Carefully Investigating from a Safe Distance

01 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyote reactions to dogs, coyotes and dogs

This resting coyote — hidden from view — perked up when a dog and walker went by. A number of dogs had passed, so I don’t know why this one was of particular interest, but  the coyote felt that an investigation was called for. As I’ve noted before, the interest is often about “what are you doing and where are you going.” The coyote followed, ever so carefully, at a fairly long distance, keeping an eye on the dog and owner who walked in the vicinity of hedges where the coyote had been resting.  At several points, the coyote stopped to wait for the walkers to move way ahead, and then followed at a distance that just allowed it to keep the wakers in sight, yet not be seen. When the coyote stopped and stood still, it was almost undetectable. Then, when the dog and owner finally headed off for good, the coyote just sat down and watched them leave. The activity, from start to finish, lasted thirteen minutes, and the dog and walker never noticed the coyote.

I don’t know how this dog might have reacted had it seen the coyote.  Some dogs can smell coyotes from afar and know they are around, even if the coyote can’t be seen. Some dogs are either oblivious or don’t care, even when a coyote can be seen. And there are some dogs that show real respect for the needs of wildlife, leaving them alone and giving them their space on purpose.  But most dogs have no such comprehension and think coyotes are to be chased.  The chasing sets up a precedent which the coyotes then come to expect. Most often, the coyote will just flee. But it could stand up for itself by messaging its needs to be left alone or to leave its territory. This could entail charge-and-retreat sequences, or sometimes even nipping at a dog’s behind, cattle-dog fashion, to get it to leave. Keeping your dog close to you and leashed can prevent such incidents.

There Is Something Exciting In There

11 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs, hunting

This bush is actually called Coyote Brush! The coyote stopped when he got there, sniffed it, then got up on its two hind legs to reach higher. But that did not help accomplish anything.  So finally the coyote leaped up to get even higher, and repeated this several times, falling to the ground rather clumsily after each leap!  There must have been something pretty exciting in that bush. However, the coyote’s efforts ended there because a dog from a distant path spotted the coyote and came bounding up in pursuit.  The coyote fled the scene. The dog, too, then became interested in the bush and sniffed it intensely for a minute, but the dog was not as resourceful as the coyote had been in his attempts to reach whatever was there. When the dog’s owner called, the dog returned to the path. I later returned to the bush to try to figure out what had been there — whatever it was, it was long gone, so it will always be a mystery.

So, There!!

18 May 2011 2 Comments

by yipps in avoiding humans, coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs, oneupmanship

Here is a sequence of events that gets you right into a coyote’s world.

I came down a path to find a coyote high on a rock, carefully watching some dogs and walkers approach. As the dogs and people reached a point where they might have spotted the coyote, the coyote hurried down the rock, waited for a moment and then hurried to behind a bush to hide and wait for the group to pass by — I was impressed with this little coyote’s intelligence and planning. Neither the people nor the dogs saw the coyote at all.

After this group had passed, the coyote scrambled back up to the lookout on the rock, watching this group until they were totally out of sight. A huge yawn and stretch was in order to celebrate the successful evasion. But it was important now for the coyote to “speak its mind”. It trotted down to the path where the group had passed, smelled for the exact location to leave its mark, and pooped. Then it walked a little further, smelled another spot where the group had been and this time urinated on that spot. And that is precisely what this coyote thought of that group.

The history behind this is that this particular group of dogs has continually chased this coyote, and one of the walkers has continually thrown stones at the coyote. So, yes, the coyote avoids them, but feels free to “speak its mind” about them — telling them off in its own way!

Grunting & Barking

03 May 2011 Leave a Comment

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs

barking

Audio File –> GRUNTS & BARKING

Relaxing comes easy to this coyote. Still, there are nuisances which have to be dealt with — the main one being intrusions from dogs, even if they are in the distance. If a dog has chased a coyote in the past, he’ll do it again. The dog communicates his intentions and attitude through his gaze and stance to the coyote. The coyote remembers all dogs that have threatened him.

So, the walkers and dogs came into view;  they never got excessively close. The coyote first stood up and watched intently. And then, as the dogs eyed the coyote and got excited,  the coyote’s grunting began. The grunting is almost inaudible — visually one can see the coyote’s slight huffing and puffing. My dog used to do this when he wanted to have the last word after I scolded him: huffing with a little grunt. The grunting in coyotes often precedes a long barking session, as it did here — it’s almost as if the grunting served to wind up the coyote!

