pupping | Coyote Yipps

Coyote Parents Are Working Overtime

14 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, father coyote behavior, hunting, mother coyote behavior, pupping

: waiting patiently for her

: off to the hunting fields

: at the hunting field

: a pounce

: tails fly

: Mom catches another vole

: Dad tosses one in the air

: Dad brings it to Mom

: Mom takes vole & heads home

At about this time of year, most coyote pups have been, or are being, weaned from their milk diets. But they aren’t yet able to hunt on their own — this will take training. So parents are feeding them with both regurgitated food and with entire small rodents which they bring home in their snouts. Pups are still being kept hidden — it’s too risky to bring them on hunting expeditions.

Today I watched this coyote pair as they went to work. One waited for the other for about 20 minutes as dusk fell. They normally wait for one another before going trekking. But this coyote got impatient and went on — the other would soon follow — they would meet up along the way to a hunting area. They took a route along the edge of bushes, hoping to avoid detection. When they got to a high open area, they scouted to make sure the way was clear and safe. Then they headed into an overgrown field of oat grasses which were about two feet tall. They wouldn’t be hidden there, but they would be well camouflaged.

The rodent population there was good because they each caught rodent after rodent and ate each one. She caught at least four in a row — he caught at least two. This was all within the space of about 20 minutes. As they wound down their hunting session, the male caught one last vole and tossed it up high in the air. He then tossed it in the direction of the female and then took it to her. She grabbed it from him and turned her back on him so that he could not grab it back. This vole — whole — would be good for training purposes for the youngsters at home.

heading home with food

So she looked around, saw that the way was clear, and headed over hill and valley with the prey in her mouth. The male followed: he was bringing home his share of the bacon in his stomach! And she had more in her stomach, too, for feeding the hungry brood waiting at home.

Please Don’t Rescue “Abandoned” Coyote Pups!

08 Jun 2013 6 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coexisting with coyotes, coyote pups left alone, pupping Tags: coyote pups left alone

UPDATE: An observer in June, 2017 became very concerned when she didn’t see parents attending to a den in her back yard. She contacted us when she hadn’t seen either parent for several days. We devised a plan for feeding the pups and then moving them to a rehabilitation center, but we delayed the move since no one at all can raise coyote pups as well as their parents. Then, VOILA! A full week later, the parents resurfaced. This is not unusual in the coyote world. Please know this and leave coyote pups alone! If you are concerned, keep an eye on the area for a good, long time before doing anything!

Why, you might ask, would you not try to save abandoned coyote pups? The reason is that they are probably not abandoned at all. Coyote pups are left for extended periods of time while both parents go off hunting. In 99% of the cases of puppies found without a parent around, this is what is going on. You will actually be hurting the situation rather than helping by “kidnapping” them from parents who love them and know how to give them the best upbringing. In the wild, and with their parents, they have a huge chance at survival. Once they are removed and placed in a rehabilitation center, their chances go down. The rehabilitation center can take care of their physical needs, but cannot train the pups early on how to fend for themselves: hunt, avoid, interact with other animals.

The hand that intends to help may, in fact, be causing their doom. Rehabilitated baby animals have a much harder go in life and many do not make it.

Here are some pups that were found “abandoned” and taken into a wildlife center. They are doing superbly well in the center. But they would have been doing better in the wild with their parents. Note that pups in the wild are now about the size of those below that no longer fit in the bucket!

coyote pups when they were brought into the center

coyote pups in the center

no longer fit in bucket

If you want to donate to a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, here is a great one: AWARE. Melanie Furr took the photos of coyotes in the bucket and wrote a fabulous newsletter featuring coyotes for AWARE — press HERE to read it. Alex Johnson took the three coyote pups, upper right.

Some Mother Coyotes Are Still Nursing

05 Jun 2013 10 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, family interactions, father coyote behavior, mother coyote behavior, pupping

This mother coyote is in her 8th week of nursing

eating a rat

This mother coyote is still nursing, as seen by the photo. Her pups are in their eighth week of life already. Moms have to eat a huge amount of food to produce the milk necessary to feed the youngsters. But some of the food she eats will be regurgitated and fed as pablum — baby food — to the pups. The pups stick their snouts in the side of her mouth which elicits the necessary reflex for getting the food to them.

