Other Than Coyotes
28 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
I take photos of wildlife other than coyotes — and I have lots of fun and adventures doing so. I was asked to submit one of my adventures to the website: Golden Gate Park – Views From The Thicket. Take a look if you might be interested:
a wildlife photographer shares twilight adventure in golden gate park
Meal In The Meadow
27 Feb 2011 1 Comment
Excitement, enthusiasm, fun, energy, entertainment and nourishment — all wrapped up in a meal in the meadow.
Observation About Dogs & Coyotes by Daren Sefcik
27 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, coyote reactions to dogs, dog reactions to coyotes
Interest Shifts Away From Dogs
24 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, coyote reactions to dogs
Starting in January, I noticed a marked change in coyote behavior regarding dogs: the coyotes seem to have lost interest in them. Coyotes no longer came out to sit on a hill to watch dogs as they used to so frequently. They don’t do it at all now. Hmmm. In the past, I frequently witnessed one or two coyotes walking purposefully towards lookouts where they went to keep tabs on what was going on, to simply enjoy the “dog show”. But today, the exact opposite occurred: a coyote was walking away from one of its lookout areas as dogs began coming into the park — seemingly to avoid the dog issue entirely.
Watching the dogs had been only part of what was going on for the coyotes. It seems that coyotes had been placing themselves where they could easily be seen. In a way, they appeared to be affirming that this was their territory — they were out there almost inviting or daring any dog to challenge them — a sort of “test” — in order to find out about the dogs. I think the coyotes were assessing the attitudes and energy of the dogs, and evaluating their own positions in the territory. This is all speculation, but, after seeing it happen this same way so often, this is, to me, what appeared to be happening
This is mating season, and it is dispersal time. Possibly these new activities have become all-absorbing ones.
Coyotes Are Victims of Sensationalist Media Hype
24 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
Marc Bekoff, an animal behaviorist who has spent years studying coyotes, has written a couple of revealing short articles in the wake of sensationalist media hype: specifically on a recent National Geographic video which is based on a news item that occurred a year and a half ago and capitalizes on fears and sensationalism. The incident reported is one of only two ever recorded deaths of humans by a coyote. The other incident involved a small child whose father had been feeding coyotes, which is what we suspect may have gone on in this case here. That these deaths occurred is very upsetting, but they are made that much worse by globalizing an incident that is so rare that we only have two recorded incidents of it in the last 500 years.This approach sells, but our respect for National Geographic, which produced the video, has fallen hard. Please see his article and the comments afterwards. Coyotes Are Victims Of Their Own Success and Sensationalist Media.
Also, a recent follow-up: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201102/coyote-fur-prices-rise-steeply-they-are-indeed-victims-sensationalist-me
Two Months Later, by Charles Woood
22 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
Mom
It had been 9 weeks since I saw Mom or Dad who live in a small field that borders one of Los Angeles County’s concrete ‘rivers’. At dusk today, Monday, I saw Mom. I stood partially concealed under a bridge in their field. I saw Mom on her routine walk back to her nest area. She hesitated when she noticed my leashed dog, Holtz, and me. She then quickly left.
I had entered their field hoping to see them. I had failed to see any of them the last few times I visited. I’m curious to know if Dad has remained for this year’s breeding season. I also wonder if the two youngsters are still present in their field.
Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for these and more coyote photos:Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.
‘Tis The Season, by Charles Wood
21 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
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- Siren
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- Resting
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- Companion
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- Sunning
I ran into two coyotes Sunday in a field in north Orange County near Pacific Coast Highway. While walking in an area with good cover, I didn’t see the howler until it stood to answer a siren in the distance. The coyote seemed indifferent to my leashed dog, Holtz, and me. It laid down to rest after the siren passed into the distance. We moved closer and noticed a second coyote present. It appeared to be older and is marked by scars on its muzzle. I’m not sure if these two are mates. I can’t judge if the howler in the Siren picture is slightly swollen around the midriff. Of course, it is that time of year for coyotes. Both disappeared quietly into brush when I approached to about sixty feet.
The PCH male’s scars are similar to those carried by the coyote I call Dad who, with his mate and two youngsters, live in a small inland field near a flood control channel – river. I wonder how typical such scarring is and whether more likely found on males than females.
The PCH coyotes, before I arrived, were cavorting for a photographer in an open area near a well-used scenic, fenced walkway. My river coyotes are more secretive and I haven’t seen them for weeks.
Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for these and more coyote photos:Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.
Torrential Downpour: Coyote Behavior
21 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
Before it even started raining, this coyote was out on a hillside, relaxing. Then it started raining. . . . . and then it started pouring. Really pouring. I thought to myself: I’ll just stay here a moment and catch this coyote running for cover. But no, it didn’t happen. I was the one that left after more than an hour in the downpour. I was able to duck under a tree which helped a little. I had a plastic bag around the camera and my hands were numb from the cold.
But this coyote stayed out there, squinting sometimes, closing its eyes sometimes, licking the water off its snout, or lowering its head to the ground to sleep. All the while, in that driving rain, the coyote appeared totally relaxed with forearms often crossed. Maybe it was really enjoying the weather? Or, maybe the coyote knew the benefits of a good hard cleansing shower? In the last photo I focused well in front of the coyote so that you can see how hard it was raining.
Starry Eyed Couple
17 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, family interactions, feelings & emotions
You’ll have to judge for yourself, but what I am seeing was brought home by the two ravens dancing and cawing in a pine tree above where I was watching a couple of coyotes. The ravens cawed, moved away and then towards each other, made cooing sounds (yes), and danced their heads and upper bodies back and forth in what probably was courting behavior. Ahhh, yes, this is what is going on.
The two coyotes were not as explicit as the ravens, but the same thing was going on. It is that time of year when hormones and pheromones guide behaviors that will affect the future. The two coyotes stuck closely together. The female was a little bit reactive a couple of times, but the male was very solicitous — he read her well. They traveled and hunted side by side. They rubbed against each other, they made intense eye contact, and they did so touching noses a number of times — not fleetingly, but emphatically. He sniffed her often, and whenever she “marked” the ground, he lingered to sniff it and then marked the same spot — the middle two rows of photos show two instances of this. All behavior was extremely gentle and calm — especially when compared to the sibling rivalry I had been observing for the last few months. Do these two now reign over the territory that used to belong to three?
Packs And Loners, by Barbara Levine
14 Feb 2011 2 Comments
My kitchen window faces a wooded area and I am frequently visited by coyotes, usually one at a time, occasionally 2 at a time, and once I saw 5 together. I also have an abundance of deer, wild turkeys, and quail which is probably the reason for the increasing coyote sightings.
A strange occurance happened a few weeks ago which I thought you might find interesting. A flock of 20-25 turkeys were in the meadow behind my house when a single coyote strolled by. To my amazement, the turkeys formed a circle around the coyote and the coyote climbed up a low branch on a tree and stayed there until the turkeys started to move on. He then came down and headed away from them and the turkeys followed him. I stood there watching until they all disappeared down the hill.
