually thought it was a teenage mountain lion until I noticed the missing tail 

I've never seen a coyote until a company camping trip at Lake Del Valle. This particular coyote was reddish in color and hanging out with the raccoons near a trash bin. My boss thought it was someone's lost dog  It was cool!

Coyotes are like a hot chick you see in a bar, sitting by herself, sipping a cosmo.  Sure you want to snuggle up and pet that, but the likelihood of getting smacked is a strong deterrent.

Saw one sauntering across a snowy meadow at Marina Keys in Tahoe, very pretty and fun to watch.  Super scrappy lil guys

They eat Deer and rats@! My heros (hate Bambis as much as sea lions!) We have a good size pack in our area and the deer are healthier for it. They have a purpose and as long as they don't eat my Chickens we coexist just fine. Cats do go missing but people let them run loose where they are considered food. Not the 'Yotes fault. They come up to the fence and talk to my beagle D.D.Mau!!! Too funny!!!!

I agree with pretty much everything said here.












They're still fun to hunt, though. 

I agree with pretty much everything said here.

+1

I heard they tatse like chicken!

...if you look at any of Gods creatures you will find something fantastic about them...

Couldn't have said it better. On the other hand, the definition of a weed is a plant out of place.  Our over occupation of natural habitat causes a lot of animals to be "out of place".

My dog looks a lot like a coyote

Not so much from that picture   but she is definitely pretty. I grew up on a farm bordering BLM property ... literally the last house on a long, single lane dirt road. OK, next to last  . Coyotes always played with our dogs regardless of breed. Or maybe they were teasing them? I never could figure it out.

Ben

A camping trip just wouldn't be the same without the howling up on the ridges.

A camping trip just wouldn't be the same without the howling up on the ridges.

My wife and I were camping at Henry Cowell SP near Felton and in the dead of night, just below us in the ravine a bunch of coyotes busted loose with the most hair raising racket I've ever heard. It sounded like an insane woman laughing hysterically while being murdered with an axe.

It didn't help that my dog Duke stared at the door and started growling menacingly either. It was so cool.

Beep-beep!