Found a coyote, I think

[Raspy]

Thanks J,

We're out camping near Ketchum Idaho, at 6,500', waiting for the eclipse. Just saw the post about Sandy. Night before last in Fallon Nevada, the coyotes were having a great time with lots to talk about.

They've been very active near home too, lately. It's becoming more clear how different individuals have different voices and delivery.

Thanks for the post!

 

[JRobyn]

John, since the early days of your Sandy thread, my wife has been an avid fan. She now follows the SW Conservation Center on Facebook and will always forward any Sandy posts on!

 

[Raspy]

John, since the early days of your Sandy thread, my wife has been an avid fan. She now follows the SW Conservation Center on Facebook and will always forward any Sandy posts on!

I love it. Thanks for mentioning that.

We're on our way back from the forest north of Sun Valley/Ketchum, Idaho, and the eclipse. Sitting in the forest up there, pitch black except for the Milky Way and uncountable stars, a mile or more from anyone at nearly 7,000', I was reminded of how the animals live in the forest. Late at night I was sitting outside and listening to distant calls from unknown animals. Sometimes faint and sometimes closer. Echoing in the night. Was it a bird? A lion? Don't know. What was that rustling sound over there? A blush of cold air moves by. The pines hiss in the slight breeze. Very dark and unforgiving up there. Way out of my element. Sitting outside, taking it all in, with a bit of unease and catching a glimpse of how insignificant I am.

Our dog Gogo is very alert in the night. She perks up and growls. Then listens and does it again. Minutes before, she was content and covered in a blanket, not a care. Now she's on duty and aware of something I can't perceive.

As I come into the trailer for the night and bring Gogo in, I wonder, should I lock the door?

The morning brings the eclipse. Camera and welding helmets ready. Watch the clock. What percentage is it now? Make some notes. Etc.

About 20 minutes before total, the light is dimmer, but not softer. More gray instead of yellow. Less light, but not like evening with a yellowing of the color. Then it begins to get a bit cooler.

Then the change accelerates. Every minute brings reduced light and cooler temps again. The insects disappear. A look through the welding helmet reveals about 7/8 coverage.

Then only a sliver remains and it's time to get ready for the main event.

Then the pace quickens even more and it gets dark! Not totally dark, and we were close to the center of totality, but about like a full moon night. Middle of the day and it's as dark as a full moon night. And it all comes on so fast at near total. A sunset proceeds at a linear pace. Not this.

I look west. Miles and miles away I can see an orange glow. As I look west, it's the same affect as last light after sunset, but before total darkness. Dark where I am and a faint glow from the west, miles away.

The sun now is just a ring. Prominences flame outward and appear beyond the moon's diameter. A black disk with an uneven ring of white. I fumble with my camera. I look around and burn in a memory of this night, err, this event.

Then the diamond ring appears. As it does, the special darkness is about to end. My "extra" night is a short lived one. Then, there is more light, again, it's not a yellow light from a sunset or a sunrise, it's a dim light. A dim gray that quickly begins to brighten. Some giant in the sky has his hand on a dimmer and he's slowly rotating it to "bring up the light" in this particular theater.

Soon, it's brighter still and the advancing sun reaches about 1/4 uncovered. By then the light looks nearly normal and the temperature begins to warm up. Soon after, the insects resume their work and the power of the sun becomes more apparent.

The power of the sun is way beyond my comprehension. I've worked with it for years as a heat source and still marvel at it's power. My arm rests in the sun as I drive and feels too warm. I grab my hat before heading out to protect myself. And sitting in my chair I feel the temperature drop as the moon shades the earth. At 93,000,000 miles away, the sliver of light that lands on me is an incredibly small percentage of the energy projecting in all directions from that source, but it's enough to burn me and warm me and allow me to see, even at that distance!

So, we got some nice pictures and had a fun trip to see this phenomenon. We truly experienced it. It's the second one I've been in. The first was way out at sea, somewhere in the Pacific in 1970 or '71. Not quite total, but memorable.

We went about 300 of the 600 miles back today. Went through a rain storm south of Wells Nevada on the way to Ely. Lightening bolts striking the ground and curtains of rain. Tonight the air is fresh and we're in Ely for the night. Very quiet. Just got back from a walk marveling at the expansive desert. After dinner and a cookie, Gogo burrowed under her blanket and disappeared.

