*Passing under and lifting* are standard in their *teasing and playing* repertoire.
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- Gotcha pinned!
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- Not for long you don’t!
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- Come get me!
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- Okay — take that!
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- I can nip back you know!
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- I see you coming — watch it!
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- Ha, gotcha again!
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- Surprise! Gotcha back!
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- And I got you back, you little ragamuffin!
All smiles and happy after the rendezvous play session!
I’ve inserted words that we humans might use in this situation. Yes, the use of words is anthropomorphizing, but look at the photos: the sentiments expressed non-verbally by these coyotes as they banter back and forth are exactly the same, aren’t they? One human might tease another in exactly this same fashion: first one taunts/teases the other, then the other taunts/teases back, and back and forth.
This is a mated pair with a brood of pups. Nevertheless, they still participate in this type of bonding play and teasing in spite of their family responsibilities to which they both contribute. The four-month-old pups are still being secretly sequestered for their own protection.
Coyote Yipps 
Sep 08, 2017 @ 16:38:32
This is behaviour I see my two dogs do almost every day, but I have never seen such good photos of coyotes doing it. Thanks!
Sep 08, 2017 @ 19:12:43
I’m hoping to learn from your observations, too, Claire! :))