Dominance Display
01 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in communication, coyote behavior, dominant vs. submissive, hierarchy
This is a rare observation. We’ve all heard of the term “dominance”, but how many of us have seen it in operation? Here is a blatant show of dominance by one coyote. There is literal truth to the phrase “top dog”. These coyotes get along really well, but it is obvious that the existing hierarchy needs reconfirmation now and then. The underdog did not like being bumped by the dominant coyote and reacts. But the dominant one does not allow him to get away with his reaction, and literally puts him in his place.
The underdog struggles a little, but the dominant one is much more adept. The physical hold is finally let go when the underdog calms down. But not until the underdog reveals that he accepts his place does the top dog actually let go of the psychological hold over the underdog. When the less dominant coyote bows, keeping his head low, and stays that way for a few seconds, he has shown his submissiveness and the little display is over. The ending includes a little playful skip on the part of the dominant coyote. Both then continue grooming themselves and hunting, best friends as ever before.
By the way, I captured this clip in very bad lighting — on the dark side of twilight — I’m learning that my camera video capability is amazing!
Mister Reprimanded?, by Charles Wood
20 Jun 2011 2 Comments
in coyote behavior, coyote reactions to dogs, family interactions, hierarchy
Dad and Mister
Sunday at twilight Dad spotted me as he was coming down his Los Angeles area road. I was on the bridge to his north about 225 feet away. He paused and then kept coming. He stopped again to sniff. In a moment, he resumed his trot and Mister came from the brush to join him. Mister is new to me though he has been with his parents and sisters all along. Dad made Mister get down as shown in the “Dad and Mister” photograph. Soon they were up and both trotted across my bow, Mister coming first. I had seen Dad first, Mister came out on the road and got in trouble, then Mister led them away, apparently doing as he had been told by Dad.
Was Mister truly in trouble? I can’t know. Until yesterday I didn’t know that Mister was there, had confused him with his sister Bold, and had thought he therefore was female. There is room for getting simple facts like gender incorrect, so my story of Mister and Dad’s complex behavior has plenty of room for other interpretations. For example, Mister may not have seen Holtz and me on the bridge and Dad may have been communicating my presence and a danger assessment to Mister. Both continued on, Mister in front. As they went camera left, both glared at me, Dad with his neck and shoulder fur flared to make him look big.
The one thing I consider clear is that Dad is in charge of his son Mister, whether reprimanding Mister’s misstep or warning Mister of what they both have come to regard as a concern: Holtz and me on the bridge.
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.
Acceptance of Who’s Boss?
05 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, hierarchy Tags: coyote behavior, hierarchy
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- dominant guy rushes in
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- intimidated guy backs up with ears back
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- intimidated guy lifts paw as a peace gesture
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- intimidated coyote gets the message
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- intimidated coyote runs off
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- intimidated coyote runs off
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- intimidated coyote runs off
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- intimidated coyote, when crowded, snaps
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- both coyotes together and mutually occupied
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- dominant coyote again lords it over his sibling
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- intimidated coyote w/ears back diverts his gaze
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- both coyotes, together, mutually occupied
The more dominant of these two coyotes ran up to the other to intimidate him to bug off. It appears to be a compulsive behavior. He has always been successful in his bullying toward this fellow, but notice that, although the intimidated fellow runs off, he does not depart far or for long. Is he building a tolerance for the other’s behavior, treating it as just a minor inconvenience by letting it happen and then sidestepping it? He’s not quite standing his ground and being his own man but neither is he avoiding this dominating fellow — he has no fear of consistently, although carefully, approaching the dominant fellow when his curiosity is raised.
Deference Paid
05 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, family interactions, hierarchy Tags: coyote submissive behavior
The same fellow who extracted deference from his sibling, here pays deference to his Mom. Notice that he comes in with his head lower and tries kissing her from below. They probably made eye contact when they first met, but after that she does not look at him at all. Rather, her attention is riveted in the distance where her other year old pup is hanging out. She looks over again at this pup only briefly as he heads away and then returns her attention to the distant fellow. The respect and love here is deeply felt. It is both easily and freely given. There are no demands made by Mom.
