A Coyote Story

Took the dog for a walk at Jewell Wetlands today as usual and took the camera along. Someone disbelieving me asked me if I carry a camera when walking the dog. Of course! Well the coyotes are definitely about this year (and they are considered a protected species) and the dog loves to see and sniff and bark at them. This guy came down the trail behind us and the dog started tugging to get at him. I'm trying to take a shot with the 40D and 100-400 and can barely control the dog and get a blurry shot .... well the dog got away and they were OFF! Chasing through the wetlands (fortunately mostly dry) and me yelling and trying to catch the dog, I bet we traversed every coyote trail in this tiny wetland (about 1/2 x 1/2 mile) -- me chasing two wild animals as fast as I can, with 100-400 and 40D banging me right and left -- before the dog got confused (he's old and slow anyway, like me ) and I was able to step on the leash and stop him. So after all that (and both of us getting our exercise for the day) we continue walking and then this guys shows up behind us again. The dog was tired so he didn't try so hard this time and I was able to get these shots:

The culprit:

Great Set Kenny!!

Really good story and nice photos to complement it.

Are all fur-bearers in CO protected nowadays, or just coyotes? Curious.

hTr wrote in post #5995774
Great Set Kenny!!

Thanks Gary, appreciate your taking a look.

Naturalist wrote in post #5995796
Really good story and nice photos to complement it.

Are all fur-bearers in CO protected nowadays, or just coyotes? Curious.

Not to my knowledge. I find it funny that coyotes are protected, but I guess they actually do a service by removing stray and small pets.

wow what an opportunity and a funny story to boot! I'm not sure if I would have chased after the coyote myself...but I guess you had to for your dog. At least you got some pics out of it!

Those are great....love the back story to it.

So was your dog ever in any danger of being eaten?
I'd have been terrified of something happening to my dog!!

Well, yeah, the stupid dog! The Coyotes actually have dens in the high/prairie part of the wetlands and someone said they have pups so are being protective and doing lots of hunting. I've gotten a couple of pics in prior years as well, but these are first with the 40D and the 100-400 that have come out well.

Thanks!

pennypue wrote in post #5995897
Those are great....love the back story to it.

So was your dog ever in any danger of being eaten?
I'd have been terrified of something happening to my dog!!

Nah, he's old and slow and can barely get around due to arthritis in his hips (except of course when he sees something wild to chase!) but is easily three times the size of that Coyote. He's a German Shepherd/Chow mix. Of course if they get bitten there is the possibility of various disease. I don't think he ever got close enough for that to have even happened.

Wow! Nice shots. Looks like you wore out the coyote too.

rw2 wrote in post #5996003
Wow! Nice shots. Looks like you wore out the coyote too.

Thanks RW, I've never seen one just lie down in the shade and take a rest when a dog is around the way this one did. Either young, dumb, or well protected. (the latter I think).

kenyc wrote in post #5995768
Took the dog for a walk at Jewell Wetlands today as usual and took the camera along. Someone disbelieving me asked me if I carry a camera when walking the dog. Of course! Well the coyotes are definitely about this year (and they are considered a protected species) and the dog loves to see and sniff and bark at them. This guy came down the trail behind us and the started tugging to get at him. I'm trying to take a shot with the 40D and 100-400 and can barely control the dog and get a blurry shot .... well the dog got away and they were OFF! Chasing through the wetlands (fortunately mostly dry) and me yelling and trying to catch the dog, I bet we traversed every coyote trail in this tiny wetland (about 1/2 x 1/2 mile) -- me chasing two wild animals as fast as I can, with 100-400 and 40D banging me right and left -- before the dog got confused (he's old and slow anyway, like me ) and I was able to step on the leash and stop him. So after all that (and both of us getting our exercise for the day) we continue walking and then this guys shows up behind us again. The dog was tired so he didn't try so hard this time and I was able to get these shots:

The culprit:


Looks Scared after all that doesn't he:

Yeah, really scared:

wow those are very nice!

ed rader

You have to a little careful about this. As Vegas has grown to the point where we are encroaching on their domain there have been numerous dogs getting attacked by coyotes.

I friend of mine lives right on the edge of a mountain and every night the coyotes come down to the park and try to lure dogs out so they can "play".

ed rader wrote in post #5996637
wow those are very nice!

ed rader

Thanks Ed, much appreciated coming from you!

eddarr wrote in post #5996670
You have to a little careful about this. As Vegas has grown to the point where we are encroaching on their domain there have been numerous dogs getting attacked by coyotes.

I friend of mine lives right on the edge of a mountain and every night the coyotes come down to the park and try to lure dogs out so they can "play".

Yep, I think they mostly live off of domesticated pets and ducklings in the pond.

And domestic dogs don't really have a chance against a wild animal working to survive.

kenyc wrote in post #5996728
Thanks Ed, much appreciated coming from you!


Yep, I think they mostly live off of domesticated pets and ducklings in the pond.

And domestic dogs don't really have a chance against a wild animal working to survive.

coyotes are more powerful than many think. i came across a freshly killed fawn once that a coyote dropped on a singletrack trail when it heard me and my dog coming.

the only marks on the fawn were punctures on the throat and there was a bright red puddle of thickening blood in the dirt.

scared the hell out of me because at first i thought the fawn was killed by a mountain lion and i imagined a starving mountain lion watching me from the bushes .... but a mountain lion would not have dropped its kill.

i saw another fawn about 100 feet down the trail "hiding" in a dry river bed. their mom must have hidden them while she foraged for food.

ed rader

hmmm you are all over the place i see. nice shot of the little guy too. would love to see you running all over the trail holding on to that combo. would have been a site to see.

Bill 1