Breeding Behavior: Pull-Push

The coyote breeding season takes place just once a year, and it’s occurring right now: there’s only a very short window of opportunity for this to happen. This 17 second video shows some of the behavior involved. Note that SHE gives him two little nips and then rubs against him and faces away from him. HE is enticed and gets all excited about what seems to him to be an invitation: he eyes her intently and swishes his tail excitedly, or nervously. But the minute she sees his intentions and his lust (I guess that’s the right word!) she bares her teeth and growls at him: “Cool it, fella!” He gets her message and is completely respectful of it, or maybe he just doesn’t want to be bitten. Anyway, he’ll have to wait. When she’s ready, she’ll let him know. He runs off, and she runs off, happily, after him! Caught on a field camera.

For more postings on breeding behavior, see: *Courting Behavior in Full Swing*, and *Breeding Season: NO!*, *Breeding Season: Smells and Walking on Eggshells*, *‘Tis The Season*, and *Mood Swings: Two Different Days*.