The audio I’ve included here has 1:20 minutes of grunting — you have to listen very carefully to hear it through the singing birds and sounds of traffic — the grunts are very soft and there are pauses. Then, at 1:20 minutes, the barking begins. I’ve included a full five minutes which all sounds the same, so there is no reason to listen to the entire recording. The barking actually went on longer than the recording — until dog and walker were out of sight and far gone. At that point, the coyote curled up on a rock, as he had been before.  Soon a runner approached up the path the coyote was on, and the coyote fled.

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Leashed Dog Approaches, Gets A Mild Message, Walks On

25 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs, dog reactions to coyotes

I was watching this coyote when a man and his leashed dog appeared on the trail.  The only way home was on this path. The man told his dog “off”, and they proceeded down the path very calmly. But notice the coyote. He at first just watches. Then he gives a snarly warning — “just in case” the dog might have mean intentions in mind, though this is not a very intense warning. The coyote then watches again before giving an even milder warning — probably when the dog looked at him. These warnings did not involve any “barking” — they were all visual and totally silent.

I could not see the dog because I was focused on the coyote. But a dog’s “look” is easily read by coyotes and vice-versa. If these animals zero in on each other, you can be sure they are communicating. Leashing dogs keeps them calmer, usually. I say usually, because if an owner is tense or apprehensive upon seeing a coyotes, this mood will be communicated right through that leash to the dog. But generally, the leashing keeps the “look” these animals give each other calmer.  In the end, the coyote just watched as the two proceeded down the path — there was no incident except the eyeing each other, and that must have been “respectful”!

The coyote’s message is always the same: “leave me alone”, or “don’t invade my personal space”. When a dog and walker do get too close, the coyote will flee out of the way, usually to some underbrush. The message sent by the dog is also important. This dog, although curious about the coyote, has never gone after the coyote antagonistically. The warning would have been much more intense if there had been antagonistic communication or a past history of chasing.

Coyotes are threatened not only by unleashed dogs chasing them, but also by antagonistic dogs who pull on their leashes and communicate a threat or desire to chase. Since few people really know what the communication between these animals is, it is always best to move on and away from a coyote you have encountered. On April 21st Charles Wood posted a video which shows a coyote giving a message involving a warning bark — this is a stronger message. Charles and his dog respectfully kept their distance, but the coyote ended up fleeing to a safer place.

Spooked

22 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment

by yipps in coyote barking, coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs

All coyote barking that I have ever heard stems from incidents with dogs — an intrusion of some kind. This distressed barking should not be confused with the joyful howls that coyotes are prone to. Here I’m referring to distressed barking caused by the intrusion. But the intrusion doesn’t necessarily always involve an intentional intrusion. Today, for instance, this coyote, who obviously was caught off his guard, became surprised or spooked when two dogs and their owner appeared within the coyote’s safety range suddenly and without warning. The dogs had not chased the coyote at all, though there may have been canine communication of some sort — by eye contact and body language. Dog owners are seldom aware of this communication.  The spooked coyote ran off to a high perch where he began a long, distressed, and drawn out barking session. He was “bitching” and “screaming” to let everyone know he was upset, and this continued for a good long time — until the “perpetrators” had walked on, far out of sight.

In this instance, when the coast had become clear, the coyote trotted off to another part of the path where he knew the dogs and walker would be returning, and waited vigilantly. I observed him watch them coming. He continued in this same spot until the dogs and owner were within about 150 feet, and then he stealthily slithered from view. There had been no barking the second time around — that part of the incident was over — this time the coyote just observed, to assure himself that the dogs and owner would be leaving in the same direction from which they had come, and maybe to let them know that he was still there!

Rushed By A Dog

04 Mar 2011 2 Comments

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyote reactions to dogs, coyotes and dogs, dog reactions to coyotes

dog rushes a coyote who begins bouncing up & down in a display warning; it worked because the dog turns back here

Coyotes want to be left alone. They do not want to be approached and they do not want to be rushed or chased. Everyone knows how their particular dog will react to a coyote right after their very first encounter with one.

