Comments for Coyote Yipps

Comment on My Position In Relation To Coyotes by yipps

yipps — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:18:29 +0000

Hi Melani — Thank you for supporting wildlife and especially coyotes! I’m not sure there is a specific meaning to the pattern of vocalizations you heard. I tend to think that coyotes express what they feel and this is always a little different each time. I’ve been listening to vocalizations for a long time and can’t say that I’ve heard such a pattern repeated regularly. However, I think it would be great if you document what you hear — I would love to post what you come up with! Janet

Comment on My Position In Relation To Coyotes by Melani Wright

Melani Wright — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:17:07 +0000

Janet, thank you for your blog. It is refreshing to find a site about coyotes that is not about hunting them. I live is southern utah and was up on the mesa yesterday when I heard a coyote give a short howl followed by several barks. It did this repeatedly for a long time and didn’t move around. I’m very curious as to what he or she was saying. Do you have any experience that would indicate what that series of sounds means? I am trying to study the local wildlife using a trail camera because I want to become a wildlife photographer and need to know all I can to be able to photograph them without disturbing them.

Comment on Coyote Interrupted by yipps

yipps — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:48:29 +0000

I don’t actually know how long the “guards” would stick around. I would love to see your coyotes. My own mixed Shepherd also “studiously” ignored all coyotes. I always saw it as being able to read each other and respecting what was expected.

Comment on Coyote Interrupted by Diana Liverman

Diana Liverman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:41:00 +0000

I think the guards could be from a previous litter but would they then leave once the pups are a little older? I will send you a couple of my photos of ‘my’ group and dog (he is an Australian Shepherd who studiously ignores the coyotes)

Comment on Coyote Interrupted by yipps

yipps — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:24:45 +0000

Thank you, Diana! I’m glad you like the blog. I enjoyed hearing your observations. I’m wondering if the other adults guarding the pups might be from a previous litter of the same parents? I think this is how it generally works. I would love to hear more from you about your coyotes if something comes up. Again, thank you for your input! Janet

Comment on Coyote Interrupted by Diana Liverman

Diana Liverman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:06:10 +0000

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog, photos and videos. I walk my dog twice a day in a downtown neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona where there is a large wooded area that is home to a family of coyotes (and plenty of rabbits for them to eat). I have been watching them closely since last May when they had three pups…at one point there were 5 adults guarding the pups…they were not aggressive but they did bark at us a few times. Now there seem to be only 4 – two older, two younger – and I am wondering if we will get pups again this year. They eat a lot of mesquite pods (as does my dog) and since we are near the hospital they regularly sing at the sirens! Diana

Comment on Bug-In-Ear Attack by Charles Wood

Charles Wood — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:31:42 +0000

Hi Janet and Catherine. I believe the coyote was also reacting to human presence. From the coyote’s point of view, a group of four approached it. 20 yards is pretty close. For a coyote 20 yards or so is well inside its discomfort zone. A hundred yards would have been a more comfortable distance for the coyote. Its body language in leaving indicated to the group that it didn’t want trouble.The dogs may have been in front of the group, but I’m sure the coyote was assessing the entire situation and responding to humans too.

Comment on Bug-In-Ear Attack by yipps

yipps — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:07:50 +0000

Hi Catherine — From what you wrote me, I don’t think you saw enough of the coyote’s behavior to know what it was doing. The important thing is to respect wildlife — it is not out to get you — it is doing what it has to do, what it has been programmed to do, to survive. I think it’s up to us to understand this and to not create situations that might end up damaging either the coyotes or our dogs: coyotes are protective of their territories and see dogs as possible threats. A leash helps. You are lucky to have nature as your back yard!! Janet

Comment on Bug-In-Ear Attack by Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:54:55 +0000

Yes, it was submissive behavior on the coyote’s part when the dogs ran right up to it….so I was wondering if it was just sunning itself or it was a calculated move as they are very in tune with their natural environment and we were walking on snow covered ice which is not that quiet. We have seen lots in the wild/city here as we have a large river valley and numerous ravines that run right thru our city, so nature is in our back yard!

Comment on Bug-In-Ear Attack by yipps

yipps — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:07:47 +0000

Hi Catherine — Thanks for sharing the story about your surprise coyote encounter. I know that an encounter can be very exciting — either scary or thrilling, depending on how you see coyotes. If the coyote ran slinking away with its tail down, it is not likely to have been luring your dogs away from you. I would guess that the animal was just relaxing and curiously watching your “team” pass through its territory. Your dogs charged towards him, so he ran off. Still, especially with small dogs, it’s a good idea to keep them leashed in coyote territories — this protects both the coyotes and the dogs! Janet