A joyous wiggly-squiggly muzzle-licking “hello”
Exuberance, kisses, wiggly-sguiggles, and unbounded joy: that’s the description of a parent/pup greeting, in this case it is a mother-daughter greeting. The greeting lasted only about ten seconds, but it was intense.
The child coyote crouches low, belly right on the dirt, and extends her snout up to reach Mom’s. Ears are laid way back in total submission. At one point, the little girl is ready to turn belly up. This little coyote is ecstatic and overflowing with affection and happiness. Although it is the child that displays most of the affection — note that Mom’s eyes are squeezed shut most of the time, probably for protection from the onslaught — it was Mom who actually joyously ran down the hill to greet this little one, so Mom initiated this greeting! When Mom decided to go, the youngster followed.
This display of affection occurs even if the separation has been less than 1/2 hour. Coyote family members show this kind of affection for each other whenever they’ve been separated for even a short period of time.
Coyote Yipps 
Aug 29, 2013 @ 00:04:05
What great documentation of the emotional lives of coyotes. Many people don’t care about protecting an animal until they learn something about them that they can relate to. Glimpses like these into the hidden lives of coyotes might help more people appreciate how cool it is to witness nature right in our neighborhoods.
Aug 29, 2013 @ 03:42:07
Hi Keli —
Thank you for your comment. I totally agree with you. Few people know about the incredible bonds, devotion, affection and care for each other that coyotes possess. These animals have distinct personalities and strong family lives. Usually, if a coyote is spotted by someone, all they see is its exterior shell — and many, many people are thrilled to have seen that — a real coyote! But within that shell there is an entire complex life, an individual and unique personality, and social bonds that few people ever see or are even aware of. People don’t see these things because coyotes shy away from people and most of their activity in urban areas is in the dark at night. I’m hoping this blog can showcase this about them. Again, thank you for being supportive, and please help spread the word! Janet
Aug 29, 2013 @ 09:28:19
Hi Janet and Keli,
Janet also placed this quote near the top of the Coyote Yipps site:
“If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys.” Chief Dan George
I want to try and express Chief Dan George’s words a little differently, though I believe the meaning is the same: If you talk to the animals they will talk to you and you will come to know them. When you come to know them, you will love them, with respect, without fear. What one fears one destroys. What one loves one defends.
Aug 29, 2013 @ 12:42:54
Wow! Really nice. Really beautiful! Thank you, Charles! Janet