Today I again heard a coyote barking. Although a dog was right below where the coyote was perched, I was unable to see it, so cannot say for sure that the dog came after the coyote. For whatever reason, the coyote felt intruded upon due to the dog. What I am seeing is that certain dogs who have chased a coyote in the past, or those dogs giving a coyote an antagonistic look or an antagonistic message through their body language, such as pulling at their leashes towards the coyote, are those the coyote reacts to, even though there was not necessarily a chase involved.
This coyote was high on a bluff, relaxing and probably hoping not to be seen as it watched walkers and dogs far below. Of interest is that before the barking even began, as other dogs went by, I could hear barely audible but continuous “grunts”, a kind of huffing and puffing, which were visually perceptible. My recorder did not pick these up.