Dad Coyote continues to bring home the bacon

Dad Coyotes continue to bring home the bacon, too! Some of the food helps to nourish Mom, but he, too, regurgitates food for the young ones. Soon, if not already, prey being taken home like this will be torn apart for the youngsters and fed to them in bits and pieces — that’s the next step after the “pablum” for them.

Mary Lactating, by Charles Wood

01 May 2013 2 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in pupping

Mary April

For several years I’ve visited a nearby field to watch two coyote parents whom I named Mom and Dad. In November 2012 I found that a new coyote couple had replaced Mom and Dad as the field’s resident coyotes. I named them Rufous and Mary.

Mary didn’t look pregnant to me over the last two months. Then on Monday, Rufous and Mary were out and about together at dusk and the picture I took of her shows she is lactating.

Mary October

Mary on Monday was finally close enough for me to take a good photograph for identification. The October photograph for comparison was taken when Mom and Dad were still in control of the territory that Rufous with Mary now call home. The October photograph was taken from more than twice the distance as Monday’s. Still, I think it is the same coyote, think that Mary is Mom and Dad’s daughter from their 2011 two pup litter. There is a resemblance, I think it fairly strong. Also, Mary has eyes that remind me of Mom and she has Dad’s fleshy lower lip. I can’t seem to help softening a bit toward Rufous.

Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for more coyote photos: Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.

Nursing Coyote Mothers

01 May 2013 2 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, lactating mother, life cycle, pupping Tags: lactating coyote mothers, motherhood, nature, nursing coyote

a lactating mother coyote

I had been told that nursing mother coyotes stay in the dens, or fairly close to them, during the 5 weeks following birth when they are being nursed. Guess what? They don’t!

A nursing mom’s need for nourishment skyrockets during this timeframe in order to keep up with the growing nutritional needs of her pups for which she is the sole supplier through nursing. Nevertheless, moms appear to keep themselves pretty secluded and out of sight. New moms are even more secretive and evasive than normal because the lives of pups now depend on them — it’s a safety measure.

This new mom was in a field only a moment or so. The rest of the time she moved slowly under bushes and next to “edges” of taller growth, where she could easily slip away from view. When she saw anyone coming, she slowly stepped behind something, be it a tree, tall grasses, bushes or a stump, where she would not be noticed, and she wasn’t. She headed “in” for the day when a man and his dog came around a bend and saw her. He stopped and observed. She calmly slithered out of sight. The dog was leashed and well behaved. It all happened so quick and smoothly!

It’s much too early for pups to be out and about. Pups are kept secluded in their dens until about the fifth week of birth, and even after that, their introduction into the bigger world will be a gradual one, and as secret as possible to begin with!

Breeding Season: “With Pups”

01 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, pupping

Coyotes give birth at about this time of year — usually from March through April. A bulging belly might reveal that they are heavy with pups right now.

How do coyotes experience their pregnancies?

The extra weight slows them down and they get tired — much like humans. Climbing steep embankments takes greater and greater effort as their pregnancies come to full term.

They have trouble scratching themselves: that back leg is hampered from reaching the itch by the bulging abdomen.

Being a curious critter, they want to know what is going on, so they examine their bellies where the nipples are: they seem to feel the changes they are going through. When is it that they actually “know” they’ll be having pups? When does the rest of the pack become aware of this? At a certain point, dens are prepared: might this be the signal to the rest of the pack about what is in store? How does she know the time is right for building her den?

Behaviorally, during their gestation period, they become more secretive and withdrawn than ever. They try to not be seen, and they don’t wander far from home. This is how they protect themselves and keep out of harm’s way.

One big behavioral change is that they don’t howl so often at sirens. Might this be so as to not reveal their locations during this vulnerable time for them?

Timeline. When the young are born, they will remain secluded in the den for about 6 weeks. Mom is required to be there to nurse the youngsters and to provide warmth for them. At the end of this time period, her pups will emerge from the den — and she will slowly wean them, first onto regurgitated food brought home by Dad and other adult family members, and then onto whole rodents which are killed first. The final step in this process will involve teaching them to hunt on their own.