Family Interactions & Dynamics
26 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, family interactions, group activity, hierarchy Tags: coyote behavior
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- Mom & Subservient Sibling relaxing in a pile
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- Dominant Sibling close by
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- Dominant pup approaches Mom & Subservient Sibling
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- Dominant Sibling kisses Mom
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- Submissive Sibling remains down & exposes vulnerable parts to Dominant Sibling
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- Dominant Sibling continues to hover over Subservient Sibling & grabs a leg
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- Dominant Sibling continues to hover over Subservient Sibling
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- Dominant Sibling now walks towards Mom
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- Mom shows her dominance by clasping snout around Dominant Sibling
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- Mom actually raises herself above Dominant Sibling with her paws on his back
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- After heading away from Dominant Sibling, Mom sits
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- Dominant Sibling again tries to get close to Mom
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- Submissive Sibling watches, with ears down, showing he is not a threat
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- Mom moves away from Dominant Sibling
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- Dominant Sibling returns to hover over Subservient Sibling who again hits the ground
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- Dominant Sibling watches Mom leave and then himself leaves
These interactions lasted about nine minutes. It was not light enough to see anything but the outline of one coyote when I arrived at the scene. I sat down to watch. Soon I became aware of two more coyotes — the mother and subservient sibling, resting only a few feet away from the first fella — the dominant sibling. I’ve put captions on the photos rather than explain it here below. This family interaction took place a while back — at the beginning of November. The family consists of a single mom and her two 21-month-old male offspring who have recently established a strong hierarchy between themselves.
The dominant sibling is the one doing all the approaching on this day: he approaches his sibling to dominate him, and he approaches his mom to increase his bond with her at the expense of his brother. Of special interest here is that after Mom watches Dominant Sibling hover over and dominate his more subservient sibling, she then makes sure to let this dominating fellow know that she is above him. She does this first by taking his snout in hers and then by raising herself above him with her paws on his back. He allows her to do this: he is below her in the hierarchy, but above his brother.
Displays of dominance include a dominant muzzle enclosed over the more subservient muzzle, standing over and higher than the other fellow, holding the tail up high often with hackles up, approaching. Signs of submissiveness I’ve seen include cowering with ears down or back, head held lower and moving in a slinking fashion, displaying vulnerable parts and letting the dominant guy bite your inner thighs, hitting the ground on your back showing the belly, fleeing.
Wanting To Play; Getting Bullied
26 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, family interactions, hierarchy, playing Tags: coyote family behavior
One of these two young coyotes found an abandoned dog’s ball and picked it up to play with it. Bullying brother came over and knocked the coyote over for the sole purpose of showing him who was boss, and then hovered over him menacingly. When the bully became momentarily distracted, the more subservient coyote was able to run off. This kind of behavior happens regularly these days and serves as a constant reminder and confirmation of a ranking status which has to become accepted by both coyotes. These photos were taken at the beginning of November when there were still attempts by the more subservient coyote to interact with his sibling.
A Hierarchy At Work
20 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, family interactions, hierarchy Tags: coyote behavior
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- two siblings keep their distance
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- dominant guy (l) with tail up makes the other one move
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- dominant and subservient make nose contact
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- subservient guy sits & looks the other way, dominant guy’s tail is up
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- dominant guy goes around to the back threatening to mount
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- subservient guy runs off
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- subservient guy looks the other way w/ears back; Mom comes into the picture & is allowed access to vulnerable part of the dominant sibling
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- Mom takes off; subservient guy to left has ears back
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- dominant guy tries once more to corral the subservient guy who turns away rather than take the challenge
Here are the workings of a hierarchy within a coyote family.
More Intimidation & Choosing Your Position In The Pack
10 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, family interactions, hierarchy Tags: coyote behavior
Here again, is an instance of dominant sibling intimidation. From the distance you can see the dominant sibling approaching. When he reaches his sibling he pushes him to move — assertively and possibly threateningly. The accosted guy faces him, eye to eye, for just a minute, but then bows low before running off with his ears back. The dominant sibling pursues. It is only for a short distance — only long enough for the dominating fellow to feel that he has the upper hand and that he made the other one move off.
Apparently every coyote in a pack chooses its role and position in the pack, including the subservient fellow. Dogs do the same thing. Hierarchy is thus established without a fight and without injury which could actually hurt their survival.
No Contest
05 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, hierarchy, oneupmanship
Sometimes, the best strategy is to lay low, even though you are already as low as you can get. There was a little bit of snapping at the aggressor, but the fellow on the ground opted to stay down. He usually flees or hits the ground when the dominant guy approaches to get a rise out of him. The aggressor soon tired of this and moved away — which is what the underdog wanted!
The Stick Finder & The Stick Snitcher
26 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
in coyote behavior, family interactions, hierarchy, playing
Here, one fellow finds a stick and begins having fun with it: tugging at it and chewing on it. But a second guy comes up and wants that very same stick.
The first guy repels the second guy’s attempts to take it with a growl. However, the second guy doesn’t give up and tries to weight down the first guy and then he tries a frontal approach again, both unsuccessfully. Finally he tries the ultimate put-down: he mounts the first fellow who then moves to get away from the tight grasp.
Seeing that the stick is no longer his, the first guy resigns and moves off some distance to watch. Not to be totally defeated, he returns and grabs a different stick to pull on. Ohhhh, but now fellow #2 actually wants THIS particular stick and goes for it.
Fellow number one snarls angrily, but it is fellow two, who at this stage is succeeding in showing himself to be the more dominant of the two, now has the second stick.
So, the fun is over for the time being.
