Last Coyote Discussion

Tri Limb is a retired farmer in the back woods of Tennessee.  When you retire, you have time to sneak up on coyotes and take their picture at night.   The recent discussion of Coyotes has sparked Tri Limb's interest.   I suppose protecting  his herd of goats may have something to do with it.

I'm hoping by paying some attention to his fixation,  I will not need to spend any more time on this branch of the canine tree.   I'm sure Park Ranger prefers photography to hunting.   Back in the day I had my share of sheep carcases picked up by the rendering truck because of coyotes.    I'm OK with thinning the pack.

The calls of coyotes are often heard on my morning walks. Very few things freak me out about nature but walking two domestic dogs into a pack of coyotes is one experience I do not want to have.   I seldom see any coyotes so I know I'm nervous for nothing, yet I remain nervous.

In the spring I hear the cries of the coyote pack during my entire walk for many days in a row.    I don't know what this Spring ritual is all about.   I do know that animals in the wild are all about reproduction, food and safety.   So the Spring crying is in there somewhere

I'm glad I have evolved.    I'm all about sex, fine dining, and my 401K.   (Well at least I don't cry in the Spring.)

I once had a dog that played regularly with a coyote couple.   They would chase each other back and forth and actually get pretty close to the house in broad daylight.   I never felt comfortable with that pair either.

One morning I walked into a south wind and it filled my hood so that my head doubled in size.   I imagine I looked like a lizard from Discovery Channel.   But the south wind increasing my head size is not what I noticed most.   What kept my attention and the attention of my dogs was the sound of baby coyotes.

The sound was part whine, part bark delivered at a high pitch in a rapid staccato fashion.    I have no idea what was going on but I believe mom had to leave her pups for some reason...food, waste, danger, who knows.   When mom was gone the pups cried.   During the hour that I was in ear shot, the babies would stop in 5 or 10 minute intervals.   I guess mom was with them during this quiet time.

The best thing about this coyote experience is, though my dogs noticed each yelp and perked their ears at each, that was the extent of their attention.   I believe they are getting used to being part of the Dallas County ecosystem...or maybe they are going deaf.

Please note the animal below whose image was captured outside a barn in the hills of Tennessee.

No more coyotes!