Accepting Challenges and Adapting, by Walkaboutlou

01 Mar 2024 6 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in adaptations, coyotes and wolves, wolves

Hello Janet!

As winter ends and Spring is upon us, change is the theme of the season. Some areas already have spring blossoms. Some areas are locked in snow. We continue on.

Profound changes in local coyote admittedly bothered me some..but I’ve accepted the changes and will keep adapting just like coyote. They have adapted for millennia beyond sucessful.

The changes are both small and huge. Im sure I don’t even get a fraction of it usually.

My dogs and I patrol, inspect and check on vast properties and areas. We note anything worth noting. We scout, track, study and immerse ourselves in the land. This is the 1st late winter that local coyote…have been relatively silent. Not mute. But definitely low key and subdued. 

The reason is…wolves. Wolves have very slowly…in trickles..resettled our region. Historically…my pack and I encountered coyote weekly especially in our pre dawn patrols. We developed strategies to counter coyote and give them options and room as we passed. The past 10 years the pack has grown very skillful in minimizing coyote encounters. It was par course to hear coyote concerts, insults and messages.

This has mostly…stopped. On ranch after ranch, range after range…we see changed coyote. They ARE NOT wiped out. But definelty reduced. Our area had a free flow of very vocal packs..sometimes numbering 4-7. 

We are now experiencing duos or 3 maybe. And they are quick to call and disappear. They are here…and leave scats still proclaiming territory. But they aren’t advertising visually. If they see or sense canines…they literally disappear in silence. It’s profound for us who always heard some tips or calls or canoe defiance…and recognition.

Most people don’t realize the sheer influence and power of wolves. They are doing what coyote do…surviving. They are actually much shyer, and quieter, then coyote. Less daring. But….when it comes to canine hierarchy..wolves are top dogs in woods. A lone nomadic wolf trots thru and is gone. A territorial pack of wolves methodically, regularly, patrols vast vast areas. They need to eat. And they will run off…or dispatch, any strange wolf, coyote or dog they find in territory. We have 2 regional packs minimally..vying for vast areas. They travel further and faster then any coyote…rountinely. 

The result is..after a few years..wolf wary coyote behaviors we’ve never known.

If we want wilderness and wildlife..this is the other side. Animals will establish themselves. They will survive. And some species are more direct about it. 

The coyote aren’t wiped out..but no doubt…many have not survived once wolves claim the foothills to cascade circuits. It is nature.

I admit my own struggle with it. Areas the pack and I used to hear coyote neighbors…silent. Also..its humbling. My pack and local coyote established a specific..somewhat sloppy truce. A lot of growls and messages…and distance. 

Wolves are inherently shy of humans. I’m not going to hear them yip to my pack. But..my pack also can’t counter wolves as they did coyote. 

The Wolves are here and no canines can contest that.

The coyote get quieter and more low key. My dogs stick close to me and we go fwd. We are adapting to wolves. Acknowledging wolves. And amazed to live with Wolves. Real…horizon roaming wolves.

But I miss my noisy coyote. 

Take care..

Lou

Bonanza for Kinky and Fam, by Walkaboutlou

18 Apr 2023 5 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote resilience, coyotes and wolves, farming and ranching

[For those interested, Kinky Tail has a history. Enter “Kinky Tail” into the search box to read more about her and her family]

Hi Janet,

An update on how strange life can be, and how coyote take instant advantage.

On our patrols early in morning we saw a cow had died during calving. Unfortunately it happens with these range cattle.

Her last movements put her in view of the Ranch Patriarchs home. He’s housebound bit scans his land incessantly with scopes and binoculars.

It’s customary now to burn or bury a dead cow if possible. Especially with wolves now usually we want to limit exposure for taste of beef. 

But the timing and place of death also lead to the ranches college kids who are becoming biologists, to conduct experiment.

The hypothesis is..the spot is too open and noisy for wolves to scavenge. LGD are literally next hills over as well. So permission was granted for experiment on the basis if wolves arrive they have to remove cow instantly. 

So far…trail cams and Ranch Patriarch have noted…a lot of scavenging. No wolves as of yet. Golden Eagle, Vultures, Raven, Jays, 1st came. Then a Badger literally burrowed under..and in it. It seemed to be there days. Racoon. A fox. Mink, Weasel. 3 dogs. (Someone’s Doodle got very filthy) 

The highlight is….Kinky Tail.

Kinky Tail and her Mate realized…a cow dropped dead within sight of pup den. Bonanza. But problems too. A lot of company visiting too close to den. 

That night..one of the kids showed Patriarch how to use night vision scopes.