Few people ever see coyotes. You have an even slimmer chance of ever seeing a pup. If you are one of the lucky few, it usually isn’t until about July that you’ll see them, though you may be able to spot one as early as June.

The Wayward Puppy, by Charles Wood

03 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, family interactions, father/pup learning, intelligence, pupping

Pup Goes Forward

These pictures are of Dad escorting his puppies in June 2010. He saw me, perceived me as a threat, and stopped. Although not all are pictured, he had at least three puppies with him.

One of the puppies didn’t stop when Dad stopped. Instead it got ahead of him and paused briefly. “One Pup Gets Forward” has the wayward puppy partially concealed in the lower left. Then the wayward puppy went forward, kept going, and got well out of Dad’s reach many yards away.

Dad did not follow the wayward puppy. “Dad Can’t Follow It” pictures Dad angry because one of his puppies got away. A different puppy clings to Dad.

Dad retreated with the rest of the puppies. Way too late for my comfort, the wayward puppy galloped back and caught up with Dad. I’ve never since seen a cute little coyote puppy run that fast. It was galloping as fast as a rocket, so earnestly wanting to be with Dad. I was ecstatic. I had again been able to take pictures of a coyote father with his puppies.

Dad Stops

When I returned home I studied the photographs and also studied photographs taken on previous days. My study led me to some conclusions.

Generally Dad is cautious and expects danger when walking around. When Dad perceives a threat he makes an assessment and then takes action. With puppies in tow, Dad has fewer choices of action. Puppies are rambunctious and take effort to control. With puppies and perceiving a threat, there isn’t much Dad can effectively do other than to collect them and retreat.

Usually when they all came across me, the puppies noticed when Dad stopped and became cautious too. Cautious, the puppies held still, went to Dad, to each other, hid, or went back in the direction they all came from. The puppies were also curious and looked in my direction to see what Dad’s fuss was all about. When all were somewhat settled, Dad led a retreat. Note that with puppies, when Dad perceives a threat he expects good behavior from his children and usually gets it.

Dad Leaves To Protect Other

Unfortunately, this time one of the puppies didn’t get the “caution” message. One puppy kept going forward alone, getting somewhat far away. Initially it stopped, but it wanted to keep going and it did! This time Dad’s circumstances weren’t usual because he had a very poorly behaving puppy!

Yet Dad has situational intelligence and so do I. As I studied the photographs, I thought Dad had to understand that he couldn’t be in two places at the same time. Indeed, he looked toward the wayward puppy and appeared to be stymied, exasperated, resigned, composed, in charge, and as if saying: “I told you to stop.” Then Dad, still looking in charge, lifted his head toward me, the cause of his dilemma.

Dad Can’t Follow It

After studying the pictures, I realized just how angry Dad was. Why? It hit me and I was stunned by the thought. Dad was angry with me for separating out a puppy and he was angry because he couldn’t protect them all. In his mind, I had intended to cull one of his young. In my mind, I was but only watching a show. In Dad’s mind, I had won and he had lost a lot. He carried that look of frustrated hatred, a look that comes with a defeat.

In Dad’s mind, one puppy was beyond his protection, liable to be taken by a predator. I think he knew the situation required him to sacrifice one puppy for the safety of the others. Dad couldn’t protect the rest of his flock if he went to help one vulnerable puppy. He loves all his puppies and that day Dad knew he had to let one go. I caused it and Dad was livid. Yet he accepted the situation and acted prudently. Dad offered one of his children up so he could protect the rest. Until I arrived home to excitedly review my pictures, I thought I had been watching a show complete with cute puppies. At home with the photographs, I felt remorse. It wasn’t a show. To Dad, it was as real as life gets, life for which he strives to prepare his young.

Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for more coyote photos: Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.

An Only Child?, by Charles Wood

29 Jul 2012 3 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in hiding, pupping, reactions to a human

Pup

Here in LA County, it looks like Mom and Dad only had one puppy this year. The two times I’ve been able to spot them with a puppy this year they have only been with one.

MomPup

In the MomPup photo, Mom is watching out just to the right of the puppy. Dad is to the left of the puppy, completely hidden by the bushes. This is one well protected puppy and it looks healthy and strong.

Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for more coyote photos: Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.

New Life, by Charles Wood

04 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, pupping

Sunday here in LA County I saw Dad on watch. He is pictured with his head resting on his front paws, alert and ready to move quickly. He did move out of sight when I glanced away. To Dad’s left, a sole puppy emerged out of brush. I had gotten lucky! I shot video when the puppy went to where Dad had been. The puppy looks like a large one, probably about two months old.

Dad

Dad and his puppy had the high ground looking west over their field. They hid themselves after a minute or two. They then either stayed put or moved elsewhere. Either way, I didn’t see them again Sunday.

Mom and Dad’s child rearing duties never end. In the four years I’ve watched them they always have had kids around of various ages. In all likelihood, only a few of their children survived childhood and dispersal to reproduce.

Puppy

Years ago, Mom and Dad were young and alone, were newly dispersed coyotes without friend or territory. They met and their lives changed for the better. They rejoiced in having discovered each other. Together they were strong. They found their place in this world, their field. They felt invincible as they made a life for themselves. Soon kids came. From having helped their own parents with younger siblings, and from instinct Mom and Dad knew how to parent. Now Mom and Dad, together with older children still at home, pass on their coyote ways.

Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for more coyote photos: Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.

Who’s With The Kids, Mom – by Charles Wood

08 May 2012 Leave a comment

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, pupping, territoriality

Here in LA County Monday I saw Mom. I hadn’t sighted her for three weeks. My two dogs were with me.

The video shows Mom standing at an entrance to her den area. The puppies are still too young to be out. No doubt her helpers were busy with the puppies somewhere in the thick brush behind her. Mom’s body language was informative.

Mom was not relaxed and was in a predicament. She couldn’t immediately leave because her puppies were nearby and we were a potential threat. Yet she was outnumbered and felt she couldn’t assert herself, either by facing us, by making direct eye contact, or both. On the other hand, she couldn’t look away, couldn’t show vulnerability. Consequently she half looked at us. Her left rear leg, closest to us, was cocked and ready for action. Her body language said concurrently “Don’t come here” and “I’m not coming there.” She may not look particularly courageous, but she definitely is.

I was standing when I took the video. When done, I sat down. Mom left a few moments later, having read me correctly as not opposing her. My dogs and I left to stand and watch at a the rendezvous spot.

Dad showed there twelve minutes later. He stood still and made some direct eye contact. I made the dogs lie down. Once they were down, Dad sat. He didn’t get up again until I made the dogs get up to leave. When the dogs rose, so did Dad.

At issue between my dogs and both coyotes was contact. The coyotes didn’t want contact. They wanted us to go away.

As an aside, I’ve been seeing lots of rabbits lately. About ten minutes before Mom showed Monday, two rabbits, as is their habit, scurried around on the road and went into the brush near where Mom later stood. Similarly in the rendezvous area, a few rabbits bound around. Yet rabbit movement doesn’t appear to be tied to the coming or going of my coyotes. When I see rabbits moving around in the open at dusk, in areas my coyotes come every day at that time, I shake my head and wonder about rabbit minds. Still, I’ve never seen my coyotes bother any of those frisky rabbits at dusk.

Dad

A year ago, a pet black rabbit was abandoned in the park near my coyotes’ home. I’ve seen my coyotes close to where that black rabbit resides. A year ago, thinking myself wise, I gave the rabbit two weeks tops. It was sad that the coyotes would take it, I thought, and contemplated nature’s hard ways. I was wrong. I see the black rabbit most days when I go see my coyotes, saw it a few days ago and it is fine.

Pupping Season, by Charles Wood

01 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, pupping

Dad

Here in LA County my coyote watching continues. The pack I’ve followed for several years has been near their den area after a hiatus of many months. Last year several yearlings stayed with the two I call Mom and Dad, stayed at least through the fall. The two younger coyotes I’ve seen in the last month may be last year’s yearlings, last year’s pups, or both. The coyote sitting is a young one that has stationed itself at the den area entrance. It is helping its parents by its vigilance. The standing coyote barking is its father, Dad.

