Coyote Yipps

Hi Janet.

Summer is behind us. Fall is here. Still hot but..foggy mornings briefly tell us..yes..Fall.

I’ve spoke to the family who have for 3 generations allowed coyote in their vast ranch and ranges. They know the packs and individuals. They have “trained” the coyote with LGD, allowing coyote habitat to give them areas, and by allowing coyote to become stable and territorial. Coyote..DO NOT like to share turf with strange coyote. Thus..stable couples and packs keep out nomadic coyote who have their own habits and behavior.

It’s here that I’ve told you about Slim Jim the older coyote. Quite elderly and mostly blind he was last seen with daughter Kinky Tail and 2 pups.

Updates: 

Slim Jim is still alive and well. He had moved back to buffalo herd areas and spent rest of summer with them mostly. He has been very busy. He has easy hunting with voles. Even with multiple misses he gets enough.

He was seen hanging about an apple tree for about a week. At night he fed side by side with deer and slowly fed on big apples. 

Wolves have been seen going thru via trail cams. Slim Jim disappears days if wolves travel thru.

An elk died a few miles into range which is usually beyond nearly blind Slim. 

Kinky Tail and 2 pups and her Mate all fed from it. Kinky Tail returned next day..closely followed by Slim Jim.

He fed long and well..stomach huge. Kinky then walked back towards Slim’s areas..and Slim followed so close it seemed his nose touched her tail. Walking well along..Slim followed daughter Kinky until “home”. Kinky disappeared. And Slim Jim went back to apple tree, ate an apple and slept by nearby cliffs. The ranch family watched him and took turns seeing how long he slept. 7 hours till he woke and yawned…and slept 3 more hours. 

About a week later, Kinky and her family came around and seemed to have stayed. Slim Jim has company again and Kinky seems to have claimed old territory. But Slim Jim is allowed to do his thing and is peacefully accepted.

How old is he? We don’t know. He seems VERY old after summer. His teeth look worn. Pale face fur. But..hearty appetite. And plays with sticks often.

Slim Jim carries on. 

He has cataracts. He has outlived all mates. He has built packs and is related to many local coyote. He has been attacked by wolves and seen them kill his pack. 

But he’s here. And daughter Kinky Tail seems to watch over him. 

It’s a gift to live long. Have a place. And eat apples.

To Slim Jim

Take care Janet. Old Coyotes can raise our spirits. 

Lou