He scoped and watched Kinky..from 9:14 pm to 1 a.m. moving NINE! 9 pups from hillside den to old shed foundation many yards away. 

Then at 3 a.m. her Mate came..fed doddering pups at new spot and curled up to sleep. Kinky went off to feed and cache food 3:15-5:56a.m. Then went inside new den and didn’t emerge until late afternoon.

Also noted…3 strange coyote came to cow..chased off by Mate but returned later. Territories don’t seem to hold much force when huge meals are available. At least for some coyote.

The kids are charting up facts and trying to apply science with realities seen..and possibilities thought. We never know whole picture. But tentatively..locally..we see coyote seemed to have disappeared large scale. We see wolves traveling widely after deer and elk. We see a dead cow not utilized by wolves… we suspect site too open and with homes and LGD in view. We see one of the few remaining known coyote have huge litter. And we see them take instant advantage of cow dying at den site…but 1st moving pups. 

The hypothesis and info gathering will be intense next few weeks.

The Patriarch has his own predictions.

Those are going to be the fattest coyote pups for 100 miles.

Take care, 

Lou

PS: I think Kinky will be a superlative Mom. Her Mom and litter siblings were wiped out by wolves. Her aging father and land lessons molded her fast. She bred early and denned in Sun scorched cliffs..raised 2 pups and instantly left cliff area when wolves trotted thru this year. She’s only 2 but has learned a lot. I feel biologically her body did just as we have heard…coyote population locally dropped…she had huge litter. 

She is a small slip of a coyote but of immense mind. Her mate seems small in her presence though he’s big. Making meat caches all night then gorging then feeding pups all day…shes busy. And the type of coyote that embodies this indomitable flame of canine species.

Wolves are Top Dog Here

Dogs Rule The Ranches

And Kinky Tail Navigates Them All.

Irony, by Walkaboutlou

15 Apr 2023 2 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyotes and wolves

Hello Janet,

Spring is in full swing here as calves and lambs and kids are all over ranges. The birds of prey are nesting and all over animals are prepping for young or starting to raise them.

Coyote wise it’s been the quietest we have ever seen or witnessed.

It’s ironic that I think all of us want more wildlife. More balance. More natural lands. But when we get them, it isn’t always what we expect.

We slowly have realized, the reason we aren’t hardly seeing or hearing our customer hillsides of Coyote is…they aren’t here any longer.

Wolves are.

Wolves have established multiple packs in our areas. And this is a game changer if you are a wild canid.

Before I start, I’m not speaking against wolves nor am I making any suggestions for “wildlife management”. 

But wolves change the scene because that is what they do literally to survive and raise pups.

It was a slow realization for us the past few weeks. The consistent coyote chorus of individuals and territorial packs…dwindled. Now they are sporadic and very scattered.

Trail Cams, tracking and a lot of studying and listening helped us realize, a pack of 5-7 resident wolves are now here. Such a pack can claim vast areas.

They need these areas to get enough meat to sustain pack and pup survival. So without invoking emotions we relearn wolf biology and math.

5-7 wolves. Each one 80 to over 100 lbs. Each needing a great deal of meat and space. With pups coming. 

Wolves and Coyote are…normally…enemies. Wolves absolutely will hunt down adult coyote or displace them. Some wolves dig up coyote dens. They scatter coyote. The coyote respond by being coyote. Faster. Scatter. And quieter in some ways. Some coyote scavenge wolf kills. It’s very dangerous.

It’s natural. It’s nature. But admittedly…its learning to accept a new Top Dog. 

With the exception of Kinky Tail young female we knew of…all the other coyote we used to hear…stopped. They may have been killed. They may have left. Trail Cams show weekly 1-7 different wolves trotting thru. They don’t stay. But are performing hunting and territory patrols. Any canine found by them…lone ranch dog, coyote, fox, is in mortal danger if they don’t quickly escape. It’s 101 wild candid biology.

It doesn’t mean coyote are wiped out. But…there are way less of them. And the ones that remain are covert coyote indeed.

Kinky Tail left BOTH former denning areas this spring and seems to have pupped ironically close to a Ranch though she’s safe. They won’t bother her. Wolf tracks regularly are seen in the cliff areas, hence likely her decision.

Her mate has been feasting days on 2 road killed deer that were taken by humans to woods. (Ranch dogs like deer too hence deer are removed to woods) 

He’s obviously bring her venison and burying it all about. A brook revealed Kinky drinking ravenoulsy and deflated to pre preggo proportions.

We wish them best.

So…Irony. A lot of people say they want wolves. But I think Coyote would say different lol. Still..we are seeing yet another aspect of Coyote adaptation. They’ve been dealing with wolves millennia until last 100 plus years.

