This was a month ago, during the Summer Solstice, when pups were already 2 months old. They had been moved out of this construction site, one by one, carried in Mom’s jaws, to a location about 1/4th mile away. Mom and Dad continued to frequent this old denning location.
Then, suddenly, both Mom and Dad dug this new den at that old location. I didn’t put the camera out until I saw the hole there, which was on the second day the coyotes worked on this dugout den. One youngster was underfoot at the time. Possibly this youngster never left the old area. I would see him as he regularly crossed the path of this camera, but he actually only entered the den a couple of times. Within a month, I saw a few more of the pups crossing in front of the camera, as have the parents, sniffing and looking around, but never entering the den.
It does not seem logical that this den might be a purposeful deception for potential harmful predators — such as dogs or humans. For one, no dogs go into the area, and all humans there have purposefully avoided the coyotes, letting them do their own thing. The pups are almost four months old now and won’t be using dens from now on. Still, one has to wonder why the effort was put into digging this den away from where the pups generally hang out, and when the pups were already 2 months old.
Jul 19, 2023 @ 18:23:21
OMG, this is hilarious! Thanks for the good laugh. The pup is totally underfoot (under-paw?)!
Jul 19, 2023 @ 19:10:10
I guess it’s best to build dens before they are born!! :)
Jul 20, 2023 @ 19:04:34
Beautiful tender window into the urban life of a coyote family.
Jul 20, 2023 @ 19:08:16
Hi Cindie — Yes, you captured it nicely with your comment! Thanks! Janet
Aug 02, 2023 @ 13:24:53
That little pup is so funny! I think every parent would sympathise.
Aug 02, 2023 @ 23:30:43
Maybe because the current den is soiled and best to ready one now for future rather than being without. For life in the wild one must always be preparing ahead.
Aug 02, 2023 @ 23:51:57
Thanks, Brenda, for weighing in. Interestingly, the pup is almost too big for a den. My own theory is that, because the parents have divided up their litter — yes, they are actually at two totally separate locations — that *hiding places* needed to be available when the parents weren’t there. Having said that, youngsters and parents pass by the den regularly. Sometimes they sniff around or even dig a little, but they do not enter it!! Figure that one out!!