Flopsie, by Pete Dardis

Eydie! No!

Dang it.

Eydie! Come!

Like that’s gonna work.

Eydie had seen the local coyote, Flopsie, and was chasing her across the hillside.

Flopsie is a male coyote, born in the neighborhood two years ago. I first saw Flopsie’s mom about seven years ago, with my then much younger dog chasing behind her. I have learned so much about coyotes in the years since then. I stay alert and leash up when I see a coyote around. (Thankfully, our park is off-leash). Eydie still loves to chase them, but at ten years old she has no chance of catching one now.

But today I never saw Flopsie until the chase was already well under way. He had run across the hill and then down, arcing back across the hill behind some temporary fencing. Eydie, following behind, had cut the corner and was now stuck behind the fencing, while Flopsie, in complete safety, arched his back and bared his teeth menacingly, signaling his claim to this part of the hill.

Eydie gave up and came back to me, and I clipped her leash on. The fun was over. But not for Flopsie. After a quick nibble at the low spot in the fence, he hopped over it and followed us up the trail at a disrespectful distance, until I bent down as if picking up a rock. He turned and backed off immediately. We went on our merry way.

Eydie and Flopsie on opposite sides of the fence, then Flopsie jumps the fence, whiffs up the information where Eydie was standing, and then follows at a disrespectful distance until intimidated to leave. They then each went on their separate ways.