Take care Happy Spring

Lou

For comparison: a coyote weighs between 25 and 35 pounds; a wolf weighs between 80 and 130 pounds.

Canid Conversation, by Walkaboutlou

13 Dec 2022 2 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyote behavior, coyotes and wolves

Hi Janet, 

That was a great post about the coyote incident with child. I hope it furthers awareness. It’s really a matter of common sense and safety. Certain cities will have coyote populations. Forever. The sooner people live coyote aware the better for all. Children included.

A different but fascinating account on sheep ranch is something I received this morning.

I usually dont patrol sheep properties. Not a fan and they can be problematic in big areas for our style of checks.

This operation is pretty well run. The owners discovered long ago a 3 prong approach for coyote and sheep ranching. A large pack of LGD is used on rotation in the herds. Allowing conforming (don’t raid sheep) coyote pairs to become established and see off nomadic and less predictable coyote. And in back of property, away from herds, road kill is left. It’s legal here to collect/harvest roadkill. Deer are collected by ranchers family and taken to a consistent spot complete with cameras. The local territorial coyote are well fed on voles and periodic road killed deer. They are very content and don’t raid sheep.

The cameras on property also give them sight into ongoing behaviors. 

Originally…they thought an established coyote was changing into unwanted behavior. These coyote and LGD come to know each other at distance and by scent marks. There is a sort of truce…the coyote know death waits if they come in. But that the dogs won’t chase if they stay back. 

Trail and pasture cams show a male coyote well known coming to dogs and acting agitated. The dogs shouldering up together and slowly getting aroused..then setting off for a round. The coyote fades back to trails and woods and disappears.

But other trails show other developments.

The coyote runs down common sheep and ranch trails…but avoids the wooded hill sections. Literally same time coyote is trotting toward LGD areas, traveling wolves are moving through wooded property. They aren’t staying. They use this land to travel to elk herds and Cascade destinations. But they travel through foothills and ranches and the heart of coyote turf.

When they pass through..its seems a pattern has developed the local coyote vocalize at the wolves..but one male runs to LGD areas in some sort of alarm call. The LGD actually respond…pack up and 4 or 5 of them go to edge of foothills and woods, and mark extensively. It seems the wolves..who were moving anyway..glide away and disappear. So far..the LGD pack holds sway. 

Is it possible that this coyote has tenuously connected his alarm with wolves to alerting LGD? It seems far fetched…until we realize..how many dogs in towns and cities bark in chains of alerts and joining in. 

It is now at point if there are alot of coyote “rackets” and run arounds…the LGD can be seen trotting out..and the woods cams show a wolf…or several..moving through.

I asked if they were going to put coyote on ranch payroll. No comment.

Lou

PS-This Canid Conversation is also under study by a couple of biology students. One Question was…Do the Road kill Deer attract wolves and raise issues? So far…the answer is no. The structure of the spot and lay of land deer kill is left is a funnel shaped area purposely designed for camera shots. They want to see who feeds in this area far from sheep herds. It seems to spook wolves…the funnel and cameras. Coyote have no qualms. Neither do cougar, bobcat, badger, raccoons, weasels, mink, or possums. Bears are an issue only because..they often destroy cameras. Bears have a very specific way they treat cameras. And often the camera don’t survive.

But so far 7 years of pics…not a single wolf has entered to funnel shaped spot. 

Lou

From the Illinois Dept. of Wildlife — for comparison.

Nature, by Walkaboutlou

25 Jun 2021 4 Comments

by yipps:janetkessler in coyotes and wolves

Wolf1

Hi Janet. I’ll fill you in more by Monday or Tuesday but I’m sorry to say the 2 mom pack (part 1 and part 2) has appeared to suffer a serious blow. Trail cams and evidence seem to point to wolves finding them.

3 pups remain, as well as Big Brother and Janet (2nd mom). Chica Alpha Mom and 6 pups seem gone. Slim Jim is badly injured especially in neck region but holding. Janet brought the 3 pups back to original cliffside denning region. Later Big Brother appeared and day later, Slim Jim hobbled in.
He is staying with remaining pups. Big Brother his son was seen feeding him.
 
It’s times like this that test us as students of nature. Because when wolves are part of the land, or reestablish themselves…how do we feel?
 
Hearing the details I admit isn’t easy. Am I a nature lover or coyote lover? Both?
 
These wolves have been passing through many months. But as pup seasons and pressures mount, they have pups too. And it’s obvious they honed in on “our” coyote.
 
Trail cam evidence shows at least 5 different adult wolves these last few weeks.
 