Helper

Dad’s health has improved since last summer. He is active, has a healthy coat, and is of normal weight. Dad is pictured dividing his warning yips between me and some unknown annoyance outside the left of the frame. He is headed towards the den area, already guarded by at least one other family member.

It is about time for Mom, if indeed pregnant, to deliver her pups. It sure looks like her family is preparing for just such an event.

Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for more coyote photos: Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.

First Contact In Pupping Season, by Charles Wood

26 Feb 2012 2 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, coyote living areas, pupping

Here in south Los Angeles county I haven’t seen any of my coyote pack members since the end of December. I still haven’t, but on Saturday one did let me know it was there.

I’ve been in their field lately about once every two weeks and none until Saturday objected. I stood near the entrance to their den area, pictured, with my leashed dog Holtz. I fiddled with somewhat moist coyote scat. For a moment Holtz stared intently into the bushes. I looked too and didn’t see anything. Getting cautious, deciding the scat was neither new nor old, we moved along and walked away from the entrance area. Holtz was compliant by my side instead of, as is usual, tugging for the lead. Suddenly a hidden coyote flitted in dried leaves to our side. Holtz did not look towards the noise. I looked hoping to see a coyote. It rustled dried leaves again, moving back and forth along our direction of travel. I cautioned it with a yell. It did not show itself and was about twenty feet away.

By its behavior, the coyote sent us much information. It’s scat told me the area was claimed. Its noises revealed a place particularly important to the coyote at this time, pupping season. I walk exactly there at other times of the year without coyote contact. Further, the coyote, by rustling leaves along our path of travel, marked a line in the brush past which we were not to come. By its speed and energy it told us it was agile and strong.

My coyotes have spoken. It is now time for me to watch them from points outside their field.

Interestingly, when the coyote rustled leaves, Holtz didn’t look. Holtz must have already known that it was a coyote making the noise. They probably had eye contact when Holtz had earlier stared into the bushes. Holtz had already been told to leave and the coyote added rustled leaves to emphasize where Holtz should never think to go.

Finally, I don’t know why the coyote didn’t come out and show itself. My coyotes have done so in the past, Mom in exactly this place about two years ago after pupping. I’ve annoyed all my coyotes enough to where they aren’t shy about coming out to scrape dirt or bark. Perhaps it was a coyote that didn’t know us.

Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for more photos: Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.

More Dens

28 Aug 2011 1 Comment

by yipps:janetkessler in pupping Tags: coyote behavior, coyotes, urban coyotes

A friend let me know that she discovered a coyote den fairly close to her own home! Chert rock formations and outcroppings are common throughout the entire Bay Area. The den apparently was not used this year and is not being used now, though she told me that several years ago she heard coyote pups all the time from that area. It appears to be a very “classical” den, with a very deep entryway protected by an overhanging rock. And, of course, it is located in a hidden and secluded area, although not far from my friend’s home.

I wanted to find out more about the den, but it would have been impractical to dig it out, and I was fearful of sticking my hand in it: who knows what might be lurking in there now! What you see here is the opening into a large hollow area. There had been a mass of overgrown tangled blackberry brambles hiding the entryway, and it was only when these were thinned out that the den opening became visible at all. It is likely there is another opening close by, hidden like this one had been.

Not far from her home, about an eighth of a mile away, is another den which her neighbor told me about. It is completely different from this one, consisting of a flat area hidden below tall grasses close to a natural spring — not a cave at all. I couldn’t get a photo of this one, also hidden in thick brambles. But I am sure, it being so close to the other one, and from what these folks told me, that it was used by the same coyote family.

Coyote dens are used for giving birth and nursing young pups. Most coyotes have several dens between which they move the youngsters, both for protection against possible predators and to escape from bug infestations. As the coyote pups grow up, they stop using the dens. Adult coyotes sleep out in the open or under bushes, usually during daytime hours.

Rendezvous, by Charles Wood

24 Jul 2011 6 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, family interactions, group activity, pupping, video

Saturday at dusk Mom sat watching me when Mister, her yearling son, came towards her down their hill. His dad approached Mom, coming from the east. Mister burst towards them and the three had a rendezvous. Near the end of the video, Dad works to settle Mister down. A little after that Mom shows Mister some teeth and he drops onto his side: almost as if Mom shot him dead!