I began to hear sprinkling rain and went outside to check it out. Yes, the rain caught up with us and is making things even more interesting. I love summer rain and we get a lot of it in Nevada. Bring it on! As I stood there in the darkness, after rolling up the windows, a brilliant white flash! Love it! Then seconds later the rumbling thunder talked about it. Guess I'll spend some more time out tonight, enjoying the power of the high desert in summer. It never gets old.

Oh yeah, you can see some pix of the sun and the camp on Facebook. My page is John Roemer.

 

[Raspy]

We just visited Sandy again at Southwest Wildlife in Scottsdale. It's been almost three years since our last visit.

Her and Shorty have dug a den for themselves. She was asleep and out of sight when we arrived. Liye called her and out she came, sleepy eyed and immediately excited to greet us. It was as if we had only been away a few hours.

So, after a nice greeting with her whimpering and licking, through the fence, she ran around the enclosure and then back for more with a submissive and thrilled look.

Clearly, she remembers us after three years.

After about 20 minutes she went back to her den to resume her nap and Shorty settled down between us and her. I remember one of the volunteers telling us that mental activities are more tiring than physical activities for coyotes. Plus, it was about 2PM which is the usual time for her afternoon nap.

We called her out again and spent some more time with her and then let her rest. She is doing fine. Is very healthy and stable.

Unfortunately, we lost Beibei almost a year and a half ago so Sandy wasn't able to greet her too.

All is well. Southwest is stable and Sandy is living a good life.

 

[dragoneggs]

thanks for the update, Raspy! As you probably remember I posted here long ago about taking in a Coy-Dog. Best companion the family ever had. Been following your thread and it is nice to hear that things are good! Take care.

 

[s219]

She is as beautiful as ever, looks to be doing great.

 

[cqaigy2]

:thumbsup: Thanks for the update!

 

[Silvic]

I think that is pretty darn cool. Thanks for the update.

 

[gwstang]

Can they be vaccinated for rabies?

 

[Raspy]

Can they be vaccinated for rabies?

Yes they can. Just like any other dog. But it's illegal for vets to treat them or give them rabies shots. And if a coyote does get a rabies shot, it can't be proved, like with a dog tag or papers filed with the county, etc. So if Sandy, for instance, was to scratch or bite someone while living with us, she would be killed and disected to look for rabies. That was the biggest danger to keeping her. One complaint to Animal Control and she would be killed.

Coyotes are legally just considered "wildlife", meaning they are on their own and should be left alone. They can be helped if abandoned or injured, but only by a licensed wildlife center such as Southwest Wildlife.

Sandy is a special case because she was found abandoned and nearly dead at only a day or two old. Liye saved her and or dog Beibei helped raise her. She is naturally very friendly and not aggressive. It's an unusual case and she could not be returned to the wild because she was unprepared to hunt and only mildly cautious around people. If she was out in the forest somewhere and came up to a passer-by for help, she would likely be shot either for fun or because she would be misunderstood.

Most folks, it seems, either think coyotes are good for target practice or should all be exterminated.

Her story helps demonstrate that there is a lot more to them than we may realize. However, it is a bad idea to try to domesticate one, as not all of them are friendly, their behaviour is directly related to when they were taken from the litter, it's illegal and you are not likely to get medical help if needed for them. And, of course, the rabies shot problem I already mentioned.

Sandy is nearly the same as a domestic dog. Friendly, fun, intuitive, extremely smart and dedicated to her pack mates. She is aware of the hierarchy of the family, or pack structure. She understands hunting strategy. She carries coyote traits like being cautious and looking for the intention in people she meets. She invents keep-away games, has a sense of humor and is very curious. She is an excellent companion and wants to be included, while having a cat-like independence. She makes various sounds, but doesn't really bark. She expresses herself in dog-like ways that people and other dogs understand, so she can meet and interact with other dogs and people. She has no idea how vulnerable she is and lives life to the fullest, in the moment, with joy. If she didn't look like a coyote, she could likely fit in as a family dog and be fine for life. But her appearance gives her away first and leads to all the other problems.

I just want to re-stress that Sandy is a unique case and nobody should think that all coyotes will act like her. Some might, or probably will, given the same upbringing from two days old, and being female, but it's not a good idea to expect that or look for one. It most likely will bring a lot of problems and a sad end.

I've really enjoyed hearing about the coy-dogs mentioned in this thread. Dragoneggs' story is the perfect example. I am keeping my eye open for one myself and have actually looked into it a bit. I met a woman who had one and her story was touching too. A fine dog and lovely companion, but that dog came to her injured and abused. They are not easy to find.

