Coyote Yipps

If you’ve enjoyed and have learned from what I have written about the coyotes here in this blog, you will love reading Brandon’s new book which covers such stories for a bunch of animal species! Acclaimed science journalist Brandon Keim’s highly anticipated book is out: “Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World”! 

Brandon reintroduces us to the wild creatures who populate our communities and to those of us who are reimagining our relationships to them. Bats trade favors and groups of swans vote to take off by honking. The stories reveal extreme awareness, intelligence, and feelings in the lives of so many animals. Humans can understand the depths of their pleasures and pains, the richness of their family lives, and their histories — they aren’t just “pests and predators.”

The book includes Scout’s story! Scout is known to many of you from what I’ve observed and written and from Nick Stone-Schearer’s documentary, “don’t feed the coyotes”. Brandon came out all the way from Maine to San Francisco where he *met* Scout and spent time with me as the conduit for learning her story. Brandon is soft-spoken and keenly insightful about the animals he writes about and ever so much fun to listen to and chat with. He had wonderful stories to tell about other animals but didn’t want to give the entire contents of his books away, so as you can imagine, I’m thrilled that it’s finally out and that I’ll be able to read the stories he only hinted at when he was here.

Brandon introduces the idea of the *personhood* of animals: until you are able to see what he (we) see, you are missing out. The book can be bought at most bookstores.

Here are some enticing reviews which will give you an idea of what you are in for with this book:

“A heartfelt and unique look at the inner life of animals and how we so often fail to understand them. . . . Sure to be an instant classic.” —Jeff VanderMeer, author of Annihilation

“Few writers plumb the lives of our non-human brethren with more sensitivity and originality than Brandon Keim. . . . You’ll surely feel new empathy for your local raccoons, robins, and rats after reading this profound, big-hearted book.” —Ben Goldfarb, author of Crossings and Eager

“Meet the Neighbors is an indispensable companion for anyone who has ever been curious about the animals with whom we share our space. Keim’s book opens our eyes to the wonder in our midst, from the smallest bee to the wittiest coyote. What we learn should change how the law treats animals, how society treats them, and how we treat them as neighbors.” —Alexandra Horowitz, New York Times best-selling author of Inside of a Dog and Our Dogs, Ourselves

Does your love of animals fill you with wonder about how they experience being alive? And do you wonder what to do with your feelings for animals? Author Brandon Keim has filled these pages with intelligence and generosity. This is a mind-opening, heart-healing book. —Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words and Alfie and Me


“This special book is a love letter to nature . . . It shows us how humans are part of the tapestry that is life, and how we can join and support the community of other nonhuman persons.” —Craig Foster, creator of My Octopus Teacher

“Meet the Neighbors invites each of us to reimagine how we view and treat our animal kin. . . . Open minds and hearts will be rewarded.” —Sean B. Carroll, biologist and author of The Serengeti Rules and A Series of Fortunate Events.”

https://brandonkeim.net/books

For a review, click here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq5698.

Regarding Scout since the book was written: here she is, in the above photo, at nine years of age with one of her six pups born this year. Her first mate disappeared after producing three litters with her. She is paired with a second mate now and shares a second litter this year with him. She’s quite the family gal. Both she and her mate are devoted to their family and that family’s well-being. Please stay away from her: she’ll defend them all ferociously!