I will fill you in more next week as we piece together what roughly happened and hope perhaps Chica and some pups emerge.
 
Lou
These are ALL wolves from trail pics in Oregon. 2 were in my area.
 
Hello Janet.
 
This is the latest observations on our 2 mom pack. 
 
It took many days to piece together likely what has happened and we will never know the exact story.
 
But it does appear yes, that Chica the top female and 6 of the 9 pups were lost to wolves. Elder Slim Jim was badly injured and is recovering well, incredibly. Big Brother, yearling, and Janet, grown daughter and 2nd Mom, are well. And 3 pups including the kinky tailed female, thrive.
 
Trail cams for some months revealed at least 4 different wolves coming through the property from adjoining public lands and cascade forest. They seem to travel through foothills and return to cascades regularly. They don’t bother livestock, and seem to avoid LGD areas. 
 
However, it’s very likely they eventually sensed and zeroed in on “our” coyote pack. 9 pups and 4 adults makes noise and many trail scents in Oak Savannah areas.
 
This is where we are challenged. Am I a nature lover or coyote lover? Am I merely observing or emotionally invested?….I am all those. I try to be. And the family who has known these coyote years and understandably upset.
The truth is, wolves need space. They need much space and meat. They are territorial. They also, often, will not tolerate any canid strangers in their claimed areas. Be it stranger wolf, dog, or coyote. And while there are solitary wolves that will flee even a beagle, a pack of united wolves feeding and raising pups are pressed themselves.
The wolves in trail cam were lined 4 strong at 2 a.m. and heading towards the coyote pack.
 
Other trail cams show them leaving and going east at 4:43 am, back towards cascades. That morning, Slim Jim was seen staggering towards original cliff den area. 3 pups later appeared to cliff dens with Janet. And Big brother. The adults seemed extremely stressed. Slim Jims neck and back wounds seemed very bad. Not a sign of Chica or other 6 pups ever showed. The Oak Savannah area is completely avoided now.
 
Fast fwd nearly 2 weeks. Big Brother and Janet fed pups and Slim Jim at cliffs. Slim Jim drank morning dew for water as he healed. He gained strength and literally lead his pack away from cliffs.
 
His head is a bit crooked. His throat and back have bare areas. But he seems resolute and definitely in charge. 
Slim Jim took his surviving family away from cliffs and oak savannah 4 miles away. In his injury and loss, he showed no panic. He merely healed and when he could move, he left with plan and purpose. 
 
Slim Jim led, with Janet and pups in tow. Big Brother behind in rear. And he led them all to the bison.
 
The small Bison herd have many calves this spring. Their area is open grassland with pockets of trees. They curiously in past have allowed Slim Jim and other coyote to hunt almost under their feet. But any dog….or wolf, is charged at and has to run for life. No canids stick around Bison. Especially bison with calves. But coyote can.
We can only imagine the 3 pups shock as Slim Jim led them by the bison to a little grove of ancient cottonwood. The trickle of stream and deep cover around cottonwood patch are the pups new area. 
 
Slim Jim and pups have been seen mouse hunting among the bison some days now.
 
Janet and Big Brother come and go and feed pups.
 
Among the Bison and a tiny patch of cottonwoods, Slim Jim is rebounding. Healing. And 3 pups are growing fast. 
I hate that our pack of 11 pups and 4 adults were decimated by wolves to 3 pups and 3 adults.
 
I love that wolves have returned. 
 
It’s complex. It’s nature. It’s their world.
 
And I love that Slim Jim, Janet, and Big Brother rebounded. They did what coyote have done since Ice Age times. They rebounded and are resilient. They have found respite among Bison. And have found a time and place of peace.
 
Regards warmly,
Lou

The coyotes will rally as they always do. Be it man or nature, they have existed eons and eras. Individual mishaps or pack disasters only better the survivors. I can’t really describe how tough and resilient pressured coyotes become. But I can watch and hear and absorb their lessons. In some ways the pack had a disastrous pupping season in spring. But by summer they healed, adapted and found a break among bison. Those pups are mousing among a herd that are as good a pup sitter you can find in the strangest of ways. No dogs or wolves can safely enter the Bison area. But they tolerate the coyote with aplomb.Turning great loss into safe havens is coyote strategy. I think Slim Jim remembers ancient ties with Bison. And saved the remaining pack. 

It is one thing to say I love wolves. (I do) but also that means I have to accept….what they can sometimes do. I’m not happy about this. It will take time. But..I know its?not vindictive or any human vices. Its wild canines living wild lives. Also…the wolf only makes surviving coyote…that much stronger.Onwards Song Dogs. Lou