The video above begins with the alpha coyote running towards a beta female coyote who has suddenly appeared on the scene. The beta doesn’t stop to greet him, but runs right past him to greet her favorite coyote, a beta male. The female keeps low. During the video, put your eye on the fellow in the middle and follow him. You can’t miss his exellent ability to thwart contact and greetings between the two beta coyotes.
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- younger male & female groom each other
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- Alpha coyote male sees them
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- Alpha comes over to stop them
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- Young male kowtows
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- Alpha male goes after male, female ducks also
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- Alpha bites young male
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- female ducks away
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- female watches as Alpha stands over younger male
The above sequence of slides, again, shows the skill with which the alpha coyote thwarts interaction between the same mutually attracted beta coyotes. A wound was actually inflicted during this incident, as can be heard in the very short [and unfortunately muffled] recording — there’s a growl and then a yip of pain — and as can be seen in the slide below, taken the next day.
notice wound that has been inflicted on the snout