In this instance, a coyote was up on a hill relaxing and minding its own business — watching everything from the distance. It was off the beaten path and therefore out of the way. But as this unleashed dog came over the crest of a hill, he immediately spotted the coyote and rushed it. This is not a new activity for this dog, he has done it before. What is a game for a dog, is not so for a wild coyote. Without coming after the dog, the coyote made a few short feint rushes, bounced up and down, scratched the ground and had its hackles up. The coyote was doing all it could to communicate its needs: “don’t come after me, leave me alone.”

The dog understood, because it didn’t get any closer than what you see in the photo — the dog is actually turning to run to the safety of its master as I clicked this shot. The owner grabbed the dog and leashed it, and they walked on. This incident could have been easily prevented. If your dog has ever gone after a coyote, you need to keep your dog leashed — this is the only way to be responsible and fair to all involved: your dog, the coyote, yourself, other dogs and other walkers.

PCH Male, by Charles Wood

01 Mar 2011 3 Comments

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs

In north Orange County near Pacific Coast Highway I’ve found a male that’s active when I visit with my leashed dog.  In contrast, my river coyotes elude me.

Today near PCH a Northern Harrier was hunting a ridge and I was working on photographing it.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw a coyote descend the ridge into a cleared basin area below.  It is the third time I have seen him there.  The basin sits below a fenced walkway that provides an excellent view of a large field that ends at PCH and the beach.  The area close to the walkway contains the ridge, the basin clearing and brushy cover, cover the coyote quickly entered, knowing he had been seen.

I moved closer to the area he entered, being sure to stay away from brush.  I stood hoping to see him while my dog, close to me, lied down to groom.  In a while the coyote chose to leave the area in full view fewer than fifty feet distant.  There were many invisible points of exit he could have chosen and many visible exit points farther from me.

At first glance the photograph of him leaving may give the impression of a coyote simply walking by with a dog-like smile, unconcerned, headed to places unknown.  A closer look shows that although he isn’t bothering to look at us, his ear is telling him all he needs to know about my dog and me.  The picture with his tongue protruding also is a clue about his state of mind, as is the fact that he opted to pass close by.  My read of him is of a coyote engaged in a low intensity territorial confrontation.  Over a year ago, my river coyotes began their objections to my presence with the same behaviors, including the concluding tongue protrusion.  As I continued to encroach on my river coyotes’ space their confrontational behaviors incrementally increased in intensity.  Yet their objections began with behaviors much as displayed by the beach guy today.

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.

Acute Awareness of Who is Who

08 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs Tags: ,

An alpha coyote was out doing her job: keeping an eye on the territory, casually watching dogs and walkers from in the far distance. Coyotes become particularly aware of dogs whose energy and awareness might indicate that they could be a threat to themselves. This coyote is especially aware of dogs which have been antagonistic. She has become acutely aware of the barks, paths and even owner voices associated with these dogs. She watches to assure herself that these dogs remain just “visitors” who will leave the park.

Today, when most of the “regular” dogs and walkers had already come and gone, the little coyote stretched big and yawned wide before trotting off to leave the area. And then we heard the loud braying voice of one of the regular walkers yelling at her dog in her usual manner. It was a woman who has shown lots of antagonism towards the coyotes, and whose dog chases the coyotes regularly.The minute we heard that voice from far in the distance, we saw this coyote stop dead in its tracks, turn around and dash right back to its previous lookout where it stood with its eyes glued to this woman and her dog. The coyote watched them until they left for good for the day — about 20 minutes. When they were finally gone, the coyote stretched and yawned again before slowly wandering off.

Transfixed By Dogs Before Fleeing From Them

03 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment

by yipps in coyote behavior, coyotes and dogs Tags:

Coyotes are fascinated by dogs. But watching isn’t all about entertainment. Coyotes are aware of every single dog that regularly passes through their territory. By watching them, coyotes get a good sense of which dogs might be dangerous to them. In addition to the several unleashed dogs which regularly have chased them, coyotes are aware of which dogs eye them antagonistically and of those leashed dogs that lunge towards them, conveying that they would like to give chase. As dogs and walkers get closer, coyotes will flee. I’ve noticed that the distance when coyotes will start to flee is related to how antagonistic the dog and owner have shown themselves to be in the past, as well as if the dog is an “unknown.”

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