These three, after the rendezvous, tried to cross under the bridge into the nature preserve. However they wouldn’t go under the bridge with me standing there. While waiting to pass, they began to yip, the upset kind. I left so they could continue on their way.

Significantly, Mom and Dad were together without their new puppies. Are there new puppies this year? If so, were they at dusk Saturday unattended or being cared for by one or both of the other yearlings, Bold and Shy? If either alone or being cared for, where?

I don’t know. Last year Mom and Dad raised their puppies without help. Last year when I saw puppies, Dad was with them. At times I saw Dad alone without either Mom or puppies. Seeing solitary Dad meant to me that Mom must have been with the puppies. This year there are too many full grown coyotes around to allow such guesswork. Yearlings may make life easier for Mom and Dad, but they make my life, though richer with coyotes, harder.

Posting written by Charles Wood. Visit Charles Wood’s website for more coyote photos: Charles Wood. His work is copyrighted and may only be used with his explicit permission.

Signs of Scat, An Old Coyote, A Sick Ewe and A Dead Rabbit: More on Ginny’s Coyote Area

22 Jul 2011 2 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, coyote living areas, coyote paths, coyote scat, indirect signs of coyote presence, pupping

Hi Janet,

scat upon scat (now with mold)

Yesterday I walked the other way onto the well-used multi-purpose trail called the Springwater Trail. The first half mile of the trail heading east has had a lot of scat at times. This is the area I referred to as being half a mile away and possibly containing a den. Yesterday there was only one quite recent pile while everything else had been there a week ago. Today I walked to the pups sighting location. No new scat anywhere. I’m wondering if that means the pups have been moved. I also checked another part of the trail not too far away and found no new scat. I have seen a lot of it there before also.

We saw the lame coyote once when he trotted in front of our car. He looked and moved like a very old dog would move and that is why I label him as old. He is not thin but is very ragged looking. I have only seen a coyote once on the trail (that is how I found your blog because I wanted to learn all that I could about them) and that was right at the trail entrance near our house. Hunting for rabbits no doubt! Bud saw an adult last fall on one of his walks. Both of these had beautiful coats and seemed very healthy.

trail where pups appeared

Last week I met a family with grandparents walking on the trail and mentioned the coyote scat to the children. The grandparents told me they have sheep and coyotes stand at their fence and sing and whine all the time. The grandfather told me that recently he had a sick, old ewe and THREE DAYS later when he went to check on her he only found most of her skeleton. He is sure the coyotes picked her clean – including her gum tissue and ribs. They said coyotes would infrequently take a newborn lamb after I asked if they thought the coyotes actually killed anything. Any person who would knowingly leave a sick animal for three days – well I cannot relate to them. I’m very cautious what I say to people on the trail about the coyotes. One man we see on the trail is sure someone shot coyotes a few years back.

blackberries through which pups disappeared; there is more scat again now, indicating resumed activity in the immediate area

On Monday I noticed a dead rabbit at the beginning of the trail which is near our house. It appeared to have died mid-crawl. I turned it over and did not see any injuries or changes in hair. About a week earlier Bud said “it smells like something died in the blackberries” as we walked by the same location. Several neighbors and dog walkers who use the trail came to the same conclusion I did – that a neighbor might be poisoning rabbits. We are all very concerned. I really hope this is not the case. Yes, rabbits do incredible damage to yards and gardens but rabbit fencing keeps them out. I know, we added it to the existing deer fence around our yard. Yesterday the rabbit was gone but I suspect a neighbor disposed of it. I have read that coyotes are very smart about not consuming poisoned food and I hope that is the case here. We have a family of red-tailed hawks in the greenspace that I am really enjoying and I think they prefer freshly killed prey over carrion. Poison can travel so fast up and down the food chain.

I’ll let you know if I notice any changes. I don’t expect to see coyotes because our dog really seems to have a history with coyotes. He is a Bouvier rescue we have had almost a year. He spent several years running loose on the NM mesas and he thinks deer, coyotes and rabbits are to be chased. He also barks like crazy. I’m sure the local coyotes know him and make sure not to reveal themselves to us!

Ginny