All of this is why Sandy's story is so interesting, she is a window into a world we know so little about. She is unexpectedly endearing, fun and a great companion, while teaching us so much. It's a situation very few will ever experience. I've learned a tremendous amount and we will always be friends.

 

[k0ua]

Yes they can. Just like any other dog. But it's illegal for vets to treat them or give them rabies shots. And if a coyote does get a rabies shot, it can't be proved, like with a dog tag or papers filed with the county, etc. So if Sandy, for instance, was to scratch or bite someone while living with us, she would be killed and disected to look for rabies. That was the biggest danger to keeping her. One complaint to Animal Control and she would be killed.

Coyotes are legally just considered "wildlife", meaning they are on their own and should be left alone. They can be helped if abandoned or injured, but only by a licensed wildlife center such as Southwest Wildlife.

Sandy is a special case because she was found abandoned and nearly dead at only a day or two old. Liye saved her and or dog Beibei helped raise her. She is naturally very friendly and not aggressive. It's an unusual case and she could not be returned to the wild because she was unprepared to hunt and only mildly cautious around people. If she was out in the forest somewhere and came up to a passer-by for help, she would likely be shot either for fun or because she would be misunderstood.

Most folks, it seems, either think coyotes are good for target practice or should all be exterminated.

Her story helps demonstrate that there is a lot more to them than we may realize. However, it is a bad idea to try to domesticate one, as not all of them are friendly, their behaviour is directly related to when they were taken from the litter, it's illegal and you are not likely to get medical help if needed for them. And, of course, the rabies shot problem I already mentioned.

Sandy is nearly the same as a domestic dog. Friendly, fun, intuitive, extremely smart and dedicated to her pack mates. She is aware of the hierarchy of the family, or pack structure. She understands hunting strategy. She carries coyote traits like being cautious and looking for the intention in people she meets. She invents keep-away games, has a sense of humor and is very curious. She is an excellent companion and wants to be included, while having a cat-like independence. She makes various sounds, but doesn't really bark. She expresses herself in dog-like ways that people and other dogs understand, so she can meet and interact with other dogs and people. She has no idea how vulnerable she is and lives life to the fullest, in the moment, with joy. If she didn't look like a coyote, she could likely fit in as a family dog and be fine for life. But her appearance gives her away first and leads to all the other problems.

I just want to re-stress that Sandy is a unique case and nobody should think that all coyotes will act like her. Some might, or probably will, given the same upbringing from two days old, and being female, but it's not a good idea to expect that or look for one. It most likely will bring a lot of problems and a sad end.

I've really enjoyed hearing about the coy-dogs mentioned in this thread. Dragoneggs' story is the perfect example. I am keeping my eye open for one myself and have actually looked into it a bit. I met a woman who had one and her story was touching too. A fine dog and lovely companion, but that dog came to her injured and abused. They are not easy to find.

All of this is why Sandy's story is so interesting, she is a window into a world we know so little about. She is unexpectedly endearing, fun and a great companion, while teaching us so much. Its a situation very few will ever experience. I've learned a tremendous amount and we will always be friends.

Excellent well thought out write up on the situation.

 

[plowhog]

This has been a wonderful story which I have mostly followed. I wish we had a positive experience with Coyotes, but we do not.

We are dog lovers, but fear the coyote packs around here will take down our Golden Retriever. Our dog would love to run through our pastures and romp and roam at the creek and pond. Instead, we keep him always on a leash for his own protection. I've studied the coyote predatory behavior and it's not the single coyote that is a threat, since our dog is likely bigger. It is our dog chasing a single coyote-- right into meeting the full pack once over a ridge or into the forest. Then it is game over very quickly.

The coyotes here are prevalent, overpopulated, and howl all night, often waking us up.

Our neighbor recently heard yipping and went outside to find his dog in the jaws of a coyote. After a chase through brush, he got his dog back although a bit chewed up. Had the coyote ran along the road instead of the brush he likely would not have gotten his dog back. Two deer on a neighbor property were recently taken down. Unless it was a cougar, it was likely the coyotes.

Attached is a photo of a coyote at our property that is particularly brazen. He's been in the front yard, barn, and driveway. I have not shot any animal for decades, but regrettably this particular one might meet his fate one of these days or nights if I can get a bead on him. I believe he represents a threat to my dog's life since he is so brazen.

Congrats on the wonderful experience and great long term story. I hope we can have some positive coyote thoughts sometime as well.

 

[Raspy]

Plow,

Thanks for your note. Yours is definitely the other side of the coyote story and a hard problem to solve. I've obviously been focused on other behaviours and there is clearly a lot more to the story than what I have written about.

We hear them quite often too, but they haven't become a menace to domestic animals here that I know of, yet. With more of them, that could become a problem here too. One reason it might not be a problem here is that we have a lot of deer and rabbits. Lots of them. Ten to twenty deer will wander through the yard in the evening and we are constantly seeing rabbits everywhere. The human population is low too, with everyone on at least five acres, lots of BLM land and hay fields. Our dog and cat stay in at night.

Another behaviour that I have seen and my friend has also seen, is coyotes taking up residence at turnouts or wide spots along the highway. Standing out in the open and accepting handouts from passserby motorists. The one I saw doing this was in Death Valley and he looked a bit rough. But he had found a way to get by in that harsh environment.

It turns out that the farther north you go, out west anyway, the larger they are. Sandy is a bit larger than average amongst the ones form Arizona and she came from about 700 miles north of Scottsdale. The farther south the hotter and harsher the environment and the harder it is to survive when bigger.

 

[ning]

The coyotes around here have a deep respect for guns... When one is getting too interested in what my chickens are doing from the other side of the fence, a couple shots in its general direction with the little .22 make them scram and it's weeks before I see them again (though they're still around, just not brazenly considering daylight action). I don't aim to hit; not sure if they know a bullet came by 20 feet away or not but the gun crack definitely gets them moving.

 

[plowhog]

If your rabbit population is that large then the coyotes probably have easy meals with little need to expand their food choices and little need to harass pets or other wildlife.

People who voluntarily feed wildlife, predators or not, are usually doing nothing but harm. At some point that barely-making-it coyote in the desert is likely going to end up in a confrontation with a child or family enjoying some food.

Years ago people would throw food out their windows at the roadside bears in Yellowstone Park. It didn't take too long before the bears started getting aggressive-- getting into cars to find the ice chest. So then the bear is killed as a nuisance. But it was the humans who caused it.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've really enjoyed hearing about the coy-dogs mentioned in this thread. Dragoneggs' story is the perfect example. I am keeping my eye open for one myself and have actually looked into it a bit. I met a woman who had one and her story was touching too. A fine dog and lovely companion, but that dog came to her injured and abused. They are not easy to find.

I still contend that the best dog I ever had or been around was Nikki our Coy-Dog. Only one data point so I really can't speak for the breed other than to say if I ever get the chance to take another one in, I would do it in a heartbeat!

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Thank you for the story, Raspy. As someone who also ended up rescuing and raising and loving a wild animal, I believe it is a unique experience. Who knew they were so intelligent, so passionate, so intuitive? I'm convinced there's a lot more to these animals than we can perhaps ever know. There is something pure and vital there. I love all animals, have loved many dogs/cats/horses/etc. deeply, but IMO our domestic animals have definitely *lost* something in the process of being domesticated.

Anyhow, it's a beautiful story, and I'm happy Sandy found a safe harbor and is living a happy life.

 

[gwstang]

Coyotes have decimated the deer herd by killing almost all the fawns in my area. I have a large group that lives on the backside of my property/neighbors property. When they start up yapping and howling just about dark, it's time to bring the pups in or they will be dinner. They come out on both sides of my house just yapping up something fierce. Can't see them in the dark though. I'll usually go out and pop off a couple 9mm rounds and they shut up and go elsewhere for awhile. Even my wife's two cats know to come inside about dark, they are very wary about the 'yotes.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Coyotes have decimated the deer herd by killing almost all the fawns in my area. I have a large group that lives on the backside of my property/neighbors property. When they start up yapping and howling just about dark, it's time to bring the pups in or they will be dinner. They come out on both sides of my house just yapping up something fierce. Can't see them in the dark though. I'll usually go out and pop off a couple 9mm rounds and they shut up and go elsewhere for awhile. Even my wife's two cats know to come inside about dark, they are very wary about the 'yotes.

That's true too..... I hate the killing, either way.

 

[Sigarms]

Coyotes have decimated the deer herd by killing almost all the fawns in my area.

Genearlly speaking, nature and the animals that reside in her live in balance. It's also generally something that man does that throws that balance off.